Matthew 23-25 End Time Parables
Psalm 119:41-48 Liv'n It, Lov'n It, and Shar'n It
45 I will walk in liberty/freedom, for I have sought your precepts. 46 I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed. 47 I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them. 48 I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes."
Observations: 119:41-44 The psalmist hopes and trusts in what God has revealed: His hesed/loyal covenantal love. Expecting God to fulfill his covenanted responsibilities to save His servant, the psalmist fulfills his responsibility to obey.
119:45-48 As a result of seeking and applying God's word (meditation=thinking through implications for applications), the psalmist lives in freedom, loves God's word, and shares it with others.
Application: Those who experience the liberating benefits of God's word, love it, and share it with others; those who don't share it probably haven't experienced it.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Prayer: Lord, thanks that Your word has made such a difference in my life, freeing me from sin, and delighting my heart; may I seek opportunities to share my love of Your word with others. Amen.
Proverbs 27:11-12 Dangers to Joy
Pr 27:11 “Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my reproacher. 12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.“
Observations: 27:11 Wisdom results in joy to both the person who has acquired it, and those around him/her. The life of a wise child vindicates Biblical parenting. People who don't follow God nor His revelation will always rail against Biblical principles, particularly as they relate to parenting (as if God knows nothing about how to raise the creatures He's created). Compare the life of someone who is undisciplined and lives for the gratification of their selfish desires for temporal significance, sex, and success, with that of an other-centered individual who loves others with a view to eternal power, pleasure and possessions. Which brings more joy to parents and God?
27:12 A wise or prudent person has been trained to recognize or discern danger and take preventative action. The simple fool walks or runs right into danger and stupidly suffers, causing grief to those who love him/her.
Application: Know your danger areas, and take all prudent defensive action, from elimination, prevention, memorization, accountability, to fleeing.
Prayer: God, thanks for warning me in Your word of the dangers to joy, and for providing prescriptions for living happily ever after. Amen.
Matthew 23-25 In His last instruction to the multitudes and disciples, Jesus warns against false teaching and the judgments that will come at the end of the age so His followers will be blessed and rewarded rather than cursed and punished.
Matthew 23 Worthless Hypocrites Denounced
13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 14 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you obstruct/shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves. 16 "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 ’Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’ 19 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who dwells in it. 22 He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it. 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? 34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’"
Observations: 23:1-12 You can learn from bad examples, both what not to do, and when they tell you what is true. It's not that hypocrites don't know the truth, often they do, but they don't do it. The sign of an evil parent, boss, or religious or civic official, is that they demand of others what they don't do themselves. The pathetic creatures described by Jesus have no basis for self-worth. They are not doing what pleases God, so they can't feel God's pleasure when they obey. Since we're made to crave His affirmation, they try to get if from others, doing the silliest things. To keep myself amused in the presence of fools, I view the prideful as monkeys in a zoo who go through bizarre pacing and routines all day long. Once, they did a behavior that got someone to toss them a treat, or they saw another monkey get rewarded. So, they repeat the action hoping for another peanut. They link together a bunch of bizarre behaviors, having learned that if they persist they'll eventually get lucky, because it happened before. It's a lot like dating. But real and enduring affirmation comes from God, which He bestows on those who do what is right in His sight, and He sees the heart. Being other-centered to see the real needs of others, and sacrificially and humbly serving them is about as Christlike as you can get (unless you're good on skipping over the seas). Paul in Acts 28:3 is a great example. But the Pharisees of Jesus' day, and ours, think that doing things so others see and think well of them, will give them the worth a value they crave. They're doubly wrong: people are fickle so being a slave to their opinion is just stupid; doing things to be seen by men forfeits your reward from your Heavenly Father (Mt 6:1). You can't serve two masters either (6:24). How have you humbled yourself lately to serve others?
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...”
23:13-33 Jesus recites the riot act to the hypocrites with vehemence worse than a viper's bite (which he also compares them to). Do you think He's the tinniest bit angry? How about sarcastic? So much for the meek and mild Jesus. There are a couple of points worth highlighting beyond the condemnation. The blind religious leaders kept people from “entering” the kingdom. Up until this point enter has had the connotation of taking possession, more than that of stepping over the threshold. Jesus is viewing the religious leaders as blocking the entrance although the possession meaning is still here; one has to enter to take possession, as the end of verse 14 indicates.
23:23 This verse deserves its own line, because it sums up the weightier matters of the law in a manner consonant with most ancient wisdom literature: justice, hesed/mercy, and a faithful relationship with God, as in Micah 6:8 (The LXX translates the Hebrew hesed as eleos which has a component of loyal and compelling concern for others.) The righteous ordering of society, real relationships with others, and a loyal relationship with God, comprise the good life.
23:26 Bonus note: this is the only other occurrence of the Greek word for “inside/within” Strongs #1787, which denotes the surface area enclosed by the walls of the cup, not the molecules of the walls of the cup. Why is this significant? Luke 17:21 is the only other occurrence, and the only verse (falsely) cited to support the false teaching that the Kingdom from the heavens is something in one's heart, rather than that promised in the OT. If you look at the context of Luke 17:21, we have the same wicked Pharisees who were rejecting Jesus there, as here. Surely Jesus was not saying that the kingdom was in their hearts?
23:33-39 The hypocrites will suffer the punishment of Gehenna (differs from the lake of fire, see previous comments). Despite their injustice and rebellion, Jesus (who gives a glimpse of His pre-incarnate state), often wanted/desired/willed to gather them under His protection, but they would/desired/willed not. Here is a perfectly clear example of man rebelliously exercising His free will against God's will, and winning (in the short-term). But wait, there's more! The Messiah pronounces judgment against the nation (house/dynasty of Israel left desolate), until they repent (Romans 11). They, as a nation, will see Him, when they become receptive and recite Psalm 118:26, as the crowds did a few days (and chapters) previously on His triumphal entry (Mt 21:8). Despite their evil rejection, God does not abandon Israel, but they will suffer the consequences of their choice to sin, until they repent. Wait a minute, is this the OT or NT?
Application: Seek worth and value in the sight of God, by living justly, loyally, and faithfully, and you'll not care about the hypocrites, nor be like them.
Prayer: God, thanks that I can do what is pleasing in Your sight; please guide me in learning and doing all You desire. Amen.
Matthew 24 Tribulation and Teaching
24:1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down." 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming and of (the) end of the age?"
4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
23 "Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together. 29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation/nation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; 41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him off, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding/gnashing of teeth will be.
Observations: 24:1-3 Jesus departs out of the temple (parallel to Ezekiel's vision) and sits on the Mount of Olives (on which Zech 14:4 says He will stand at His return). He foretells the destruction of the temple, signifying an end of temple worship as the Jews knew it. God would destroy the second temple and discipline His people, just as He had the first. He values obedience more than the finest religious building in the world. After the temple is destroyed, Judaism could no longer be practiced as specified in the OT. The disciples ask him two questions, when would the temple be destroyed and what what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age (they viewed the coming as ending the present age). The word for the end of the “age/world” is “aion” which is usually incorrectly translated as eternal or forever (which is impossible to do in this context). It was never used in Greek literature of an indeterminate period of time (except in some of Plato's usages), and in the NT it almost always refers to a definite period of time, like the Messianic age (although the end of the next chapter might be an exception). The word for “end” is “sunteleia” which means summary fulfillment, or consummation. It is used almost exclusively by Matthew (cx Heb 9:26) to describe the concluding judgment of the age (Mt 13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20). Note that the next time the summary judgment is mentioned is in Mt 28:20, the last verse of the book. The rest of the references to “end” in this chapter are just “teleia” refering to an end goal or completion, without the “sun” prefix.
24:4-22 Jesus emphasizes the importance of not being deceived and going astray as a result of external events and false teaching (even that accompanied by miracles). The ones who endure to the end will be saved (in the glorification sense, since this can't be about justification by faith, nor deliverance; and the events parallel those of Mt 13:43, and elsewhere, where the righteous are rewarded). The gospel of the Kingdom (which is not heaven, but comes from the heavens as promised in the OT) will be preached in the whole world to all nations first. Then the abomination that causes desolation (see Daniel 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 for details and timing), will come (in the middle of the Tribulation), and it's time to get out of town. This can't be the 167 BC appearance of Antiochus Epiphanes (which had already happened), nor is it fulfilled by Titus' destruction in AD 70 (since he didn't proclaim himself to be god, and by the time the Romans got to the temple most had already fled).
The greatest tribulation of all time can only be that of the future Tribulation, the final week of Daniel's prophesy, which will eclipse all others in extent and duration. The extended horrors of Hitler exceeded those of the AD 70 temple destruction (another point for the future tribulation). The days of doom accompanying the anti-Christ's persecution will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen people.
24:23-31 False christs and false prophets will be demonically energized to do miracles, signs, and wonders. Don't believe them. Those whose faith is based on anything other than the revealed word of God will be deceived. The coming of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of Man, to rule over Israel from Jerusalem will be impossible to miss. It will be as visible as lightening that is seen by everyone. There will be the carnage prophesied by Nahum (3:3) and others; the sun and moon and stars will darken (Isa 13:10; 24:23; Joel 2:31), etc, then the sign (herald/authentication??; we'll know it when we see it) of the Son of Man will appear. Then, finally, it will be followed by the Lord Himself in His glory! Everyone will see it, and all who had rejected Him will mourn. His angels will gather His chosen/choice ones per Matthew 13, (and then the kingdom ensues).
24:32-41 Jesus now answers the other “when” question. The remark about the generation not passing away has led many to falsely conclude that all this had to have happened before all the people listening to Jesus had died. Well the events described have clearly not transpired, and the judgments like the days of Noah have not been carried out. A generation refers to a group of people of common descent, and is appropriately used of the Jews as a nation at times (and this is one of them, in light of the context; (cf. Mt 17:17 where Jesus is not just berating his contemporaries). No one knows the day or hour when the Messiah will return to judge and rule, but Jesus does say one can know when it is near, and to be on one's guard.
24:42-51 Those who are on their guard, and watching for the return of Christ and the resulting judgment of their works, will be wise and faithfully doing what Christ wants; and as a result, will be blessed, and rewarded with being set over (rulership/dominion/life) those who were less faithful. The evil servant will suffer loss. The translation “cut in pieces” is legitimate in some contexts, but clearly not here, because after the cutting, there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, which is pretty difficult to do if you're in more pieces than you have teeth (even if you only had two teeth). Scourging is suggested by some, but there is a better translation. He will be cut off from blessing, just like God promised the unfaithful in the OT, and his portion/inheritance (or place) will be with the hypocrites, where it's all tears and teeth. This is not the lake of fire for those who aren't justified, or don't know God, but the outer darkness, excluded from the light of the city, where unprofitable servants serve their time. See comments on 25:30.
Application: Don't be deceived by falsehood, nor let your service be diminished by the delay of Christ's second coming; it will happen as surely as did His first one did, and you won't miss it, but you could miss out on the party.
Prayer: Lord, I know that none of Your words will pass away, and that all You have said will be fulfilled; may I be wholeheartedly doing Your will when You return, or when I go to meet You. Amen.
Matthew 25 Discriminating Judgments
25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14 "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ 21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’ 23 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ 26 "But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was 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, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take 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 them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal/(of the age) fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 "Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ 45 "Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal/(of the age) punishment, but the righteous into eternal/(of the age) life."
Observations: 25:1-13 The importance of being watchful (on guard) and ready is underscored in the parable of the ten virgins. Lamps could be a symbol for witness. (Oil as the HS is nice, but breaks down with the buy and sell part). In any interpretation, those who were ready experience the banquet feast of the delayed Bridegroom. Those who weren't ready were excluded. Again, this is not a justification by faith passage, but a reward passage, echoing that in Mt 7:21-23 from the “Lord, Lord” to the “I don't know you”.
25:14-30 The parable of the talents has both principles and parallels with reality.
- The lord is going away, and will return;
- He entrusts “his goods” to each of his servants, according to their ability;
- He returns and demands an accounting of their stewardship;
- He rewards them for what they've gained, based upon faithfulness not natural ability;
- His reward is two-fold, being placed over many things, and entrance into his joy.
He commends the servants for five things:
- they've done something,
- they've done it well,
- they've been good,
- they've been faithful
- they've been a servant.
One can't hear “well done” unless they've done something. The same goes for the rest of the word. The wicked, lazy, fearful servant, is a servant to whom things were entrusted, but who didn't use what he had received for the master's benefit (in Luke 19:13 they're told to trade). Even if his master was as described, he should have done something advantageous to the master with what had been given him. He looses what had been given him, and it was given to the faithful one. This cannot be forgiveness for sin, nor justification by faith, but only reward. What was given to the faithful one was something similar to what he already had (so it can't be justification) and something which would have value in the future (additional glory or bestowal of the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Glory???). The unprofitable servant is tossed into the outer darkness (not into the lake of fire) where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12 indicates that the unfaithful sons of the kingdom are in the darkness, and Luke 19 distinguishes the fate of the unprofitable from those of the enemies of the lord. The view most consistent with the occurrences of the phrase, and the rest of the teaching on the kingdom, is that the unprofitable servants are excluded from the light and glory during the kingdom, just like the unfaithful priests were excluded from the direct presence of God in the millennial temple (Ezek 44). The parable has nothing to do with forgiveness of sins, but is all about faithful service.
25:31-46 Jesus gets more explicit about the timing of this last judgment being that of the second coming of the Messiah, with glory and the angels, which was previously mentioned as the time when the Lord would reward faithful disciples. Rulership/dominion in the Millennial Kingdom would be part of the the reward for the twelve, as they sat on twelve thrones ruling over the tribes of Israel. Other disciples would be rewarded with rule over cities in return for their service (cf Luke 19:17). This judgment would usher in the Messiah's reign, as distinct from the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15) at the end of the kingdom before the eternal state. This judgment is of all nations (alive at the end of the Tribulation?), on the basis of how they treated the Messiah in the person of His “brothers” (faithful disciples/servants or all believing Jews). The sheep are those called “blessed by the Father” and receive the kingdom as an inheritance (reward) for service rendered (during the Tribulation) to the Jews. The goats are those who didn't serve. The judgment seems to go beyond that of exclusion from the benefits and reward of the kingdom, and is that of being cursed and suffering punishment in the fire prepared for the devil (diabolos = Hebrew for “goat”) and his angels, which is called the “lake of fire” in Revelation 19:20; 20:10,14-15. These last verses in Revelation make it clear that those cast into the lake of fire are those whose sins have not been forgiven and whose names are not written in the book of life. However, Matthew's (and Jesus') audience didn't have access to John's revelation. Not all the forgiven and healed serve; they are not unforgiven servants, but unprofitable servants (who wind up in outer darkness, not the lake of fire). The adjective aionios in Mt 25:41 & 46 (2x) means “of the age” but is usually translated as “eternal” or “everlasting” (which is usually incorrect, but here makes some sense). The lake of fire goes on and on, as in forever. However, most references to eternal life are clearly that of dominion or rulership in the Messianic Age (which if viewed as extending into the eternal state, would preserve the parallelism of an ”unending aionios” in 25:46). See comments on Revelation 20.
Application: Be a good steward of all that God has given you, using it to serve the Messiah, and His people, and you'll never have to worry about unfavorable judgment.
Prayer: Father, may I live to hear Your approval of "Well done, good, and faithful servant." Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God had planned to destroy the temple and its bogus, hypocritical worship as a result of the religious establishment's rejection of the Messiah, who will return to jugde all and rule in the Messianic/Millennial kingdom as promised in the OT.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus doesn't mince words in denouncing hypocrites, especially those who lead others astray. He will return to judge and rule, as promised. He is the Lord of Glory.
Us in a nutshell: Only those faithful to the Lord are acknowledged and blessed by Him. The unfaithful (but forgiven) hypocrites will spend their time in the kingdom weeping and regretting the life they wasted.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Matthew complete text
Matthew 23
23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. 3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, 6 and love the place of honour at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. 8 But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretence you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 14 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves. 16 "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 ’Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’ 19 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it. 22 He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it. 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’"
Matthew 24
24:1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down." 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23 "Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together. 29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; 41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
Matthew 25
25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14 "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ 21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’ 23 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ 26 "But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was 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, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take 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 them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 "Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ 45 "Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
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