King James Bible
"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;"
The servant's internal dialogue reveals a dangerous assumption that the master's return is indefinitely postponed. This rationalization, hidden 'in his heart,' becomes the root of subsequent moral failure, illustrating how wrong beliefs about divine timing corrupt behavior. The servant abuses his delegated authority by violently mistreating those under his care. This represents a complete reversal of his stewardship role—from protector to oppressor—showing how perceived absence of accountability leads to tyranny. The progression culminates in self-indulgence and loss of self-control through intoxication. The servant consumes resources meant for the household's welfare, embodying the ultimate betrayal of trust through hedonistic excess.