The Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45-51)

In this part of the sermon: Both servants are called to account and rewarded. The faithful servant receives increased stewardship, being set over all the master has. The evil servant receives severe and…

Martin explains the graphic phrase 'cut him asunder' by comparing it to dismembering a sacrifice, then to a figure of speech like 'ate him up and chewed him up,' and finally to the cruel practices of first-century masters, to convey the severity of the master's wrath.

will set him this faithful and wise servant over all that he has. He has been doing what the master told him to do in his absence he is found doing it when his master returns Jesus said verily the master the Lord at his return will amply reward him and set him over all that he has he will cause this servant to enter in to a partnership of all that belongs to him and all that he administers in his particular realm of possession and authority but now what will he do with the evil servant the evil servant is rewarded with severe and irreversible punishment look at the sobering words of the Lord J...

19:55 - 21:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: putting the Lord's unexpected return out of the thoughts of our hearts is the root of all kinds of sin in the life thereby ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus

Martin uses the analogy of a sermon being like a 'seven-month a baby in the womb' that 'would use another couple of months' to express his desire for more time to prepare and refine the message, conveying his commitment to thoroughness.

in that category at the return of the Lord Jesus now what does the parable teach us concerning being ready for the Lord's return well as I've wrestled with this and said Lord help me to get at the heart of the issue cut through all secondary issues I said to the men when we met to pray in the back I'd like about three more hours I feel like the thing is about two thirds ready it's about a seven month a baby in the womb and it would use another couple of months but several more hours but such as I have I give to you this night number one we learn from this passage with respect to being ready fo...

25:47 - 27:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: putting the Lord's unexpected return out of the thoughts of our hearts is the root of all kinds of sin in the life thereby ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus

Martin uses the metaphor of putting a 'secret device upon this man's heart' to illustrate how the parable reveals the evil servant's internal thoughts and reasoning, emphasizing the heart as the source of sin.

about the heart of the faithful he says nothing about the heart of the faithful he says nothing about the heart of the wise and the wise servant but he takes us into the chambers of the heart he lets us put a secret device upon this man's heart and we hear the language of his heart look at it in verse forty eight but if that evil servant shall say in his heart he's talking to himself in his heart and it is out of the heart that the issues proceed guard your heart above all that you guard for out of it are the issues of life the voices you allow to speak in your heart are the voices that determ...

27:15 - 28:37 Read in full sermon

Driving home: living with the fact of the Lord's unexpected return in our hearts is a powerful motive. To the performance of duty and the avoidance of sin

Martin uses the proverb 'misery love company' and extends it to 'sins loves company' to explain why the evil servant 'sought out his own' (the drunken), applying it to believers who seek out fellow sinners after church.

But it was putting off that the master was coming. That he could throw the gut until he was gluttonous and throw his wine in his throat until he was drunk. And he sought out his own. You notice that little touch with the drunken.

35:07 - 35:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Live in such a way that if Jesus were to return, you would want to be found doing your particular scope of duty, according to the scriptures.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about a short night of sleep before ministering the word, using it to illustrate how the thought of Christ's return motivates him to prioritize prayer and spiritual readiness over comfort, avoiding becoming a 'professional cleric'.

But this is one of them living in the light of the unexpected return of the Lord Jesus thinking in these terms if he were to come and find me avoiding this duty how would I feel when I want him to come finding me doing what he had told me to do blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he comes shall find so. Now begin to apply. This to the nitty gritty of day by day I mentioned the incident this morning of a short night of sleep and the stewardship of ministering the word and the determination that I would not become a professional cleric and that if I can't stand before you people coming fr...

40:44 - 41:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Continue in your calling and duty as long as God gives strength, desiring to be found doing what you're supposed to do should the Lord return.

Martin describes his personal routine for leading family devotions, including turning off the phone and preparing the setting, to illustrate how the desire to be found 'so doing' by Christ motivates him to overcome the 'antipathy in my remaining sin' towards sacred duties.

Quarter to six. Ten to six. And supper's over. I know what my duty is.

42:47 - 42:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Gather with God's people to pray, even when tired, considering what you would want the Lord to find you doing at His return.

Martin shares his experience of being tired on Wednesdays but still attending prayer meetings, using it as an example of how the question 'What would I want him to find me doing?' motivates him to gather with God's people despite weariness.

And when it comes time for prayer meetings. Many a Wednesday. I'm as tired as you are. And everything in me.

44:05 - 44:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for help to live each day in the way of every duty you'd want to be doing and avoiding every sin you'd want to be avoiding if Jesus were to come.

Martin uses the example of a child quickly changing the TV channel or lying when mom enters the room to illustrate the hypocrisy and fear of earthly judgment, contrasting it with the greater accountability to Christ's return.

If you jump with embarrassment and with a sense of uh oh I'm going to get it. If mom comes in the room and finds you watching something on the TV you know you shouldn't and you scurry around for the remote or you give some flimsy excuse well I was out to the bathroom mom and you cover your sin with a lie. If you do that with just mom what would you do? Jesus came found you in that.

49:46 - 50:17 Read in full sermon