and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
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Matthew 24:49-51 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
Parallel Translations
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and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,
and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
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and beginne to smyte his felowes ye and to eate and to drinke with the dronken:
that servauntes master wyll come in adaye when he loketh not for him and in an houre that he is not ware of
and wyll devyde him and geve him his rewarde with ypocrites. There shalbe wepinge and gnasshinge of tethe.
Show all 3 translations
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And begin to smite his fellowes, and to eate, and to drinke with the drunken,
That seruaunts master will come in a day, when he looketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not ware of,
And will cut him off, and giue him his portion with hypocrites: there shalbe weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
Cross-references (29)
- Matthew 8:12 (v51) but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Luke 12:46 (v51) then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two,…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (v50) For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then…
- Revelation 3:3 (v50) Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t…
- Matthew 22:13 (v51) Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the…
Show all 29 cross-references
- Matthew 24:42-44 (v50) Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of…
- Job 20:29 (v51) This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
- Isaiah 33:14 (v51) The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live…
- Micah 3:5 (v49) Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t…
- Matthew 7:15 (v49) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
- Revelation 17:6 (v49) I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great…
- 1 Samuel 2:13-16 (v49) The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling,…
- 1 Samuel 2:29 (v49) Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make…
- Isaiah 56:12 (v49) “Come,” say they, “I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be as today, great beyond measure.”
- Isaiah 66:5 (v49) Hear Yahweh’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh…
- Ezekiel 34:3 (v49) You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep.
- Matthew 25:30 (v51) Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Luke 13:28 (v51) There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being…
- Romans 16:18 (v49) For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the…
- 2 Corinthians 11:20 (v49) For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes…
- Philippians 3:19 (v49) whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- Titus 1:11-12 (v49) whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. One of them,…
- 1 Peter 5:3 (v49) not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- 2 Peter 2:13-14 (v49) receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit…
- 3 John 1:9-10 (v49) I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. Therefore if I come, I will call…
- Jude 1:12 (v49) These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without…
- Revelation 13:7 (v49) It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given…
- Revelation 16:6 (v49) For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
- Proverbs 29:1 (v50) He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (11 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v51 To wit, from the rest, or will cut him…
To wit, from the rest, or will cut him into two parts, which was a most cruel kind of punishment, wherewith as Justin Martyr witnesseth, Isaiah the Prophet was executed by the Jews: the like kind of punishment we read of, 1 Sam. 15:33 and Dan. 3:29.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv49–51 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and…
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Ver. 49. To eat and drink with the drunken] Though he neither be drunk himself, not make others drunk, yet to be among wine bibbers and flesh mongers, as Solomon hath it, Pro 23:20, to company with such as a frequent and immoderate bibber, as Peter’s word (εν ποτοις) importeth, 1Pe 4:3; to drink ad numerum, as Bullinger expresseth it, though there follow not an utter alienation of mind, this is here threatened. Excessive drinking is drunkenness, {Eph 5:18} though men be strong to bear it, Isa 5:22.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv49–50 The lord of that servant,.... Not by redemption and…
The lord of that servant,.... Not by redemption and grace, but by creation and profession,
shall come in a day when he looked not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of: suddenly and unexpectedly: such was his coming in wrath and vengeance on the Jewish nation; and such is his coming oftentimes by death; and such will be his coming at the day of judgment.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v51 And allot him his portion with the hypocrites -…
And allot him his portion with the hypocrites - The worst of sinners, as upright and sincere as he was once. If ministers are the persons here primarily intended, there is a peculiar propriety in the expression. For no hypocrisy can be baser, than to call ourselves ministers of Christ, while we are the slaves of avarice, ambition, or sensuality. Wherever such are found, may God reform them by his grace, or disarm them of that power and influence, which they continually abuse to his dishonour, and to their own aggravated damnation!
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv50–51 Verse 50. The lord of that servant] Here are…
Verse 50. The lord of that servant] Here are three punishments which answer to the three characteristics of the bad minister.
1. A sudden death, and the weight of God's judgments falling upon him, without a moment to avert it: this answers to his infidelity and forgetfulness. He shall come in a day in which he looked not for him.
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2. A separation from the communion of saints, and from all the gifts which he has abused: this answers to the abuse of his authority in the Church of Christ.
3. He shall have tears and eternal pains, in company with all such hypocrites as himself: and this answers to his voluptuous life, pampering the flesh at the expense of his soul.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv49, 51 49. Shall begin to smite — The language is…
49. Shall begin to smite — The language is taken from the disposition of servants to be unruly and fighting in the long absence of their master, especially if all sense of responsibility is forgotten. Indifferent ages of the Church popes and prelates have tyrannized over their fellows, as if they were never to be called by the Lord to account for their doings. Because sentence was not speedily executed by the immediate coming of the Son of man, they set themselves to do all manner of evil.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v51 51. shall cut him asunder] See Dan_2:5; Dan_3:29. “The…
51. shall cut him asunder] See Dan_2:5; Dan_3:29. “The angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two,” (Susanna, 59.) Comp. also “Multos honesti ordinis aut ad bestias condemnavit, aut serra dissecuit.” Sueton. Calig. 17, quoted by Wetstein, who gives other instances.
his portion with the hypocrites] St Luke has “with the unbelievers.” Such adaptations of the Gentile Evangelist to his readers are always interesting. Hypocrisy was especially a Jewish sin. St Luke adds our Lord’s words on the degrees of punishment, varying with the degrees of responsibility.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v51 (51) And shall cut him asunder.—Here also, as in…
(51) And shall cut him asunder.—Here also, as in the case of the faithful servant, the words have more than one fulfilment. The form of punishment (one which, in its literal sense, belongs to the inventive cruelty of Eastern kings) would seem here to have been chosen for its figurative fitness. The man had been a hypocrite, double-minded, trying to serve two masters, and his Lord, with the sharp sword of judgment, smites through the false, apparent unity of his life, and reveals its duplicity.
There shall be weeping.—As elsewhere, “the weeping and the gnashing.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv49–51 Shall begin. As soon as he conceives the idea…
Shall begin. As soon as he conceives the idea of the delay in his lord"s arrival, he changes his conduct, plays the master, and uses his power for oppression and injustice. But he has only time to commence these unrighteous acts, when he is arrested by the very occurrence which he had willfully ignored. To smite his fellow servants; i.e. those who are faithful to their master. Applied to Christian ministers, such conduct would appertain to those who use their authority for oppression or self-aggrandizement, "lording it over the charge allotted to them". (1Pe_5:3) And to eat (esyih , and shall eat) and drink with the drunken. He indulges in luxury and intemperance, choosing as his companions men of dissolute habits. A self-indulgent minister, or one who is not discreet in choosing his friends and acquaintance, has little influence in checking the excesses of his flock, and is far from being, as he ought to be, "a pattern of good works". (Tit_2:7)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v51 Mat_24:45; Mat_24:51
Mat_24:45; Mat_24:51
Who, then, is that faithful and wise servant.
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I. The particular relation in which we are here represented as standing to the one that is above us.
II. The representation that is here given of that attitude in which the servant is found who is obedient to his Master. There are terms used particularly descriptive of the conduct of the individual.
1. Fidelity.
2. Wisdom is associated with faithfulness-faithful and wise.
3. Habitual and persevering continuance in well-doing.
III. The blessedness which is included in this benediction of the Master.
1. Blessed at the appearance of Christ, also while he lives, in his present activity.
2. Positive reward.
3. Contrast the deception of the evil servant. (T. Binney, D. D.)
The faithful servant and his reward
I. The character of the faithful servant.
1. The faithful servant is one whose service is sincere.
2. The faithful servant is one whose service is unreserved, limited only by his capability.
3. His service is uniform.
4. His service is according to the prescribed rule, If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
5. His service is that of faith-the living faith of the heart in the truth of God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
II. His reward. The reward is here made to depend upon the servant being found occupying the position assigned him, with all fidelity, when his Lord cometh. We must not infer that the faithful servant is not blessed prior to his Lords coming, at the hour of death. Nor do his onerous duties diminish, but rather contribute to, the blessedness of the faithful servant. He has to suffer, it is true; but these minister to his blessedness. The master promotes his servant to the highest post of honour because of his fidelity in an inferior position. He is made a ruler. These pleasures will be internally progressive. The reward, however, will not be equal in degree. It is a matter of the first importance to determine whether we are in deed and truth the servants of Christ. (R. Scott.)
The activity of service
Christs departure from this earth is no reason for His Churchs inaction, but the source of her activity. Far from withdrawing His Churchs interests from earth by His withdrawal, He endows it with more effective energies, larger capacities for action. She can do more on earth, and not less, now He is gone. He shows this by picture after picture. He tells us that we are to be a society carefully and shrewdly organized, and this organization is to he formed with a view to work, production, fruit. We are to be organized with a view to our capacities, so to be arranged as to serve best for direct, present, practical usefulness here on earth; we are to be as a house which a householder has left, in which house every one is in his place, each according to his gift; and in this house there will be careful provision, that each shall have his food in due season-food brought him prepared through the hands of officers appointed for that one service, while at the door will ever sit the porter, who will have the office of watching while the others work. How careful, how orderly it all is! No loose shiftiness to fill up an interval. No indifference as to what may be done in the long waiting time. His going does not destroy or diminish the seriousness or care with which the interval is to be organized. How busy it all is to be. What! did we fancy that the haste and urgency of worldly business would conflict with the solemnity of watching for the Lord? Why, this kingdom of His is to be, during all the waiting time, like a house of business. It will be as a merchant house, in which everybody is bent on making all he can out of the money given him. He gives no picture of a Church ever on its knees at some silent shrine, praying for a far-off time. He foresees a body of men busy and intent, absorbed in the practical use of their gifts, bent on turning five talents into ten or two into four. (Canon Scott-Holland.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv49–51 49. And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants. There…
49. And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants. There is no sin more common among those who are clothed with authority than oppression. There have been no worse oppressors than priests. And to eat and drink with the drunken. What first disgusted Luther with the faith in which he had been reared was the profligacy of the priests and monks. It has often been the case that the Vatican was the very hot-bed of scandal.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.