In the last part of Matthew 24 we find a parable called the parable of the two servants. This parable illustrates the things stated above. It is the first of three parables that follow.
45 Who then is the faithful and understanding servant, whom his master appoints over his servants, to give them food in due season?
46 Blessed is the servant who, when he comes, finds his master thus engaged.
47 Amen! I say to you that he will appoint him over all his possessions.
watch and be ready
Earlier we found the call: then watch! And: you too become ready! When the Lord comes, the point at that time is to endure until the end of the aeon. Those who do will be saved (Matt.24:13). They are left and will remain on earth to inherit the Kingdom of the Messiah.
That is also what is said in this parable about the good slave (>serf, another word than servant). When the Lord comes, He will take into His Kingdom those who watch and wait for Him, and they will be appointed with Him over all His possessions (:47).
religious
The first slave in this parable is a faithful and wise slave. Most translations render the Greek pistos as trustworthy. They are more or less synonymous concepts, because a believer puts his trust in His Lord and in what He says. A believer is someone who trusts the word of God.
wise
The translation of the Greek phronimos, which is sometimes translated as cautious in the Statenvertaling, is sensible. It is about acting with foresight. People are thoughtful and act wisely with regard to the future (compare: Matt. 7:24; Luke 16:8). We also find this here with regard to this faithful and wise slave and we will see later in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
48 But if the evil servant should say in his heart, My lord delays his coming,
49 And he would begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with them that were drunken,
50 Then the master of that slave will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he does not know,
51 And he shall cut him off, and place his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
unbelieving and unwise
The evil slave is unbelieving and unwise. He is not watching and is not ready when the Lord comes. Earlier we saw that the unbelievers will be taken away (:40,41) and will not receive the Kingdom. That is also said here. When the Lord arrives, he will separate him and place his portion with the hypocrites. In the parallel passage in Luke it says: …and place his portion with unbelievers (Luke 12:42).
We will talk about the end of the parable in a next blog. “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”