MATTHEW 24:42-51
fessing believer. Christ shared four things.
1. The owner had a house to look after. He was blessed, for he owned a house, and it was full of possessions. The be-
longings were valuable enough to attract a thief.
2. The owner lived without watchfulness.
a. The owner knew the thief was coming, and he knew he was coming that night. He just did not know in what
watch he was coming. (Every watch was divided into three hours, for example, 12-3 a.m., 3-6 a.m.)
b. The owner began to watch. He had tried to protect his house; he had bolted the doors and closed the
windows. He was staying up listening to every noise and was ready to try to protect his house.
c. The owner failed to protect his house, and he failed in an area least expected. He simply did not watch long
enough. As the hours wore on and on, he grew more and more drowsy and nodded more and more. The
owner simply failed...
• to stay awake long enough.
• to keep his mind alert long enough.
• to look and listen to the noises (signs) long enough.
• to keep active long enough.
• to stand guard long enough.
3. The owner suffered disaster. The thief came while the owner was asleep. The owner ceased watching, and the thief
broke into his home, taking his most prized valuables.
4. Christ’s point made is clear: readiness is essential. By readiness, Christ meant diligence. We are to be diligently liv-
ing a life of righteousness, looking for His return.

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all
holy conversation and godliness....Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pt.3:11, 13).

Christ gave two reasons why we are to be ready: (a) He is definitely coming, and (b) He is coming in a hour when the un-
prepared will not expect Him (v.44, 50).

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through”
(Lk.12:39).
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn.14:2-3).
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night....But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief”
(1 Th.5:2, 4).
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pt.3:10).
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If there-
fore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee” (Rev.3:3).
“And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast,
and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus” (Rev.16:5).

Thought 1. The Lord’s return is imminent. This is the point. We must stay alert and be diligent in looking for His
return—today!

Thought 2. The owner’s house can represent a man’s life. Every man is responsible for taking care of his life. Chr-
ist says we keep our house (life) by “watching” and being ready for His return, for He may return at any moment.

3
(24:45-47) Jesus Christ, Return: the second parable Christ shared concerned the faithful and wise servant. He
represents a genuine believer, a person who not only professes Christ but lives for Christ. The genuine believer may be a
minister, a teacher, or a young learner in Christ. But note: the point is not the believer’s position but his being faithful and
wise. The simplest believer is to be faithful and wise, no matter who he is or what his calling is.
Christ put this parable in the form of a question: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant?” He does this to stir more
thought about the issue at hand and to force a much more personal application. Christ covers three points about the faithful
and wise servant.
1. His responsibility is twofold. He is to oversee the Master’s household and he is to feed the Master’s family.
a. He is to oversee the Master’s household. Note: it is the Master who sets him over His household. The
servant does not appoint himself, nor is he appointed by other servants (or churches) of the household. The
Master alone sets him over His family.
He is given the responsibility to rule, to oversee, to look after the household and family of the Master.
But he is under his Lord and he is to oversee primarily by example.

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