MATTHEW 25 The Olivet Discourse is continued in this chapter having us look farther into the future, but with particular emphasis as to how we conduct ourselves in view of what is ahead of us and the world. The return of Christ is compared to a wedding in Matthew chapter twenty-two and in Revelation nineteen. The point being made in the parable of the ten virgins is to be prepared for His coming and to keep watching for it to happen.
The second parable of the talents in which large sums of money are given to servants, depicts the trust of the master in each of his servants, and his knowledge of their capability. Faith is required in every person who serves the Lord. The point of this parable is that faithfulness to our master is expected to bring some results. To play it safe and do little or nothing for the Lord indicates the condition of one’s heart toward Christ’s coming. The Lord intends for us to be active and stay at the work He gives us.
The judgment of the nations in which sheep and goats are separated will be according to the evidence that is seen, not what is professed. What is practiced is what counts, not what is said. What we do, reflects who we are, so we should be concerned that our love for God is demonstrated by our love for people.
Be Prepared, v.1-13 The parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins was likely directed to the Jews relating to the Jewish remnant in the tribulation. But the principle of being prepared for the coming of the Lord applies to us today, as well as this “word to the wise” to be ready for the Coming of the Lord in His revelation in glory. To be careless and indifferent to the promises of God is to be in a condition of unbelief, or at least unpreparedness.
It is not enough to have a lamp of a profession. When the Holy Spirit is not there to provide the light, a lamp is useless. The Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth with His bride, so the bridegroom is the focus of this parable, not the bride. Those who are going to participate in the “wedding feast” of millennium blessings, are those Jewish believers who have the Holy “Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced” [Zech.12:10] poured out upon them. This is the work of the Spirit in regeneration. Even though the ten virgins all appeared the same outwardly, and were doing the same thing; five had the oil, Holy Spirit, so they were prepared for Christ’s return. The five foolish ones still did not believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
The point of the parable is not that they were slumbering and sleeping as they waited, but that half were not prepared as they could have been had they responded to the truth of God that was preached worldwide. We do not, and cannot share preparedness. That is an individual responsibility. No blame is attached to the fact they were all asleep. The remnant of Jews awaiting the return of the Messiah, the heavenly Bridegroom, are assured of His coming. The problem illustrated is that in the carelessness of half of them, their assurance was false assurance. Just because they were favored people as a chosen nation, does not mean that individual faith and responsibility is not required. Spiritual preparation is personal. “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
When Christ returns, it will be too late to get prepared then. We can apply this to those who hear the Gospel today. Many complacently think they are all right and acceptable before God because they have the profession of being a Christian, without the light of the Holy Spirit in them. To put off responsibility to the call of Christ now, or in the case of the remnant of the Jews in the future, which is the teaching in the parable; is to be shut out of the kingdom. Life eternal is to “know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”
To watch and be ready is expected of those who will enter into the kingdom blessings. Today, those who prepare by faith in Christ, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In the future, those who respond to the Gospel of the kingdom will have the Holy Spirit “poured out” upon them. In view of the present opportunity, the urgent word is, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Be Active, v.14-30 The emphasis of this parable the Lord told the disciples what would affect them personally, was to be faithful in their service to Him while He was gone. The talents used as an illustration in this parable are of more value than the pounds, He used in the parable in Luke nineteen. There were two different purposes for telling two similar parables. The one in Luke took place earlier when the disciples thought the kingdom of God would soon appear. This time the parable was a look into the distant future. The one in Luke was to teach that equal gifts if used with unequal diligence, will produce unequal rewards. This parable of the talents shows that unequal gifts used with equal faithfulness will be equally rewarded.
Those individuals in the parable refer to Christ as “a man traveling to a far country.” The servants are His disciples who were given large amounts of money suited to their individual capacity to produce profitable results. Talent as a unit of money is a huge amount in the extreme. The Lord knows the ability of each person and expects results suited to their capability. It is our Lord’s expectation that we use our time, talents, and assets diligently in any and every way possible in our service to Him. Each person has to consider what is the best way to further the interests of the kingdom of God and pursue that goal with vigor.
What that means in practical ways, is to think of how we can use each hour of each day in a way that will be labor “as unto the Lord.” The responsible use of our abilities may mean we have to step out of our “comfort zone” and change our occupation or the place we live, to better serve Him consistently to the best use of our “talents.” When we have been entrusted with money or other assets, we need to commit the use of it in ways that best serve the interests of our Master.
Two servants were good and faithful, and were invited to “enter into the joy of [their] lord.” The other one was wicked and lazy. The two were rewarded equally because they both responsibly used what they had been given. What a joy it will be to share Christ’s joy. The Lord Jesus said Himself, “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Contrast the joy of the “good and faithful” servants with the unprofitable servant, who not only was not diligent with what he had been given, but he was not even challenged by the opportunity he had been given to use his time well. He was not wicked because he had tried and failed, but because he had not tried to do anything. He was simply playing it safe and he put the reflection of his laxity on his professed fear of his master. He did not even pass what he had been given, to others to use for a little profit. There are no legitimate excuses for us not doing what God tells us to do. He is our Lord, and He has given us all we have to use for Him as caretakers of His interests while He is away. To ignore, abuse, or be careless of what He has given us, is for a believer to suffer loss, and for one who is only a false Christian, his true nature is revealed. The one who is unprofitable because he is not a true servant will suffer eternal punishment.
This parable is a continuation of teaching regarding the tribulation saints, both Jews and Gentiles, who will enjoy the blessings of the millennium. Those who will not put their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, will suffer the consequences the prophet Ezekiel predicted in Ezekiel 20:37-38. The principle of righteous judgment for sin is true in all ages. God holds us responsible for how we use the gifts He gives us.
Be Concerned, 31-46 The judgment of the nations will be the judgment of people living on earth at the time the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and glory. They will be judged as individuals who will be separated as sheep are separated from goats that were previously together in a flock. This judgment will be according to what is actually practiced, not merely professed. It is not what is said that counts, but what is actually done. Words do not earn salvation, but works of love reflect the life of one who has been redeemed by the work of Christ on the cross and expresses their gratitude. The Holy Spirit empowers believers of every age to demonstrate God’s love by loving others.
Righteous people are described as sheep that are set on the King’s right hand, and the wicked are the goats on the left. The right hand is the hand of blessing and honor. The left hand is the hand of rejection. Those on the right hand are invited to “Come” and experience the blessings the Father gives. Those on the left are told to “Depart.” Those who look at the Lord’s “brethren” with compassion and caring concern, and then take steps to meet their needs, are considered by the Lord to have done those works of blessing others; as having been done to Him.
Gentile “nations” of people from all over the world who show kindness to the Jewish remnant in the tribulation, are the sheep who had real concern for the persecuted Jewish people and took action to help them. Many Gentiles will be brought to faith in Christ through the testimony of those Jewish preachers. They will identify themselves with those who suffer for Christ’s sake during those terrible times.
Acts of mercy are always in order for those who belong to Christ. We are to feed the hungry and care for those who have wants and needs we can meet. We can visit the lonely, look after the sick and demonstrate the grace of God in many practical ways. Simple acts that are freely and gladly done as to the Lord, do not depend on whether we are wealthy or have great ability and intellect. We don’t have to be well-educated to do acts of kindness. Those things that really count are done from a warm heart toward the Lord and His people. Our gratitude toward Him for His saving grace to us, motivates us to look for ways to serve Him by serving people. Because of what we have freely received, we should freely give. Personal interest and involvement in the lives of others is a Christian privilege that brings joy to those who receive, to those who give, and to the Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we are able to serve others.
To the group on the left who are described as “goats,” the King says, “Depart from Me…” Not only are they rejected by the Lord, but they are “cursed,” which is the total opposite of the blessedness of those to whom the King says, “Come thou blessed…” Those who are rejected go to “everlasting fire” rather than into the “kingdom prepared for you.” The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for men. God would have “all men to be saved.” However, those who refuse His grace, and live for self-interest described as the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life,” would be totally out of place in the kingdom of God. Those who follow the ways of the world, the flesh and the devil, are enemies of the Lord and His people. They will follow their leader to the place of eternal punishment. The contrast is starkly clear between everlasting punishment and eternal life. It is plain that the destiny of the two distinct groups is determined before people die, not after. It is at the beginning of the millennium this judgment is held. The wicked will be removed and those who have been born again will enter into the millennial kingdom.