TEACHINGS of JESUS
from: the Gospel of Matthew
(originally written 1998 )
Olivet Discourse: faithful servants - (Mat 24:45-51)
"My brothers do not be many teachers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment." (Jas3:1)
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his Lord has set over His household, to give to them the food in season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find so doing when He comes." (vs45-46)
Most of Jesus' warnings are about the "false prophets" who come as "wolves in sheep's clothing". (Mt7:15) And as Paul convened a conference near Ephesus, he warns the same thing. (Acts20:29) He says these wolves will come both from the outside (vs29) and "from your own selves". (vs30) And Paul's warnings were "night and day with tears." (vs31)
And as they warned, so do we. Typically, people don't like so much "negativity". They want to be "happy, happy!" But a good portion of Scripture is "warning" against being led astray.
Jesus is talking to His disciples. Having a 'private' conversation. These men in a few weeks will become the leaders of what becomes the "Church". So He's giving them some pastoral exhortation. Paul warned the conference near Ephesus, "take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit placed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased through His own blood." (Acts20:28 )
What is the duty of the 'shepherd'? To "grow a church"? To oversee the construction of fine buildings? To organize campaigns and programs?
Paul says, "feed the church of God." Jesus says "to give them the food in season." What is this "food"? "..preach the Word, be urgent in season, out of season, convict, warn, encourage with all long-suffering and teaching. (2Tm4:2) "Until I come, attend to reading, to exhortation, to teaching." (1Tm4:13) Give attention to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them, for doing this, you will both deliver yourself and those hearing you. (vs16)
What an awesome responsibility God's ministers have! It is not something one goes into because they think it will be a "cush job". It is something God calls a person to do. And if we consider that he is to feed, teach, convict, warn, encourage...we see the warnings given to Ezekiel of the "blood" that is on one's hands, depending on the kind of warning given.(Ez33) Paul writes that ministers of Christ are "stewards of the mysteries of God" and as such, the primary quality of such a servant that is required, is to "be found -FAITHFUL-." (1Cor4:1-2)
Faithful to whom? Who is his "boss"? The church council? The church's denominational hierarchy? No. The servant is one "whom his Lord has set over His household." (vs45) It is the Lord's flock. It is the Lord's call upon the servant. And... it is the Lord's -message-. Jesus sets out the nature of the rewards to the faithful servant. (vs47)
However, there is a stern warning for the unfaithful (wicked) ones. Notice the context of the "wicked servant". (vs48 ) Notice the -message- the wicked servant proclaims. "My Lord delays to come..."
And, indeed, this is what we see today! Aside from the whole set of charismatic doctrines that are the foundation for the false signs and wonders, there are two essential doctrines being maligned in these days. They are not proclaiming "repentance"; and they are saying that the Lord's return will not be as He said it would be. They are proclaiming that the Lord is -not- coming to take His Church, but rather, that they are preparing the church for the Lord to come and rule over...a church of -their- contrivances. You see, Christ foretold today's error in this warning. Not only does He have it all planned as to 'when' He is coming, He also has already told us what errors to watch out for before He does come.
This rejection of what is commonly called "pre-trib rapture" is a -tide- of apostasy. -MANY- of those occupying the pulpits, who used to proclaim it, are now "falling away". It is of epidemic proportions! Many excuse their unbelief by saying things like, "I'd rather be safe than sorry" ...thus, preparing "just in case" the 'pre-trib rapture' was wrong. Such attitudes highlight the person's unbelief. But it is important enough that Jesus made a special point of warning us against this -specific- error! Notice: the "crown of righteousness" goes to the "ones loving His appearance" (2Tm4:8 ) Not, the "kingdom" (2Tm4:1)
If you know better, and are having troubles accepting the fact of His appearance, reverse-logic would suggest that which is in your heart. "You will know them by their fruits." (Mt7:16a) "Fruits" can include a whole host of things besides -just- those things listed in Gal5:22-23. When Jesus promises to come to receive the Believers to Himself (Jn14:3), and a person says they don't believe it, and are preparing to go through God's judgment, such "works" (Jas2:18 ) pretty much declare the person's heart as being in Unbelief!
Many of -you-, reading this, are ones who proclaim and teach. Some of you have been deceived, and need to confess and return to faithfulness to God's Word.
Others of you know better. You are false prophets. For some reason you seem to think you are a "Christian" and on your way to heaven... eventually... after you've been "refined" (contrary to Scripture) in the coming time of judgment and wrath. But hear what Jesus says is in store for you...
"the Lord of that slave will come in a day in which he does not expect and in an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in two, and will appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (vs50-51)
"..knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep;
for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Let us
walk decently, as in the day...putting on the Lord Jesus Christ..
...redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Romans 13:11-14~ Ephesians 5:16
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