Then he will cut him to piecesThis phrase indicates a severe judgment and punishment. In the biblical context, it reflects the seriousness of being unfaithful or hypocritical in one's duties. The imagery of being "cut to pieces" is not necessarily literal but symbolizes complete and utter destruction or separation from God's favor. This reflects the Old Testament practices where severe punishments were meted out for disobedience, as seen in
1 Samuel 15:33, where Samuel hews Agag to pieces. It underscores the gravity of failing to live according to God's commands.
and assign him a place with the hypocrites
The term "hypocrites" is frequently used by Jesus to describe the Pharisees and religious leaders who outwardly appeared righteous but were inwardly corrupt (Matthew 23:27-28). Being assigned a place with the hypocrites suggests a fate of being grouped with those who are insincere in their faith and practice. This reflects the cultural and religious context of Jesus' time, where outward religious observance was often prioritized over genuine faith and obedience. It serves as a warning against duplicity and the importance of integrity in one's relationship with God.
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
This phrase is a common biblical expression used to describe the anguish and regret experienced by those who are cast out of God's presence. It is used in several other passages, such asMatthew 8:12 andMatthew 13:42, to depict the torment of those who face eternal separation from God. The "weeping" signifies sorrow and despair, while "gnashing of teeth" indicates anger and frustration. This imagery is consistent with the descriptions of hell or Gehenna, a place of final judgment and punishment for the wicked. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's authority and failing to live according to His will.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Unfaithful ServantThis character represents those who are not prepared for the return of Christ and fail to live according to His teachings.
2.
The MasterSymbolic of Jesus Christ, who will return at an unexpected time to judge the living and the dead.
3.
The HypocritesThose who outwardly appear righteous but are inwardly corrupt, often referenced by Jesus in His teachings.
4.
Weeping and Gnashing of TeethA phrase used to describe the anguish and regret of those who are cast out from God's presence.
5.
The Return of ChristThe event when Jesus will come back to judge humanity, as described in the broader context of
Matthew 24.
Teaching Points
The Importance of FaithfulnessBelievers are called to remain faithful and vigilant, living in a way that honors God, knowing that Christ's return is imminent and unexpected.
The Reality of JudgmentThis passage serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment and the eternal consequences of our earthly actions.
Hypocrisy in the ChurchWe must examine our lives for hypocrisy, ensuring that our outward actions align with our inner faith and devotion to God.
Urgency of RepentanceThe imagery of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" underscores the urgency of repentance and the need to align our lives with God's will.
Living with Eternal PerspectiveChristians are encouraged to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual readiness over worldly concerns.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 24:51?
2.How does Matthew 24:51 warn against hypocrisy in our Christian walk?
3.What does "weeping and gnashing of teeth" signify about eternal consequences?
4.How can we ensure faithfulness to avoid the fate in Matthew 24:51?
5.Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of being a faithful servant?
6.How can we apply the warning in Matthew 24:51 to daily life choices?
7.What does Matthew 24:51 mean by "weeping and gnashing of teeth"?
8.How does Matthew 24:51 relate to the concept of divine judgment?
9.Why is the servant in Matthew 24:51 punished so severely?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 24?
11.What does 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' mean?
12.What occurs to the wicked upon their death?
13.What does "gnashing of teeth" mean?
14.What occurs to the wicked upon their death?What Does Matthew 24:51 Mean
Then he will cut him to piecesJesus is speaking about a real moment of judgment, not a symbolic slap on the wrist. The unfaithful servant in the parable (Matthew 24:45-50) is caught abusing his stewardship, and the Master “will cut him to pieces.” That graphic language shows:
• The certainty and severity of divine justice (Hebrews 10:31: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”).
• The suddenness of the sentence—just asLuke 12:46 says, “The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect… and cut him in two.”
• God’s absolute right to deal decisively with willful rebellion (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
and assign him a placeJudgment does not end with the initial blow; it continues with placement. Scripture presents eternity as two fixed destinations: life or punishment.
•Revelation 20:12-15 pictures the unsaved “thrown into the lake of fire.”
•Matthew 25:41 calls it “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
The assigned place is not random; it is the rightful portion for those who refuse the Master’s authority (John 3:36).
with the hypocritesThe condemned servant joins “the hypocrites,” people who publicly claim devotion but live in contradiction. Jesus has already unmasked them inMatthew 23:27-28—“whitewashed tombs” polished outside, dead inside.
Key thoughts:
• Hypocrisy is treason against truth; it provokes unique anger from the One who is Truth (John 14:6).
• Religious show without inner transformation carries the same sentence as open rebellion (James 1:22).
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teethThis phrase recurs as Jesus’ description of hell—an unending place of conscious sorrow and regret.
•Matthew 8:12 speaks of “outer darkness” with identical wording.
•Matthew 13:42 adds “a blazing furnace.”
•Revelation 14:11 underscores duration: “The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever.”
The weeping signals unbearable grief; the gnashing of teeth pictures furious, impotent rage—together portraying the full misery of separation from God.
summaryMatthew 24:51 draws a straight line from unfaithfulness to final judgment. The Master will:
1. Execute decisive punishment (“cut him to pieces”).
2. Assign a permanent destiny (“a place”).
3. Classify the guilty with pretenders (“the hypocrites”).
4. Seal their fate in conscious, eternal torment (“weeping and gnashing of teeth”).
Jesus’ warning is literal, certain, and intended to wake every listener to faithful, watchful obedience while grace is still offered.
(51)
And shall cut him asunder.--Here also, as in the case of the faithful servant, the words have more than one fulfilment. The form of punishment (one which, in its literal sense, belongs to the inventive cruelty of Eastern kings) would seem here to have been chosen for its figurative fitness. The man had been a hypocrite, double-minded, trying to serve two masters, and his Lord, with the sharp sword of judgment, smites through the false, apparent unity of his life, and reveals its duplicity.
There shall be weeping.--As elsewhere, "the weeping andthe gnashing."
Verse 51. -Shall cut him asunderδιχοτομήσει). This mode of death was inflicted in some cases (see1 Samuel 15:33;2 Samuel 12:31;Daniel 3:29;Hebrews 11:37; compare also the account of the execution of Mettius in Livy, 1:28; and Horace, 'Sat.,' I. 1:99). Thus in our own country "quartering," after hanging at least, was once a usual penalty for some offences, such as high treason. The term has been here interpreted to refer to the operation of the cruel scourge, which without metaphor might be said to cut a man to pieces; or "to dismiss from his employment," which seems to be hardly an adequate punishment. The difficulty is that the utter destruction of the malefactor implied in his literal cutting asunder is not consistent with his subsequent consignment to the lot of the hypocrites. Hence the Fathers have variously explained the term to signify separation from the company of saints, or from spiritual grace, or from all the blessings promised to the righteous. But we may take the Lord's words as applying first to temporal punishment - the unrighteous steward shall suffer death as horrible as dichotomy, a severance of body and soul, accompanied with unspeakable tortures; as in the History of Susanna, ver. 55, "The angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two."Appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. The Lord drops the parable, and speaks of the terrible reality. The hypocrites are the faithless and deceitful, who, while pretending to do their lord's work, are mere eye servants, and really neglect and injure it. The remissful steward shares their punishment in the other world.There (ἐκεῖ)shall be, etc.;i.e. in the place where the hypocrites receive their punishment (Matthew 8:12;Matthew 22:13;Matthew 25:30). The expression signifies measureless grief and despair.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Then
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
he will cut him to pieces
διχοτομήσει(dichotomēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1371:From a compound of a derivative of dis and a derivative of temno; to bisect, i.e. to flog severely.
and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
assign
θήσει(thēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087:To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.
him
αὐτοῦ(autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
a place
μέρος(meros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313:A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.
with
μετὰ(meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326:(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.
the
τῶν(tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
hypocrites,
ὑποκριτῶν(hypokritōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5273:From hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler
[where] there
ἐκεῖ(ekei)
Adverb
Strong's 1563:(a) there, yonder, in that place, (b) thither, there. Of uncertain affinity; there; by extension, thither.
will be
ἔσται(estai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
weeping
κλαυθμὸς(klauthmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2805:Weeping, lamentation, crying. From klaio; lamentation.
and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
gnashing
βρυγμὸς(brygmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1030:A grinding or gnashing. From brucho; a grating.
of
τῶν(tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
teeth.
ὀδόντων(odontōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3599:A tooth. Perhaps from the base of esthio; a 'tooth'.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 24:51 And will cut him in pieces (Matt. Mat Mt)
