The Faithful and Wicked Servant (Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:42–48)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 77 (on Matthew 24:45–51) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LXXIV.html

On the two things required of the steward, fidelity and prudence:

He calls him faithful then, because he hath purloined nothing, neither misspent his Lord's goods without aim or fruit; and wise, because he knew how to dispense the things given him, according as was fit.

That the stewardship is not of money only:

But these things are spoken not of money only, but also of speech, and of power, and of gifts, and of every stewardship, wherewith each is entrusted.

On the evil servant who pleads that his lord delays:

For what, even though the Lord tarry, O wretched man, surely thou lookest that He will come. Why then dost thou not take care?

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 12:42–48) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why the harder commandments are laid upon those admitted to the rank of disciples:

Now to the courageous rightly belong the great and difficult of God's holy commandments, but to those who have not yet attained to such virtue, belong those things from which all difficulty is excluded.

On why the man of knowledge is punished more severely than the ignorant:

For the man of understanding who has given up his will to baser things will shamelessly implore pardon, because he has committed an inexcusable sin, departing as it were maliciously from the will of God, but the rude or unlearned man will more reasonably ask for pardon of the avenger.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 12:42–48) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the meat which the steward is set to give in due season:

Whosoever then has been found a faithful and wise steward, let him bear rule over the Lord's household, that he may give them their portion of meat in due season, either the word of doctrine by which their souls are fed, or the example of works by which their life is fashioned.

On the many evils that come from forgetting our departure:

Now from not considering the time of our departure, there proceed many evils. For surely if we thought that our Lord was coming, and that the end of our life was at hand, we should sin the less.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Letter 199, to Hesychius (on Matthew 24:48–49) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On how the evil servant's temper is exposed by his conduct:

The temper of this servant is shewn in his behaviour, which is thus expressed by his good Master; his tyranny, "and shall begin to beat his fellow servants," his sensuality, "and to eat and drink with the drunken."

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 24:51) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On what it means that the lord shall cut the servant asunder:

"He shall cut him in sunder," is not to be understood of execution by the sword, but that he shall sever him from the company of the saints.

On the portion appointed with the hypocrites:

And shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, ... so in the field and at the mill he seemed to be doing the same as others, but the event proved that his purpose was different.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 24:45–46) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On the special charge here laid upon the rulers of the people:

Though the Lord had given above a general exhortation to all in common to unwearied vigilance, yet He adds a special charge to the rulers of the people, that is, the Bishops, of watchfulness in looking for His coming.

On the servant found so doing at his lord's coming:

That is, obedient to his Lord's command, by the seasonableness of his teaching dispensing the word of life to a household which is to be nourished for the food of eternity.