The Faithful or Wicked Servant

Matthew 24:45-51

Last time we began the application section of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. The first part of Jesus’ teaching to His disciples on the Mount of Olives was explanatory (Mat. 24:4-35). Jesus was answering the disciples’ questions about the destruction of Jerusalem and about the sign of His coming and the end of the age (Matt. 24:2-3). First, He gave them some general signs that will characterize the age before His return (Matt. 24:4-14). Second, He gave some specific signs that would immediately precede His Coming (Matt. 24:15-28). Next, He described His glorious coming (Matt. 24:29-31) and its certainty (Matt. 24:32-35).

Jesus then began to apply these truths to His disciples (and to us). Matthew 24:36 sets the thesis for the exhortations that follow—no one knows the day or the hour of the coming of the Son of Man. Because no one knows when Christ will return, He exhorts us first to “watch,” to be on the alert (Matt. 24:42) and second to “be ready” or prepared for His coming at all times.

Next, Jesus relates three parables that illustrate and exhort us to watch and be ready for His coming. How can we make sure that we are alert and ready for Christ’s return? More →