Wednesday, August 24, 2011

COMING OF THE KINGDOM – 25TH AUGUST – THURSDAY (Mt 24: 42-51)



1.      We are probably dealing with a slave, although the word is used for servants as well. That a slave is placed in charge is not unusual. The best biblical example and with similar wording to the parable is the account of Joseph being given authority both in the home of Potiphar and by Pharaoh. The slave literally controlled the health and welfare of the other slaves.

2.      Drunkenness and beating slaves are both traditional description of an uncontrolled life. This can be applied to the husbands who do the same to their wives.

3.      Often the parable is viewed as the Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to remain faithful in his absence before the coming of the final kingdom or of the Son of Man, both of which would entail judgment.

4.      Failing to be watchful even occasionally can bring in a lot of disaster. Thieves are the people who give surprise to the owner, because they come at the unpredictable time.

5.      We need to have urgency in our evangelization. The attitude of procrastination brings in a lot of danger. Before we could even start a project the end time would come. We would be taken for a task.

Many of us think that we have plenty of time left for us to live. We tend to postpone things with the hope of completing the task even at the last minute. We are more confident about our future. Are we prepared to go peacefully if death knocks at our door any time of the day? Our life is uncertain. It is better to complete the given tasks in time. Tasks do not strictly mean only our office works or house chores, but it primarily means the condition of our soul, condition of our spiritual life, condition of our moral life. We are not called to live in a constant fear of death but to live a life of preparedness and diligence.

Reference
The New Daily Study Bible – William Barclay
Stories with Intent – Klyne. R. Snodgrass

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