Matt. 23:45-51.
THE doctrine of the Lord’s second coming may be used by men and Satan, like any other part of Scripture, as a covert for false profession. The Scriptures speak of “foolish virgins” ―unsaved people, professing to go out to meet the Bridegroom. To the true children of God this hope is not only most cheering and sanctifying, but often stirs the soul to faithfulness in the Lord’s service.
The “faithful and vise servant” has the reality of the coming of the Lord at heart: it therefore influences his ways. His eye is on the Master. He seeks to do what is pleasing in His sight. He regards with affectionate care the saints around him. He knows them as the Lord’s household, considers their need, and serves them for their profit and blessing. He gives them “meat,” thus ministering Christ to their souls; for “His flesh is meat indeed, and His blood drink indeed.” He gives them meat in due season; comforting the feeble-minded, supporting the weak, instructing some, warning others, and building up the saints in their most holy faith. This is wisdom and faithfulness. These things mark a steward who is faithful to His Master’s desires during His absence. This he is conscious of, and therefore expects, that when the Master comes he will be both commended and rewarded. “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matt. 24:46, 4746Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. (Matthew 24:46‑47).)
“The evil servant” does not oppose the doctrine of the Lord’s second coming, he may be quite orthodox in his statements about it, but his heart as to it is wrong. Every error begins here. The Lord’s complaint of old was, “My people do always err in their hearts.” The evil servant said in his heart “My Lord delayeth His coming.” What was the result of this error in the heart? He could damage and afflict the Lord’s servants. If the heart is wrong towards Christ, it will also be wrong towards the members of Christ. He began to “smite his fellow-servants.” But this is not all “He ate and drank with the drunken.” It may not be that he was drunk as they were, but he drank of the same cup, and ate at the same table; he associated himself in companionship with unbelievers, instead of coming out from among them, and being separate. These ways characterize an “evil servant.” How solemn and searching! May we lay our Lord’s words to heart. The future history of such a case is more solemn still. “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:50, 5150The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:50‑51).) May we heed the warning, and watch against the first entrance into our hearts of the suggestion, “My Lord delayeth His coming.”