The Way - Day 257 (Matthew 25)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Matthew 25:1-13
Continuing His teaching on the second coming, Jesus answers the disciples' questions about the timing of the kingdom of God (24:3). Instead of specifically answering their question about when the kingdom of God would begin, Jesus gives them yet another parable. Matthew 25:1-13 has become known as the parable of the ten virgins. In this teaching Jesus introduces the listener to ten virgins who take their lamps (traditional for night weddings) and go out to meet the bridegroom (25:1). Jesus reveals that five of the virgins were wise and five of them were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps but failed to take oil to light them; however, the wise ones took their lamp with the oil needed to light them (25:4). For some reason the bridegroom was delayed and did not come when he was expected. Now, we have to understand a little bit about Jewish wedding customs in order to fully understand the meaning. There were a couple parts of weddings...the first step was engagement, the second step was called the betrothal where the ceremony actually took place, and after a period of time the wedding feast would follow. Following the ceremony (where the vows were exchanged) the couple was considered married, but the marriage had not been physically consummated. During the time between the betrothal and the feast (followed by the physical consummation), the groom would work and build a place to live. Back to the parable...Jesus is centering on the time between the betrothal and the wedding feast. The groom, which is a symbolic of Jesus Christ, has not yet returned to establish His kingdom and those waiting for the wedding feast (symbolic of people on earth) are left wondering when he will return. When the groom finally did return, five of the virgins attending the wedding feast could not make it because they didn't have oil for their lamps to see in the darkness. The other half (wise virgins) had adequately prepared for the wedding celebration and were able to make it. The main emphasis is found in verse 13 - Jesus tells His listeners to "watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Remember that Jesus is specifically referring to the time at the end of the seven year tribulation, not the time of the rapture. Jesus is sending warning to be watchful at all times and always be prepared for His return.

Matthew 25:14-30
After instructing the believers to be ready for Christ's return and the establishment of the kingdom, Jesus shares a final parable with them. This teaching is commonly known as the parable of the talents. In this parable Jesus tells of a man who is traveling to a far country (illustrates Jesus in heaven before His second coming) so he calls his servants (those living during the time of tribulation) together and distributes his possessions to them. To one of the servants he gives five talents (certain sum of money) and to another he gave two talents and to the last one he gave one talent. He gave to each man the amount of money he felt that they could handle (25:15). The man goes away on his journey and while he is away the servant with five talents trades with others and gains five more talents (25:16). The servant with two talents gained two more (25:17). The servant who had been given one talent went out and dug a whole and buried his money (25:18). After a period of time, the man returns and each servant gives an account of how he handled the master's money (25:19). The servants with five and two talents bring their money before the master and he is pleased with how they've used it and declares them "good and faithful servants (25:20-23). However, the servant with one talent comes accusing the master of being an unfair and unreasonable man (25:24-25) and made excuses as to why he had not gained anything with the money given to him. The master calls this servant "wicked and lazy" and sentences him to be punished (25:26-30). This parable is a clear illustration of the responsibility that God has given His followers to be faithful in that which He has entrusted to them. The issue in this parable is not the amount given to each servant...He rewards both the servant with five talents as well as the servant who was given two talents. The issue seems to be the faithfulness of the servants. The servant who was given one talent is an example of a person given his very life by God but chose to ignore his responsibility to worship Him with it. We can surmise from the master's punishment that this servant also represents an unbeliever who will ultimately be cast into hell (25:30). Those who are truly servants of God will be faithful (not perfect) to do His work; however, those who live life for themselves prove that they are not a follower of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46
To begin with, we must understand these verses in relationship to where this happens in the scope of the future. Currently we are all living in the church age and the next big event on God's timetable will be the rapture (spoken of in John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10). The rapture (rapturo), which is Latin for the words caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, brings an abrupt end to the church age as Christ appears in the clouds and snatches up all living believers from the earth (as well as dead believers) and takes them to heaven. Millions of Christians will disappear from the earth in an instant and immediately following the rapture there is a seven year period (often referred to as the Tribulation) then followed by the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth (millennial reign of Christ). Getting this picture of the future is very important in understanding the words of Jesus in this passage. When Christ returns to earth following the tribulation period but right before the millennial reign, there is a judgment of nations (specifically Gentiles). Jesus will sit on the throne and all nations (Gentiles) will appear before Him and He will separate them into "sheep and goats." The sheep are true believers and the goats are those who have rejected Jesus Christ as Savior. All believers, those who were converted during the seven year period of tribulation - Revelation 6-19, will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ remarks that their good works proved salvation had truly taken place, specifically that they had treated the Jews with love and respect during the time of tribulation (25:34-40). However, Jesus sits in judgment of those who refused to help the Jews during this time of tribulation (25:41-46) and their final judgment would be eternal punishment. Jesus is not teaching a salvation through works, but that when true salvation takes place, works will automatically follow. Faith without works is dead. Although Christ is speaking of a specific judgment in these verses, there is much application for us today. True conversion will always result in good works. Examine your heart today!

Dear God, may Your Spirit develop good works in my life.