Matthew 24:45-51

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth" (Matthew 24:45-51 RSV).

Question:

This is from Jesus' long discourse, in the final week of his ministry, in response to his disciples asking when the end time will come. It is sometimes called the 'little apocalypse' because its theme and imagery are similar to the much later Revelation to John.

There has been much discussion about whether Jesus believed and taught that the world was literally about to end. If he did, he was clearly wrong, since we're still here 2,000 years later. I think he was truly concerned with how to live a life, not with when it all might end. (I also think it's possible the author of Matthew embellished the teachings a bit to frighten people into staying with the church.)

The meaning here is that choices have consequences. If you choose to continue living within the limitations of ego mind, with its fear-based beliefs, your life experience will be stormy; your time will be spent attacking and competing with others who seem to have what you believe you lack. This is even more painful once you have been awakened to spiritual Truth. If you still insist on living as if that Truth didn't exist, the consequences will be severe—not as punishment from an outer God but as the consequence of your own choices. 

If, on the other hand, you choose to experience ego mind from the larger perspective of your own spiritual Self, your life will be peaceful and abundant. You will make choices from an awareness of Spirit, and your life will express the infinite Love that Spirit is. You will also be able to serve the needs of those (the other servants) who are still unaware of their innate Power. They need to be fed and protected as they struggle to know the Truth and transform their own lives.

Who is the Master? He is our infinite spiritual Source. That Source, expressing as you, supplies the power and authority that allows your life to be an experience that is not only enjoyable, but of service to others. The Master comes whenever we choose to be spiritually awake to remind us of the spiritual purpose that brings us, infinite Beings of Spirit, into this mortal experience in the first place.

It's important to remember that Jesus expressed himself to the crowd around him in images that they were familiar with and could more easily understand. He knew, I think, that as we grow in spiritual awareness the heart of his teachings would emerge into our awareness.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed