Matthew 24:50

Literal Standard Version

the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour of which he does not know,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know.

King James Version (1611)
The Lord of that seruant shall come in a day when hee looketh not for him, and in an houre that hee is not ware of:

King James Version
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,

English Standard Version
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

New American Standard Bible
then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know,

New Century Version
The master will come when that servant is not ready and is not expecting him.

Amplified Bible
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

Legacy Standard Bible
the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

Berean Standard Bible
The master of that servant will come on a day he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect.

Contemporary English Version
If that happens, the master will surely come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him.

Complete Jewish Bible
then his master will come on a day the servant does not expect, at a time he doesn't know;

Darby Translation
the lord of that bondman shall come in a day when he does not expect it, and in an hour he knows not of,

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the master will come when the servant is not ready, at a time when the servant is not expecting him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That seruaunts master will come in a day, when he looketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not ware of,

George Lamsa Translation
The Lord of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know.

Good News Translation
Then that servant's master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know.

Lexham English Bible
the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know,

Literal Translation
the Lord of that slave will come in a day in which he does not expect and in an hour which he does not know,

American Standard Version
the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,

Bible in Basic English
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not looking for him, and in an hour of which he has no knowledge,

Hebrew Names Version
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,

International Standard Version
the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know.

Etheridge Translation
the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he computeth not, and in an hour which he doth not know,

Murdock Translation
the lord of that servant will come in a day he will not expect, and in an hour he knoweth not,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The same seruauntes Lorde shall come in a day, when he loketh not for hym, and in an houre that he is not ware of:

English Revised Version
the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,

World English Bible
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
The Lord of that servant shall come in a day that he expecteth him not, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

Weymouth's New Testament
the master of that servant will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him and at an hour of which he has not been informed;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
the lord of that seruaunt schal come in the dai which he hopith not, and in the our that he knowith not,

Update Bible Version
the lord of that slave shall come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour when he does not know,

Webster's Bible Translation
The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,

New English Translation
then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee,

New King James Version
the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,

New Living Translation
The master will return unannounced and unexpected,

New Life Bible
The owner will come on a day and at an hour when the servant is not looking for him.

New Revised Standard
the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The master of that servant, will have come, on a day when he is not expecting, and in an hour when he is not observing, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not and at an hour that he knoweth not:

Revised Standard Version
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that servauntes master wyll come in adaye when he loketh not for him and in an houre yt he is not ware of

Young's Literal Translation
the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he doth not expect, and in an hour of which he doth not know,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The same seruautes lorde shal come in a daye, wha he loketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not ware of,

Mace New Testament (1729)
the master of that servant will come in a day when he least expects it, and at an hour he is not aware of;

Simplified Cowboy Version
You can bet that one day the cattle foreman will ride up to the camp without givin' any notice.

Contextual Overview

³²And from the fig tree learn the allegory: when its branch may have already become tender, and it may put forth the leaves, you know that summer [is] near, ³³so also you, when you may see all these, you know that it is near—at the doors. ³⁴Truly I say to you, this generation may not pass away until all these may come to pass. ³⁵The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. ³⁶And concerning that day and the hour no one has known—not even the messengers of the heavens—except My Father only; ³⁷and as the days of Noah—so will also be the coming of the Son of Man; ³⁸for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the Ark, ³⁹and they did not know until the flood came and took all away, so will also be the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Then two [men] will be in the field: one is received, and one is left; ⁴¹two [women] will be grinding in the mill: one is received, and one is left.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

come: Matthew 24:42-44, Proverbs 29:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 3:3

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:3 - by night Joshua 8:14 - he wist not Psalms 64:7 - suddenly Proverbs 23:29 - Who hath woe Ecclesiastes 8:7 - he knoweth Ecclesiastes 8:11 - sentence Zechariah 11:8 - in Matthew 13:50 - wailing

Cross-References

Genesis 24:15
And it comes to pass, before he has finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,

Genesis 24:28
And the young person runs, and declares to the house of her mother according to these words.

Genesis 24:53
and the servant takes out vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and gives to Rebekah; precious things also he has given to her brother and to her mother.

Genesis 24:55
and her brother says—her mother also, "Let the young person abide with us a week or ten days, afterward she goes."

Genesis 24:60
and they bless Rebekah, and say to her, "You [are] our sister; become thousands of myriads, and your seed possesses the gate of those hating it."

Genesis 31:24
And God comes to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and says to him, "Take heed to yourself lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil."

Genesis 31:29
my hand is to God to do evil with you, but the God of your father last night has spoken to me, saying, Take heed to yourself from speaking with Jacob from good to evil.

2 Samuel 13:22
and Absalom has not spoken with Amnon either evil or good, for Absalom is hating Amnon, because that he humbled his sister Tamar.

Psalms 118:23
This has been from YHWH, || It [is] wonderful in our eyes,

Matthew 21:42
Jesus says to them, "Did you never read in the Writings: A stone that the builders disallowed, it became head of a corner; from the LORD has this come to pass, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The lord of that servant,.... Not by redemption and grace, but by creation and profession;

shall come in a day when he looked not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of: suddenly and unexpectedly: such was his coming in wrath and vengeance on the Jewish nation; and such is his coming oftentimes by death; and such will be his coming at the day of judgment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This passage is, in fact, “a parable,” though it is not expressly so called. The design is to show that his disciples should act as if they were each moment expecting his return. This he illustrates by the conduct of a servant who did not expect his master soon to return, who acted with great impropriety, and who was accordingly punished.

Matthew 24:45

Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant ... - By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant Jesus intends to denote a faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion.

Whom his lord - His master.

The word here has no reference to God. It means the “lord” or master of the servant. Applied to Christian teachers, in the spiritual meaning of the parable, it refers to “Christ,” who has appointed them as teachers, and who is their Lord and Master, John 13:13-14.

Over his household - His family. Christian ministers are the servants of God appointed over the church, the family of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1Co 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Meat in due season - The word “meat” here means food of all kinds. When the Bible was translated into English, the word included, as the original does, all kinds of provisions requisite to support and nourish life.

In due season - As they need it, or in the accustomed times. This was the office of a steward. Among the ancients this office was often filled by a “slave” - one who had shown himself trusty and faithful. The duty was to have a general superintendence over the affairs of the family. Applied to Christian ministers, it means that they are to feed the flock of God, to “minister” to their needs, and to do it as they need it, John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

Matthew 24:47

Shall make him ruler ... - Shall confirm his appointment over his household, and, as a reward, shall place him over all his property.

This does not mean that ministers will have a higher rank or office, but is a circumstance of “the parable” or story, designed to show the effect of faithfulness. Faithful servants of Christ shall be rewarded. This will be done by His approbation, and by the rewards of the heavenly world.

Matthew 24:48

That evil servant - If that servant, so appointed, having this office, should be evil or wicked.

Say in his heart - Secretly suppose.

Delayeth his coming - Will not return in a long time; or does not return as soon as was expected, and perhaps may not at all.

Matthew 24:49

Smite his fellow-servants ... - This is the conduct of a wicked servant, who, supposing he would not be called to account, and abusing his authority, gave himself up to oppression, carousing, and debauchery.

It is designed to represent the conduct of ministers who are unfaithful and overbearing, and who abuse their trust in the church.

Matthew 24:51

Shall cut him asunder - This kind of punishment was anciently practiced.

Sometimes it was done by the sword. sometimes by saws. It was practiced among the Chaldeans Daniel 2:5; Daniel 3:29, and among the Hebrews, 2 Samuel 12:31; 1Sa 15:33; 1 Kings 3:25; Hebrews 11:37. It was also practiced by the Egyptians and Romans. It is not, perhaps, here to be taken literally, but signifies that the wicked servant should be severely punished.

Hypocrites - See the notes at Matthew 6:2. They are spoken of here as the worst of people.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth - See the notes at Matthew 8:12-13. The unfaithful and wicked minister of God, who lives without expectation or fear of judgment, shall suffer the severest punishment inflicted on sinners in the world of woe.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 24:50. The lord of that servant — Here are three punishments which answer to the three characteristics of the bad minister.

1. A sudden death, and the weight of God's judgments falling upon him, without a moment to avert it: this answers to his infidelity and forgetfulness. He shall come in a day in which he looked not for him.

2. A separation from the communion of saints, and from all the gifts which he has abused: this answers to the abuse of his authority in the Church of Christ.

3. He shall have tears and eternal pains, in company with all such hypocrites as himself: and this answers to his voluptuous life, pampering the flesh at the expense of his soul.