Page 143 - Eschatology - Masters revised

The phrase “he will cut him to pieces” was a cultural idiom of the day which meant a severe scolding.
Even today, in the English language and culture of our day, if someone overhears a wife harshly scolding
her husband, they might describe what they overheard by saying “She really shredded him!” meaning
that there was nothing left of him after her harsh scolding.

Secondly, the master reassigns this unfaithful servant with other unfaithful men who are hypocrites.
They are hypocrites who promise to serve the master but do not actually follow through and accomplish
what they promised. Believers can be hypocrites as well if they say they love Jesus but do not serve Him
faithfully.

The third phrase tells us that in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Gnashing of
teeth” in the culture of Jesus’ day meant a display of strong emotion of either anger and hatred or
strong remorse. For instance, the religious leaders gnashed their teeth at Stephen.

Acts 7:54 (NIV84)54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

When the word “gnashing” is linked with “weeping” it means there will be great remorse for past
actions of unfaithfulness. The Bible does sometimes, in some contexts, use these words to describe
people in hell, where they will weep and gnash their teeth in great remorse for missed opportunities.
But be careful not to conclude that all weeping and gnashing of teeth in the Bible is always talking only
about hell. Be careful not to conclude that the master, in this illustration, sent the unfaithful servant to
hell. Jesus is not saying that in this context at all. There is no mention of hell or eternal death. Jesus is
simply describing the remorse on the part of the unfaithful servant when he is scolded by the master
and his privileges and responsibilities are removed from him.

The unfaithful servants are not sent to judgment with the unbelievers. They are believers who have
been given the gift of eternal life but who have not faithfully served Jesus Christ. Therefore, they have
forfeited eternal rewards they could have had.

The primary interpretation and application of this passage is that believers living during this time period,
who cease to faithfully serve God, will suffer the loss of rewards they could have received and will rather
be scolded by Jesus. They, however, will not ever lose the gift of eternal life.

The secondary application is that all believers alive at any time will stand before Jesus Christ someday
for an evaluation of their faithfulness to Him. This will happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ. If we have
been faithful stewards of the opportunities given to us Jesus will reward us for all of eternity. If we were
unfaithful stewards, He will scold us, and we will lose the rewards we could have had. We will discuss
this application more deeply later.

Therefore, believers living during the Tribulation period need to “watch”, to be prepared and not grow
weary while waiting. (v. 42) They need to endure in faithfulness.

Parable of the Ten Virgins

Jesus talked about the need for wisdom while waiting for future events, by telling a parable about ten
virgins who are waiting to meet the bridegroom.

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