The dissection of the wicked servant in Matthew 24:51

Abstract

The dissection of the wicked servant in Mathew 24:51 is a difficult passage to interpret. Most scholars argue that Matthew could not have intended this particular motif to be taken literally, so they propose a metaphorical sense. There are good grounds, however, to question this view. Some neglected evidence suggests that the evangelist did indeed intend this gruesome reference to be taken literally. In Matthew’ s eschatological schema, wicked church leaders would be punished by dissection at the hands of angelic tormenters in Gehenna.