November 8: Matthew 25

Matthew continued…

November 8, Matthew 25

Matthew 25 The Parable of the Ten Virgins. What is the point? Coming off of yesterday’s study - this is very consistent. Be prepared at all times to meet Jesus Christ. He is coming back. Do not be foolish but be wise and life your life in preparedness for His return. I am going to put this in here from Bakers Commentary, as he has done a phenomenal work in laying it out. “Having now studied the parable, and having fixed our attention upon its main lesson, namely the necessity of constant preparedness, hearts and lives ever consecrated to the Lord in the here and now, we are entitled to ask, “In keeping with this main application, what are some of the ancillary truths taught here?” Probably the following:

a. All who profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are alike in many respects; especially in this, that all are on their way to meet the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. See Matt. 25:1.

b. The resemblances are, however, superficial. There is an essential difference. By no means all who read the Bible, attend and even belong to a church, sing the songs of salvation, make public profession of faith, even preach in Christ’s name, are going to share in the blessings of Christ’s return. Some are sensible. Religion with them is not sham and pretense. They believe in being prepared by faith in the Savior and lives dedicated to him and therefore to God Triune. Others are foolish. “They have a form of piety but deny its power” (2 Tim. 3:5; cf. Matt. 7:22, 23). Unprepared they travel on—to meet the Judge. See Matt. 25:2–4.

c. A long span of time will elapse between the first and the second coming. See Matt. 25:5; and on 24:9, 14; 25:19.

d. The return of the Lord will be sudden, visible, and audible. See Matt. 25:6; and on 24:31.

e. Preparedness is not transferable from one person to another. See Matt. 25:7–9; also Ps. 49:7; Prov. 9:12; Gal. 6:12.

f. For those who are not ready—that is, for those unsaved before they die, and for those who in their unsaved condition survive on earth until Christ’s return—there is no “second chance.” See Matt. 25:10–12; also 7:22, 23; 10:32, 33; 24:37–42; 25:34–46; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10; Gal. 6:7, 8; 2 Thess. 1:8, 9; Heb. 9:27.

g. Therefore—and in view of the fact that the moment of Christ’s return is unknown—watchfulness at all times is required. See Matt. 25:13; also Ps. 95:7, 8; 2 Cor. 6:2.

Whether or not the “oil” in this parable has a symbolical meaning is not certain. If it does, it would point to the Holy Spirit, through whose transforming and enabling power men are prepared to welcome the Bridegroom. See Matt. 25:2–4; and cf. Isa. 61:1; Zech. 4:1–6; 2 Thess. 2:13.

The Parable of the Talents. Continuing on, Jesus gives another parable about what the return of Christ will be like. In the form of a story, Jesus explains it like a man who is going away and called his servants to entrust them to his property. He gave one 5 talents, 2 to another and 1 to another. Basically, a talent was simply a measure of weight, like a pound or an ounce. Ballpark estimates is that a talent would equal about $600,000 a year wage. So, taking that math, one guy got $3million, another $1.2million and the other $600,000. He is a wealthy businessman that knows his servants abilities and gives them his money to make him more money based on their ability. Right away, the 1st two guys went to work and doubled their bosses money. Not bad… The 3rd guy went and buried the money. He didn't try to make his boss any money. He was lazy. A long time passed and the boss returns. They are now to give an account for what they did with the money he gave them. “And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” That is the response that we should all be longing to hear from Jesus Christ on His return. The same for the 2nd guy as well. Then we have the 3rd guy who buried it… “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” He didn't even do the minimum of what the boss wanted, therefore his heart was not to serve his master. Same goes for us. If Christ is in us, we cannot bury him and hope that we can be with Him. We are to go out and invest it in the souls of others. We are not to be selfish with what we have been given by Him. God gives us opportunities to work for Him and we are to do it with a willing heart to share what He has given us.

The Final Judgment. Picture this scene with me… “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Let’s think about this for a minute… Jesus is coming back. He will have all the angels with Him. He is going to sit on His glorious throne. Everyone around the world will be gathered as he separates His people from those who are not. This is really going to happen. Those that are His, He will welcome them in, as He has been preparing this for us since the beginning of time. Those that are His took care of His needs. They served Him in serving others. Those that are not going to be let in did not serve others, they did not take care of His needs. If we serve others in His name we are serving Him. Then Jesus will tell those that are not His, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” But why you may ask… Because they did not serve Him. They did not minister to Him. They did not take care of what He asked them to. “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

To sum it all up: 

• Be prepared. Live your life in such a way that reflects how prepared you are to meet Jesus Christ soon.
• All of this is really going to happen. Jesus really told us in advance. We are really supposed to be living your lives in expectation of meeting Him.
• We are not to be selfish with what we have been given by Him. God gives us opportunities to work for Him and we are to do it with a willing heart to share what He has given us.