Matthew 24:3-5, “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Matthew 24 is an intriguing passage. I will tell you what I think it means. The disciples met privately with Jesus and asked Him what will be signs of the end of the world, and of His Second Coming. Don't miss verse 5, because it explains Matthew 24:51. Most people interpret verse 5 to mean that false prophets will come who claim to be Jesus Christ. I don't think that is what it means. The Bible is saying that many shall come, confessing that Jesus is Christ. They will come in Jesus' name. Dr. Steve Pettit comes to mind, the president of Bob Jones University. He says that Jesus is the Christ. Dr. Pettit preaches in Jesus' name. Yet, Dr. Pettit teaches the false plan of Lordship Salvation, leading people astray into false doctrines of devils. The Lord said people like Steve Pettit would lead MANY astray, deceiving them!
So this is what Matthew 24:45-51 is referring to—false prophets. These are false servants! They look like ministers of righteousness, but they are really ministers of unrighteousness, preaching another gospel (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). I consulted my commentary by Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) for Matthew 25:45-51 and this is what he brilliantly says:
Responsibility to live for God and witness for Christ while waiting and watching for His appearing is what is stressed in the closing verses of the chapter.
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." —Matthew 24:45-51
It is a great responsibility to be put in trust with any measure of divine truth. What is given is not for our own information alone but to be passed on to others. "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:2). Those to whom the Lord has made known His purpose and counsels are therefore called upon to act as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, sharing with the household of faith the spiritual food for their encouragement and edification. The servant who fulfills his responsibilities along this line will be duly rewarded in the day of manifestation. But if any attempt to trifle with the truth, putting far off the coming of the Master, and live selfishly, manifesting a haughty, over-bearing spirit, they will have to face the Judge at an unexpected hour, and will be given their portion with the hypocrites. Such a servant is of course not a true child of God at all, but he will be judged nevertheless according to the profession he has made. It is a very serious thing to use one's knowledge of the truth of God for selfish enrichment, with no real concern for those to whose needs one is called to minister.
All service is to be in view of the coming again of the King when His faithful servants will have their places appointed in the kingdom according to the measure of their devotedness during the day of testimony."
SOURCE: Pastor Harry A. Ironside, Matthew, p. 325-326; ©1948, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.Bravo! So we see that everyone who claims that Jesus is Christ is accountable as so-called "servants" they profess to be. In Matthew 7:21-23 they said, "LORD, LORD" to Jesus, but they were false servants. They boasted of their many wonderful works. They boasted of even casting out devils. But Jesus called them "ye that work iniquity" and said "I never knew you, depart from me"! They went to Hell. These were wicked servants! I think this is a good explanation of Matthew 25:45-51 by Pastor Ironside, and I'm sure you will agree.
Our churches and Bible colleges are full of wicked servants, who mishandle the truth of God's Word. I'm talking about Moody Bible Institute and their Calvinist garbage theology! I'm talking about Bob Jones University and their Calvinist garbage of Lordship Salvation. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) preached Free Grace Theology, not Lordship Salvation. In fact, Dr. Jones said if he could, he'd come back from Heaven in 50 years and blow his college to smithereens, if infidels ever came to rob the saints of their faith. That evil has happened! Dr. John MacArthur in California is the enemy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bob Jones University crowd bid him Godspeed, making them partaker of his evil deeds. These are the unfaithful wicked servants of whom the Lord warned in Matthew 24:45-51.
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