Keeping Watch-Part II Matthew 24:45-51

40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matthew 24: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’

49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Two Kinds of Servants Wise and faithful vs Wise and faithful vs Wicked vs Wicked vs.48-51

A particular kind of servant What the Bible calls ‘a steward’. What the Bible calls ‘a steward’.

A particular kind of servant What the Bible calls ‘a steward’. What the Bible calls ‘a steward’. A steward serves the other servants A steward serves the other servants Acting on behalf of the master, Vs.45- ”giving the household servants their food at the proper time.” Acting on behalf of the master, Vs.45- ”giving the household servants their food at the proper time.”

A particular kind of servant What the Bible calls ‘a steward’. What the Bible calls ‘a steward’. A steward serves the other servants A steward serves the other servants Vs.45-”giving the household servants their food at the proper time.” Vs.45-”giving the household servants their food at the proper time.” A leader-vs.47-has charge of all the masters possessions. A leader-vs.47-has charge of all the masters possessions.

This is Jesus’ vision for His disciples Mark 10:35ff Mark 10:35ff

This is Jesus’ vision for His disciples Mark 10:35ff Mark 10:35ff Vs.43-”whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Vs.43-”whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

This is Jesus’ vision for His disciples Mark 10:35ff Mark 10:35ff Vs.43-”whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Vs.43-”whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Disciples of Jesus are to be ‘stewards’. Disciples of Jesus are to be ‘stewards’.

As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path.

That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return.

As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.” Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.”

As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.” Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.” All behavior, good or bad, flows out of ‘self talk’-what we say to ourselves in our own hearts. All behavior, good or bad, flows out of ‘self talk’-what we say to ourselves in our own hearts.

As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. As Jesus points out in his story, a particular can lead a steward (read: disciple) down the wrong path. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. That attitude flows out of the stewards self talk about his master’s return. Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.” Vs. 48-the steward says to himself, “my master is staying away a long time.” All behavior, good or bad, flows out of ‘self talk’-what we say to ourselves in our own hearts. All behavior, good or bad, flows out of ‘self talk’-what we say to ourselves in our own hearts. That ‘self talk’ often sounds quite innocent That ‘self talk’ often sounds quite innocent

Two attitudes that flow from that initial ‘self talk’

Vs. 48-“My master is staying away a long time.” 1. ‘you know what? I probably have lots of time to change my wicked ways.’

Two attitudes that flow from that initial ‘self talk’ Vs. 48-“My master is staying away a long time.” 1. ‘you know what? I probably have lots of time to change my wicked ways.’ The importance of ‘Today’ in Scripture: Psalm 95:6, Hebrews 3:12 The importance of ‘Today’ in Scripture: Psalm 95:6, Hebrews 3:12

Two attitudes that flow from that initial ‘self talk’ Vs. 48-“My master is staying away a long time.” 1. ‘you know what? I probably have lots of time to change my wicked ways.’ The importance of ‘Today’ in Scripture: Psalm 95:6, Hebrews 3:12 The importance of ‘Today’ in Scripture: Psalm 95:6, Hebrews 3:12 2. ‘I have no one to answer to in life but myself.’

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story.

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Our wrong path may be far more subtle.

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour?

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself. He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself.

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself. He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself. Why have we slipped from an attitude of ‘other centredness’ to ‘self centredness’? Why have we slipped from an attitude of ‘other centredness’ to ‘self centredness’?

Our difficulty with this story: When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. When we stop keeping watch, our travel in the wrong direction may not look much like that of the steward in Jesus’ story. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Our wrong path may be far more subtle. Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? Question: What attitude of heart fueled the wicked steward’s irresponsible and wicked behaviour? He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself. He’s been called to serve others, but he began to mostly serve himself. Why have we slipped from an attitude of ‘other centredness’ to ‘self centredness’? Why have we slipped from an attitude of ‘other centredness’ to ‘self centredness’? Jesus: You stopped keeping watch for my coming. Jesus: You stopped keeping watch for my coming.