“Who then is a Faithful and Wise Servant”

25 March 2012

1. Introduction

• Mt.24:45-51 The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
• Context: Disciples question Jesus on the second coming and End of the Age (Mt.24:3).

(i)   Parable of the Servants - attitude to the House of God   (All are evaluated

(ii) Parable of Virgins - Intimacy with the Holy Spirit             (All experience

(iii) Parable of Servants - Productive service                         (consequences for

(iv)The Nations judged - practical love                                   (actions

                                                                                                (Consequence

                                                                                                (involves reward and

                                                                                                (loss

• Review of Teaching of Talents and Pounds (Lk:19)

(i)   God invites all of us to be great in His Kingdom.

(ii) Each of us has an assignment to fulfil, a race to win.

(iii) All servants of God are evaluated and receive reward or loss.

(iv) Partnership can greatly increase how productive we are.

2. Parable of the Servants (Mt. 24: 45-51)

(a) Picture of an Oriental Householder

• The Lord and Master has servants under his rule.
• The Servants have responsibilities and assignments in his household.
• Their duties revolve around the Master’s wishes and directions related to the affairs of his household. (Mt. 28:19; Heb. 3:13).
• V45 “Made ruler over his household”
• “Household”    =Oiketeia NT3609= body of servants NB Eph 2:19.
• “Made ruler”    =NT2525= to appoint to administer office, set a person into a

role.

• Servant           =NT1401= one who gives themselves totally to the will of

another.

= This is the key to greatness in the Kingdom (Mt.20:27)

(b) The Assignment

• V45 “To give them meat in due season”
• “Meat” =NT5160= Food, nourishment, instruction.
• “Due Season” =NT2540=Kaines= at the right time i.e. sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
• Every believer has something to contribute to build the house of God.

Rom.12:3-8 “We being many are on body in Christ – members of one another”.

1 Cor. 12:18 “God has set the members each on of them in the Body just as He please”.

Eph.4:15-16 “The whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies”.

• Each of us is responsible to build the household of God – the church.
• God requires of each of us faithfulness in His assignment (1 Cor. 4:2).
• Note Whom the Master, when He comes, find him so doing - v46.

(c) The Reward that is at Stake

• V46 – 47 “He will make him ruler over all His goods”
• Faithful service is rewarded in each of the 3x parable e.g. Wise Virgins – Wedding Banquet.
• Rewards are not automatic; they are the consequence of how we conducted our life.
• Note Mt. 25:21 Faithful over many things. Luke 19:17 Have authority over 10 cities.
• Rev. 20:1-6 “And they lived and reigned with Christ 1000 years”.

(i)   The Millennium is a literal 1000 year period in which Jesus will rule the earth in righteousness and peace.

(ii)  The Kingdom of God will openly manifest globally affecting every sphere of life – political, social, agriculture, economic, spiritual, law, education, medical, arts, family technology and society at every level.

(iii) God’s purpose has always been that heaven and earth be joined together.

      Heaven – the realm where God’s presence and power is openly manifest.

      Earth – the physical realm where human life, emotions, creativity is experienced.

(iv) The natural processes of life will continue and Jesus will establish infrastructure for every sphere of life in every city and village.  This will include replacing –

· Governmental leaders with new people in every area of society. God will remove evil leaders Ps110:5-6 and establish Kingdom governmental order.

· In a worldwide government He will bring Kingdom life, power, order and government. Food, water, power, building, economy, spiritual life, law, agriculture etc.

(v)  During this millennial period all the Kings of the earth will worship Jesus and base their governments upon His Word (Ps. 72:11)

(vi) The Resurrected Saints will rule with Jesus as Kings and Priests

Rev.5:10 “And have made us Kings and Priests to our God and we shall reign on earth”.

· Priests = Worship, intercede, communicate knowledge of God, enter in and out of Throne.

· Kings = appoint people, train, oversee, direct and manage the global affairs.

· Rev. 2:26 “He who overcomes and keeps my works to the end I will give power over the nations”.

(vii)            The resurrected Saints will govern the affairs of God and advance His Kingdom

· Teaching, training, restoring cities, restoring and administrating justice, dealing with sin.

· 1. Cor. 6:2-3 “Do you not know the saints will judge the world?”

· Dan. 7:26-27 “The greatness of the Kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people, the saints of the most high”.

· This is not automatic – it is given to those who overcome!

(d) The Evil Servant

Mt.24:48-51

• Note Heart Attitude: “My Lord delays his coming”

= Don’t worry, I have plenty of time ahead of me.

• Note His Behaviour

(i) “Begins to beat fellow servants” = mistreat, insult, ignore welfare = “slap in face”.

(ii) Eat and drink with the drunkard = lifestyle patterned after the world and its values.

• Consequences = severe suffering and loss of inheritance, exclusion from the blessings prepared for him.