Explaining The Book

Matthew 24:51 Meaning – He Shall Cut Them Asunder and Give them Their Portion with Hypocrites

Unfaithful ministers who pretend to take charge of souls and are not faithful in that service, are ranked among the worst sort of men, that is hypocrites, and shall be of all men most severely punished; for he shall cut them asunder, says he, and give them their portion with hypocrites.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:51 Meaning – There

Out there with the hypocrites, a picture of hell.

Robertson, A.T. – Commentary on Matthew  in The Bible for Home & School  (1911)

This is the judgment that shall come upon all wicked servants.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:50 Meaning – in an hour that he is not aware of

Such as do not make themselves ready for our Lord’s coming, but follow their own will and lusts, shall find themselves miserably mistaken, for the good which they enjoyed or loved to have shall be taken from them, and the evil which they feared not shall come upon them to the full when they least expect it; for, It shall be in an hour that he is not aware of.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

The seventh and last motive, looking especially to ministers: If any man, and especially a minister, do not watch to do the work entrusted to him, he shall be destroyed fearfully at the Lord’s coming. Therefore it is necessary to watch for the Lord’s coming.

And here we have the portrait of an evil servant, namely, of an unfaithful minister:

1. He has an evil heart of misbelief; he believes not Christ’s coming to judgment, nor the truth which he preaches to others. He saith in his heart, my master delayeth his coming, that is, he looks not for his coming.

2. He will not fail to malign, envy, traduce and injure to his power, the more painful and faithful his fellow servants be; for he smites his fellow servants.

3. One way or other he strengthens iniquity and the hands of the wicked, that they should not repent nor turn from their iniquity; for, He eateth and drinketh with the drunken.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

A sixth motive, especially serving to stir up ministers to be watchful in their calling: as every man in his calling, so namely a minister (who is set over the Lord’s people as a steward to give the children the bread of life in due season) shall be blessed, if he be faithful, and found at his work when Christ comes. Therefore should every man watch, and the minister in particular, that he may be found diligent in his calling, when his Master comes.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:45-47 Meaning – Who then is a faithful and wise servant

The sort of service and trust which is put upon a minister of the gospel is very high and the happiness of a faithful and wise minister is very great; for, Who then is a faithful and wise servant &c., says he.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:45-47 Meaning – He shall make him ruler over all his goods

The greatest honour which a man can do to his servant in this world is but a shadow to show forth what the Lord will bestow on his faithful servants in the world to come. This is it which he says: He shall make him ruler over all his goods, that is, he shall put honour upon him.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

A fifth motive: watchfulness makes a man ready, even though the Lord shall come in an hour when men think not. Therefore watch ye that ye may be ready.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:44 Meaning – In such an hour as ye think not

The solid apprehending of the certainty of the Lord’s coming and of the uncertainty of the time is a notable means to set us on our watch, and to make ourselves ready, for In such an hour as ye think not, he shall come.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

The fourth motive, set down in an example, teaches us in sense thus much: if men will watch for the avoiding of temporal inconveniences, much more should Christ’s disciples watch to eschew eternal destruction: and if they do not watch, then the world’s diligence in worldly things will condemn their negligence in spiritual things.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:43 Meaning – But know this

This lesson is enforced by three parables. The first is that of the wise servant (Matthew 24:43-51). Mark 13:35-37 and Luke 21:36 both have the warning, but not the parables. Luke has indeed in another connection a parable much like the first Luke 12:39-46.

Robertson, A.T. – Commentary on Matthew  in The Bible for Home & School  (1911)

The third motive teaches us that the Lord has of set purpose kept from our knowledge the time when Christ shall come. Therefore all should watch and be ready, come when he will.

Matthew 24:42 Meaning – Watch therefore

The uncertainty of the day is an argument for watchfulness, not for indifference.

Robertson, A.T. – Commentary on Matthew  in The Bible for Home & School  (1911)

This second motive of watchfulness teaches:

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:40-41 Meaning – Field, Mill

That at the day of judgment they who have lived in near fellowship shall be shed one from another; as, for example, they who had been joined in one work, Some in the field, some at the mill.

The meanest degree of people shall be taken notice of, even women, labourers in the field, grinding at the mill.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:40-41 Meaning – One Shall Be Taken, The Other Left

Judgment shall pass exceeding exactly, to take one and leave another, to pull up one to meet Christ in the clouds, and leave another to be punished with the damned.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Therefore watchfulness is necessary.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:39 Meaning – They knew not

Whatsoever truth men do not believe when it is told them, that they do not rightly know, though they conceive the meaning of the Word told them; for it is said, They knew not.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:39 Meaning – The flood came and took them all away

Who so believe not judgment when it is threatened, shall feel judgment and be taken away with it when it comes; for The flood came and took them all away.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)

Matthew 24:38 Meaning – They were eating

When men believe not things concerning the day of judgment and another life, no wonder they be given over unto and drowned in the matters of this life, for They were eating, &c., that is, This and the like was all their care.

Dickson, David – A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (1651)