Matthew 24:42-51
Chapter 24
Obviously, if the homeowner knew when the thief was coming, he would definitely stay awake and prevent his house from being broken into.
Stay alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect.
Vigilance
Imagine a trustworthy and prudent servant, whom his master has entrusted with managing his household, to provide them with food at the right time.
Fortunate, indeed, is the servant whom his master will find working when he arrives.
Truly, I tell you, his master will entrust him with everything he has.
It’s not the same with the lazy servant who thinks, ‘My master is delayed.’
And he begins to mistreat his fellow servants while eating and drinking with drunkards.
But his master will come on a day he doesn’t know and at an hour he least expects.
He will severely punish that servant and assign him to the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Commentaries
The Example of the Fig Tree – About the Day and the Hour.
The moment of the final judgment is unknown; it is an intentional ignorance meant to encourage vigilance and should not be mistaken for carelessness in the present. The commentary following the comparison with the fig tree offers a new call to discernment—the attitude that disciples should prioritize as the end approaches. The imminent coming should be seen not just as chronological proximity but as theological closeness. What is shown here and in the following parables is the certainty that the Lord can return at any moment, and this awareness should motivate the community not to become complacent or settle into circumstances but to remain alert for the Lord’s arrival.
Vigilance.
The parable of the servants encourages us to stay prepared and alert for the coming of the Lord. It highlights the servant’s attentive attitude, as they are entrusted with leading the Christian community. A responsible servant must be vigilant and wise. It also shows that the reward for the faithful servant of God’s kingdom could be none other than God himself and His cause—a strange reward in a society built on power and legalism.