And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Read Chapter 24
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Ep. 199, 1: The temper of this servant is shown in his behaviour, which is thus expressed by his good Master; his tyranny, “and shall begin to beat his fellow servants,” his sensuality, “and to eat and drink with the drunken.” So that when be said, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” he is not to be supposed to speak from desire to see the Lord, such as was that of him who said, ?My soul is athirst for the living God; when shall I come?” This shows that hewas grieved at the delay, seeing that what was hastening towards him seemed tohis longing desires to be coming slowly.
Ord.: For rare indeed is such “faithful” servant serving his Master for his Master's sake, feeding Christ’s sheep not for lucre but for love of Christ, "skilled” to discern the abilities, the life, and the manner of those put under him, whom “the Lord sets over,” that is, who is called of God, and has not thrust himself in.
Though the Lord had given above a general exhortation to all in common to unwearied vigilance, yet He adds a special charge to the rulers of the people, that is, the Bishops, of watchfulness in looking for His coming. Such He callsa faithful servant, and wise master of the household, careful for the needs and interests of the people entrusted to Him.
That is, obedient to his Lord’s command, by the seasonableness of his teaching dispensing the word of life to a household which is to be nourished for the food of eternity.
Or, “shall set him over all his goods,” that is, shall place him in the glory of God, because beyond this is nothing better.
“The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him,” isto rouse the stewards to watchfulness and carefulness. “He shall cut him in sunder,” is not to be understood of execution by the sword, but that he shall sever him from the company of the saints.
“And shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites,” with those, namely, that were in the field, and grinding at the mill, and were nevertheless left. For as we often say that the hypocrite is one who is one thing, and passes himself for another; so in the field and at the mill he seemed to be doing the same as others, but the event proved that his purpose was different.
In this He rebukes such as have less care for their souls, than they have of guarding their money against an expected thief.
That He says, “Whom think ye is that faithful and wise servant,” does not imply ignorance, for even the Father we find asking a question, as that, “Adam, whereart thou?” .
He requires two things of such servant, fidelity and prudence; He calls him "faithful,” because be appropriates to himself none of his Lord’s goods, and wastes nought idly and unprofitably. He calls him “prudent,” as knowing on what he ought to lay out the things committed to him.
This parable may be also fitted to the case of secular rulers; for each ought to employ the things he has to the common benefit, and not to the hurt of his fellow-servants, nor to his own ruin; whether it be wisdom or dominion, or whatever else be has.
And He instructs His hearer not only by the honour which awaits the good, but by the punishment which threatens the wicked, adding, “If that evil servant shall say in h...
Do you see it in itself gloriously celebrated, and crowned?
But if you be willing, from a third point also let us compare them; and let the one fast, and deny himself, and be a martyr, and be burnt to death, but let another delay his martyrdom for his neighbor's edification; and let him not only delay it, but let him even depart without martyrdom; who will be the more approved after his removal hence? We need not have many words, nor a long circumlocution. For the blessed Paul is at hand, giving his judgment, and saying, To depart and to be with Christ is better, nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you; Philippians 1:23-24 even to his removal unto Christ did he prefer his neighbor's edification. For this is in the highest sense to be with Christ, even to be doing His will, but nothing is so much His will, as that which is for one's neighbor's good.
Will you that I tell you a fourth proof also of these things? Peter, do you love me, says He; Feed my sheep: John ...
The “lord” is Christ, the “household” over which He appoints is the Church Catholic. It is hard then to find one man who is both “faithful and wise,” butnot impossible; for He would not pronounce a blessing on a character that could never be, as when He adds, “Blessed is that servant whom his lord when hecometh shall find so doing.”.
Not that they only, but that they before others, shall be rewarded as well for their own lives as for their superintendence of the flock.
Typically, we may understand his beating his fellow servants, of offending the consciences of the weak by word, or by evil example.
Or, “appoints him his portion with the hypocrites,” that is, a twofold share of punishment, that of fire and frost; to the fire belongs the “weeping,” to the frost the “gnashing of teeth.”
Nor yet does it imply the impossibility of attaining perfect virtue, but only the difficulty.
It should be observed, that as there is great difference of desert between good preachers and good hearers, so is there great difference between their rewards. The good hearers, if He finds them watching He will make to sit down to meat, as Luke speaks; but the good preachers “He will set over all His goods.”
Having spoken of how the faithful servant will be honored, now He tells how the wicked servant will be punished. If anyone entrusted with the stewardship of a gift disdains the judgement that will take place and says, "My lord delayeth," that is, God does not impose swift and immediate punishment, the Lord "shall cut him asunder." And if he considers God’s long-suffering nature an opportunity for wickedness and strikes his fellowservants by scandalizing them and shaking their conscience, as happens when those who are ruled see their rulers using for evil purposes what has been entrusted to them, the Lord shall likewise "cut him asunder." If a man, then, does such things, he shall be cut asunder, that is, he will be stripped of his gift, and then it will be seen what sort of man he is, and he will be cast into the darkness. Formerly he was able to deceive by means of his appearance, as are many hierarchs who are thought to be holy because of their rank. But then at the Judgement the gra...
