Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 24:50

"the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not," — Matthew 24:50 (ASV)

If the servant is wicked and lacks faithfulness and wisdom (v.45), he may convince himself that the master “is staying away a long time”—perhaps a subtle hint that the Parousia could be considerably delayed (cf. 25:19). The wicked servant uses the delay to abuse his fellow servants and carouse (v.49). But the wicked servant, surprised and unprepared for his master’s return, is put with the “hypocrites.” His lot is with the punishment given those most constantly held up as vile in this gospel (6:2, 5, 16; 16:3; 23:13–29). The master “will cut him to pieces” (cf. 1 Samuel 15:33; Hebrews 11:37)—a most severe and awful punishment—and he joins the hypocrites in weeping and grinding of teeth (cf. 8:12).