Matthew 24:51

“And again, “But if the servant say in his heart, The Lord delayeth, and begin to beat his fellow-servants, and to eat, and drink, and to be drunken, his Lord will come in a day on which he does not expect Him, and shall cut him in sunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites.”” — editor's note: Luke xii. 45, 46; Matt. xxiv. 48–51.

“…an hour that he is not aware of,and shall cut him asunder,and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 48–51. [The textual variations are slight, and are indicated in the emendations of the A.V. appearing in the above rendering.—R.]

“…deprived of what they have received, their grace being transferred to others; or, according to one of the evangelists, they shall even be wholly cut asunder,—the cutting asunder meaning complete separation from the Spirit.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 51.

Though the Lord had given above a general exhortation to all in common to unwearied vigilance, yet He adds a special charge to the rulers of the people, that is, the Bishops, of watchfulness in looking for His…

That He says, “Whom think ye is that faithful and wise servant,” does not imply ignorance, for even the Father we find asking a question, as that, “Adam, where art thou?” [Gen 3:9]

Nor yet does it imply the impossibility of attaining perfect virtue, but only the difficulty.

For rare indeed is such “faithful” servant serving his Master for his Master’s sake, feeding Christ’s sheep not for lucre but for love of Christ, “skilled” to discern the abilities, the life, and the manner of those…

He requires two things of such servant, fidelity and prudence; He calls him “faithful,” because be appropriates to himself none of his Lord’s goods, and wastes nought idly and unprofitably. He calls him “prudent,” as…

Or, he that makes progress in the faith, though he is not yet perfect in it, is ordinarily called “faithful,” and he who has natural quickness of intellect is called “prudent.” And whoever observes will find many…

This parable may be also fitted to the case of secular rulers; for each ought to employ the things he has to the common benefit, and not to the hurt of his fellow-servants, nor to his own ruin; whether it be wisdom…

The “lord” is Christ, the “household” over which He appoints is the Church Catholic. It is hard then to find one man who is both “faithful and wise,” but not impossible; for He would not pronounce a blessing on a…

That is, obedient to his Lord’s command, by the seasonableness of his teaching dispensing the word of life to a household which is to be nourished for the food of eternity.

It should be observed, that as there is great difference of desert between good preachers and good hearers, so is there great difference between their rewards. The good hearers, if He finds them watching He will make…

That he may reign with Christ, to whom the Father has committed all that is His. And as the son of a good father set over all that is his, He shall communicate of His dignity and glory to His faithful and wise…

Not that they only, but that they before others, shall be rewarded as well for their own lives as for their superintendence of the flock.

Or, “shall set him over all his goods,” that is, shall place him in the glory of God, because beyond this is nothing better.

And He instructs His hearer not only by the honour which awaits the good, but by the punishment which threatens the wicked, adding, “If that evil servant shall say in his heart, &c.”

The temper of this servant is shewn in his behaviour, which is thus expressed by his good Master; his tyranny, “and shall begin to beat his fellow servants,” his sensuality, “and to eat and drink with the drunken.”…

And every Bishop, who ministers not as a fellow servant, but rules by might as a master, and often an harsh one, sins against God; also if he does not cherish the needy, but feasts with the drunken, and is…

Typically, we may understand his beating his fellow servants, of offending the consciences of the weak by word, or by evil example.

“The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him,” is to rouse the stewards to watchfulness and carefulness. “He shall cut him in sunder,” is not to be understood of execution by the sword,…

Or, “He shall cut him in sunder,” when his spirit, that is, his spiritual gift, shall return to God who gave it; but his soul shall go with his body into hell. But the righteous man is not cut in sunder, but his…

“And shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites,” with those, namely, that were in the field, and grinding at the mill, and were nevertheless left. For as we often say that the hypocrite is one who is one…

Or, “appoints him his portion with the hypocrites,” that is, a twofold share of punishment, that of fire and frost; to the fire belongs the “weeping,” to the frost the “gnashing of teeth.” [ed. note: See above on…

Or, there shall be “weeping” for such as have laughed amiss in this world, “gnashing of teeth” for those who have enjoyed an irrational peace. For being unwilling to suffer bodily pain, now the torture forces their…

Putting aside this wicked servant, who, there is no doubt, hates his Master’s coming, let us set before our eyes these good servants, who anxiously expect their Lord’s coming. One looks for His coming sooner, another…

Matthew 24:51 and Luke 12:46 share the same wording (9 words).

Cited together in Origen on Matthew 24:45–51 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Origen on Matthew 24:45–51 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 24:45–51 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 24:45–51 (Catena Aurea).