The Lazy, the Least, and the Lost
(A Week Like No Other – Part 10)
#136 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
(Jesus is coming again, until He does, Christians are to be prepared and faithful.)
We return to our series in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus. We have been seeking to follow the events recorded in the four gospels of the NT, in chronological order, and we are now in the middle of Passion Week – the week leading up to the cross!
Matthew and Luke recorded what we will be studying today, but since Matthew recorded more information, we will turn to his record for our primary text. This will be a rather simple, “high altitude” perusal of the 25th chapter of Matthew. The passage is long, so we will read it as we study it – but for our introduction, let’s focus on a key portion of our text for our initial reading.
Let’s look at verses :31-34, where Jesus said –
Matthew 25:31-34
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
“This is the Word of the Lord.” (“Thanks be to God.”)
(Let’s pray)
In His classical way, Jesus utilizes the genre of parables and metaphors when teaching His disciples about His coming… Even in our simple reading of the text, I hope you can hear the tone of urgency in His Words…
There are at least three themes in Jesus’ Words recorded in this chapter. Jesus begins by telling a parable that only Matthew records. It has been entitled the Parable of the Ten Virgins… In it, we read –
1. A Word About Preparedness
Jesus tells a story that the disciples then could relate to, even more than most disciples can now… It is a cultural story… Jesus tells a story involving wedding party members, namely the attendants to the bride.
Now, before we even read the story, we need to think about how weddings were very different then, compared to a traditional wedding in our day.
The “wedding” had three parts to it… It began with an “agreement”, usually between the fathers of the bride and groom… The second phase was a ceremony, an officially “binding” ceremony known as a betrothal. A couple would be betrothed to one another, and considered “married” – but they were not yet sharing living quarters, or sexual relations… The betrothal period is what we refer to as the “engagement” period. A betrothal could only be called-off with a certificate of divorce…
You remember that is what Joseph contemplated doing when he learned that Mary was pregnant…
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
… he didn’t yet understand… He was embarrassed, and heart-broken, and was thinking about ending the betrothal… The Lord sent an angel to Joseph with the message that the Child was indeed conceived by the Holy Spirit – all in fulfillment of prophecy. Listen to Matthew’s recording of this –
Matthew 1:20-25
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
After a couple became betrothed to one another, the groom would get busy building his house, or perhaps an addition on his father’s house. He got busy preparing to bring his bride home… This process could take up to a year for him to finish… When he was ready, he would go get his bride!
He would come at any time of his choosing!...
John MacArthur explains –
“[This] is phase three, the … the wedding festivity, the wedding feast, the wedding celebration itself, where he comes to her house.
And she’s waiting there with all of her bridesmaids, and he arrives with all of the men that are with him and … he collects his bride and her maids and they all go with torches, parading through the night sky and through the village in a celebration of singing and talking and joy that is just unequalled in their social life… At the end of that period of celebration, the friend of the bridegroom, who was like the best man, would take the hand of the bride, place it in the hand of the bridegroom and everyone would leave… And that’s the [the final phase of the] wedding.”
With that background in mind, let’s read Jesus’ story –
Matthew 25:1-13
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
With a “working understanding” of a wedding in that culture, we can think about the point in Jesus telling this story… This parable simply illustrates the necessity of being … prepared.
The initial ceremony has taken place. The bride and the groom have been determined, and there is nothing in Jesus’ story to suggest any insecurity in that relationship… There is however, an insecurity for those bridesmaids who we rather … lackadaisical attitude, in not being prepared for the arrival of the groom! Those who failed to … remain prepared, ended up missing out on the festival when the final party came! Their … failure to prepare, illustrates the urgency and necessity of being prepared for the coming of the groom!
There is a question – a big question – that you need to answer… Are YOU prepared for the coming of the Groom?!...
You may have been around the “wedding party” for some time. You may even be numbered among the “members” – but if there is no … longing for the coming Groom … if there is no seriousness in your … preparations… then you too will be … numbered among the foolish.
You need to be prepared…
Jesus gives a second word. It is –
2. A Word About Accountability
We pick up in verse :14, and consider that the “kingdom of heaven” is –
Matthew 25:14-30
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Does all of this sound familiar?... I hope it does. We considered this from Luke’s record on January 19 of this year, in a message entitled; “The Reality of Accountability”... Matthew puts the account of this teaching here in Passion Week, and so I wanted to read it again here, and simply make the point again, as Jesus does… and that is, everyone will be summoned before the Lord to give an account for the … life and opportunities He has entrusted to us!
In the parable of talents, Jesus explicitly states that the owner entrusts to his servants “according to his own ability” (:15)... You are accountable for all the Lord has entrusted to you – not for what He entrusted to someone else! He knows “your abilities”, and He is perfectly just in how He will dispense justice in the end!
Now notice something carefully with me about this particular point… This parable emphasises how the Lord hold each person accountable. He will deal with you personally – you will stand before the Lord and give account. I will stand before the Lord and give account!
Romans 14:12
So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
Are you prepared?...
There is a third theme in Jesus’ words in this chapter… He gives –
3. A Word About Judgement
Now initially, you may think this is similar to our previous point, and it is… but here, we see the Lord not only holds every individual accountable – He holds the nations accountable!... Let’s read about it beginning with verse :31 –
Matthew 25:31
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
This is the Throne of all thrones… There is no authority – ever was, or will be – that is higher, or greater than this Throne!... This is the Throne where the King of all kings – The Judge of all judges … presides!
And pay close attention… Before this Throne, when Jesus comes again–
Matthew 25:32a
All the nations will be gathered before Him…
This is a great gathering of the nations… No nation that has ever existed is left out. No person who has ever lived is left out… This is an assembly … a summons … that no one will miss. There will be no “excused absences” from this gathering… All will be gathered together before Him! Again, no one is left out! No nation, no individual… Jesus is emphasizing again, the reality of this … summons!...
And then –
Matthew 25:32-33
32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Now, as we read about the judgement that Jesus dispenses, we need to pay attention to the specifics… There will be a great divide to occur. The “sheep”, that is the righteous – those who belong to the Shepherd, to Jesus, will be directed to His right side… Those who are “goats” – those who are at enmity with the Shepherd … and the sheep … will be directed to the left…
Keep in mind that God judges rightly – justly – and thoroughly… This is that moment proclaimed throughout history as the day of reckoning…
Which side will you be on?... If the Lord is … awakening within you a … concern about your spiritual conditions, speak to a Christian, to one of the pastors after the service… But all of us must come to grips with the reality that there is a coming … separation of the “saints, and the aints”... those who are born-again, from those who are not…
Pay attention to what comes next –
This is important… Follow closely –
Matthew 25:34
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Notice a lesson here carefully… Even before the Lord created the cosmos, He determined that those whom He redeems would be a gathered into His … prepared kingdom!
It is a kingdom given – not earned! A kingdom prepared by God, not man! An eternal kingdom, not … earthly…
But, let’s press on in this section, we are calling … “a schooling”... Notice that Jesus speaks about the … character and practice of those whom He is giving this kingdom… They are those who are … other-centered, not self-centered… We could even say; “God-centered, not man-centered”...
Read it carefully –
Matthew 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Now notice what He says to the … “goats” –
Matthew 25:41
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
Notice that the unregenerate will share in the same destiny, the same … hell that “has been prepared for the devil and his angels”...
What is the evidence of them … deserving this? Let’s read –
Matthew 25:42-45
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
So, what is “the schooling” that is taking place here?... Get this – there will be a persuasion that will occur… Everyone will be convinced of the justice of God’s judgement!...
In fact, consider the truth that –
Matthew 25:46a
These will go away into eternal punishment…
Jesus declares the outcome of the final judgement! He first declares the sentence upon the lost…
Now, this is a truth presented by Jesus, addressed throughout the Scriptures, that has been … objected to by the … so-called “modern mind”... People want to deny the reality of hell, because they don’t think anyone should go there, especially themselves… That is, they will maintain this … denial – until they are “schooled” one day…
Just what is this judgement upon the lost anyway?... I think Randy Smith’s succinct description is helpful –
Randy Smith – “People without Christ need to realize they will face three stages of God’s judgment. Most dreaded is the final and eternal stage of judgement when they are sentenced to hell after the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). Then there is the ‘intermediate stage’ between an unbeliever’s death and the final sentencing. This is often called Hades, a holding tank with no opportunity to escape (Lk. 16: 26) that involves suffering (Lk. 16:23-24; 2 Pet. 2:9b). Yet right now, before death, they are also presently under the judgement of God. John 3:18, ‘He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’”
This should convince us all that there is no such thing as “neutral ground” when it comes to Christ…
And what about those who are counted among the “sheep” / the “righteous” / more specifically, those who are “clothed in the righteousness of Jesus”?...
Matthew 25:46a
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous [will go] into eternal life.”
There is a destiny for each group – and both are … eternal!
Of what group are you a member?
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
