Series - The Road to the Resurrection - Message 9 - Lessons from Our Lord in End Time Events - Part 3

Introduction

Good morning Church. It’s good to see each of you who have made it out today. Once again, we find ourselves here in the Book of Matthew and today we are continuing on in our Series…The Road to the Resurrection.

Today we are looking at Message 9 in this series and it’s a continuation of the last two messages…Lessons from Our Lord in End Time Events.

If you will remember, we learned in the beginning of this 3 part series that Chapter 24 and 25 go hand in hand. And today we are going to see that.

In Chapter 24, Jesus teaches His disciples about the end times and then in Chapter 25, He continues the teaching with parables to help drive the message home.

And my prayer today is just that, that what we learned last week would be driven home as we work our way through Chapter 25 and look at these parables taught by our Lord.

We are going to be looking at 3 main points today and they are as follows.

The Watch and we’re going to see how we need to be ready.

The Work and we’re going to see how we need to be diligently working for the Lord while we await His return.

The Warning and we’re going to see the stark reality of what awaits those who do not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

With no further ado, if you have your Bible’s with you turned to Chapter 25 of the Book of Matthew, would you please say, Amen.

The Watch — Be Ready — (Vs. 1-13)

As we get into our first point here “The Watch”, I want to direct your attention back to two verses in last week’s message because as we have mentioned multiple times now, the two chapters go hand in hand.

Matthew 24:36–37 KJV 1900

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Now, keep these verses in mind as we work our way through these first 13 verses here.

Read Verses 1-13.

In order to understand the parable Jesus tells here, you need a little background in the culture of this day and time.

I want to use a couple excerpts from John MacArthur and William Barclay to give us some insight into the culture of the day and time and to also help set the mood for the parable.

John MacArthur says — The setting for this parable was a typical Jewish wedding ceremony. In Israel, as well as in most other parts of the ancient Near East, a wedding was the most celebrated social event.

Virtually everyone in a village or in a neighborhood community of a large city would be involved as a participant or as a guest. It was a time of great happiness and festivity.

A Jewish marriage consisted of three parts, the first of which was the engagement. Most often arranged by the fathers of the bride and groom, the engagement amounted to a contract of marriage in which the couple had little, if any, direct involvement.

The second stage was the betrothal, the marriage ceremony at which the bride and groom exchanged vows in the presence of family and friends. At that point the couple was considered married, and their relationship could be broken only by formal divorce, just as if they had been married for many years. If the husband happened to die during the betrothal, the bride was considered a widow, although the marriage had not been physically consummated and the two had never lived together. The betrothal could last for many months, sometimes a year, during which time the groom would establish himself in a business, trade, or farming and would make provision for a place for the couple to live.

At the end of the betrothal period the wedding feast would be held, and it was in the feast and its related celebrations that the entire community became involved. This festivity, which could last a week, began with the groom’s coming with his groomsmen to the bride’s house, where her bridesmaids were waiting with her. Together the bride and groom and their attendants would then parade through the streets proclaiming that the wedding feast was about to begin. The procession was generally begun at night, and lamps or torches were used by the wedding party to illumine their way and to attract attention.

At the end of the feast period, a close friend of the groom, who acted much like a best man, would take the hand of the bride and place it in the hand of the groom, and the couple would for the first time be left alone together. The marriage would be consummated and the couple would henceforth live together in their new home.

It was that third part of the marriage rite that Jesus used as the framework for this parable.

William Barclay gives us a little extra insight into the marriage procession that I feel will really help to drive this home.

William Barclay writes — If we look at this parable with western eyes, it may seem an unnatural and a ‘made-up’ story. But, in point of fact, it tells a story which could have happened at any time in a Palestinian village and which could still happen today.

A wedding was a great occasion. The whole village turned out to accompany the couple to their new home, and they went by the longest possible road, in order that they might receive the glad good wishes of as many as possible.

‘Everyone’, runs the Jewish saying, ‘from six to sixty will follow the marriage drum.’ The Rabbis agreed that a man might even abandon the study of the law to share in the joy of a wedding feast.

The point of this story lies in a Jewish custom which is very different from anything we know. When a couple married, they did not go away for a honeymoon. They stayed at home; for a week they kept open house; they were treated, and even addressed, as prince and princess; it was the happiest week in all their lives.

To the festivities of that week their chosen friends were admitted; and it was not only the marriage ceremony, it was also that joyous week that the foolish virgins missed, because they were unprepared.

The story of how they missed it all is perfectly true to life. Dr J. Alexander Findlay, Principal of Didsbury Methodist College, Manchester, tells of what he himself saw in Palestine.

‘When we were approaching the gates of a Galilaean town,’ he writes, ‘I caught a sight of ten maidens gaily clad and playing some kind of musical instrument, as they danced along the road in front of our car; when I asked what they were doing, the dragoman [interpreter] told me that they were going to keep the bride company till her bridegroom arrived. I asked him if there was any chance of seeing the wedding, but he shook his head, saying in effect: “It might be tonight, or tomorrow night, or in a fortnight’s time, nobody ever knows for certain.”

Then he went on to explain that one of the great things to do, if you could, at a middle-class wedding in Palestine was to catch the bridal party napping.

So the bridegroom comes unexpectedly, and sometimes in the middle of the night; it is true that he is required by public opinion to send a man along the street to shout: “Behold! the bridegroom is coming!” but that may happen at any time; so the bridal party have to be ready to go out into the street at any time to meet him, whenever he chooses to come...Other important points are that no one is allowed on the streets after dark without a lighted lamp, and also that, when the bridegroom has once arrived, and the door has been shut, late-comers to the ceremony are not admitted.’

There, the whole drama of Jesus’ parable is re-enacted in the twentieth century. Here is no made-up story but a slice of life from a village in Palestine.

Now that we have a greater understanding of the parable before us, I want to walk through it and bring a few things to light before we move on to the next parable.

First and foremost we need to understand that this parable is a picture of Christ’s second return.

Now, don’t get the rapture of the Church and the second coming of Christ mistaken.

They are two totally different events that take place at two totally different times.

And now that we understand the culture of the day and time in which Jesus is teaching here, we can also understand that in this parable, the Groom has already went and gotten his Bride and they are on their way to the marriage feast.

With that in mind, who is the Bride?

The Church, right?

So, this parable is speaking of the second coming of Christ.

The Church at this point has already been taken out and now Jesus is returning with His Bride the Church to set up His millennial reign.

So, ultimately what Jesus is speaking of here in this parable is the need for anyone who still remains during the Great Tribulation Period to be saved.

But make no mistake it can also be applied to the day and time in which we live.

Now, please don’t get so caught up everything else going on that you miss the “what” here that Jesus is actually talking about.

Jesus says here, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins.”

This parable is about the kingdom of heaven.

Please, please, please don’t miss that because that’s the whole reason He is even giving the parable.

He’s telling the disciples about what it’s going to be like in the very end when this whole thing is wrapped up and he’s speaking ultimately about who will and will not make it into the kingdom of heaven.

He likens the kingdom of heaven here to ten virgins and He says that they took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Now, in Verse 2, He tells us that 5 were wise and 5 were foolish.

The word for foolish here is (moros) and the term describes people or actions that demonstrate folly or lack of forethought.

Now, look at Verses 3 & 4 for a deeper understand of why Jesus calls them foolish.

Matthew 25:3–4 KJV 1900

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Now, don’t miss this…the foolish were foolish because they took no oil with them!

The oil was readily available to all but only 5 took it with them.

The foolish virgins were foolish because they didn’t take the oil!

It wasn’t that they didn’t have any to take but rather that they had it and didn’t take it!

Then Jesus says, “while the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept.”

The wise and foolish alike got weary in waiting and fell asleep.

Now, this jumped out at me and before we continue on I just want to hit on something really quick.

Paul told the Galatians in...

Galatians 6:9 KJV 1900

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Listen Church, now is not the time to be sleeping!

We need to be working and we’re going to talk a little bit more about that in the next parable but collaboratively as a whole, we…the Church of the living God need to be awake and working for the kingdom!

Tony Evans has all these different kingdom themes that he ties everything to (kingdom men, kingdom women, raising kingdom kids) and I love the idea because at the end of the day, the only reason you and I are even here is to be busy about God’s Kingdom work, amen!

That’s the only reason, the rapture hasn’t taken place yet because God’s not done with the Church and their Kingdom work!

Don’t be weary in well doing!

But the virgins in our story here got weary and they slumbered and slept.

And then came the call!

At midnight the cry went out.

The word for “cry” used here speaks of a shout!

Someone began to shout, “The bridegroom is coming! The Bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him!”

Then all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps and the foolish asked the wise to give them some of their oil because their lamps had gone out.

The wise said, we don’t have enough to give you some also. Go to the market and buy some for yourselves!

Now, before we move on there’s a very important lesson to be learned here.

Many times in the Bible, oil is representative of the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit is indicative of salvation when He resides in a person, right?

The lamps in this parable here are a picture of us. Often times in scripture we are referred to as vessels.

2 Timothy 2:21 KJV 1900

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

And if the lamp is representative of us, then the extra oil could be representative of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, all ten virgins had access to the oil but only the wise actually took it with them.

And then when the call comes, only the ten who had taken the oil with them were prepared and they couldn’t give the extra oil to the foolish, right?

Listen friend, you can’t give someone else your salvation. And for those who are lost you need to understand this morning, you can’t be saved on anyone else’s behalf!

You have to make the decision yourself to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your mother nor your father nor your Pastor or Sunday School Teacher, no one can save you but the Lord Jesus Christ.

They can’t give you their salvation!

You must make a decision in your heart to trust in Jesus.

And that decision is a decision that you and you alone can make!

And that decision is the most important decision you will ever make because look what happens to those foolish virgins who didn’t take any extra oil with them.

Matthew 25:10–12 KJV 1900

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

While they were gone to get more oil, the Bridegroom came and they missed Him!

So many people are wondering this world this morning unprepared to meet their God!

They have an opportunity to trust in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is available and longing for all to accept Him but they are foolish just like the virgins in our story here and they are wondering around unprepared.

Dear friend, if that’s you this morning; if you are here and you’ve never given your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, make provision today!

Get prepared right now before it’s too late and you miss the Bridegroom altogether!

Now, look at that last Verse…Verse 13.

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The word “watch” used here literally means to stay awake!

This morning Church, we need to be ready for our departure and for those sitting here this morning who have never been saved you need to get saved.

You need to come this morning and get humble before God and admit that you have sinned and fallen short of His amazing grace.

You need to repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you and then, you need to trust in His Son Jesus who died for your sins on Calvary.

Admit, Believe, Confess and thou shalt be saved!

Now, let me show you one last little thing here to tie this back into Chapter 24.

If you remember, we started this point with Verses 36-37 from Chapter 24.

Let me read those again for you really quickly.

Matthew 24:36–37 KJV 1900

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

If you go back to Verse 10 here it says, that the Bridegroom and the 5 wise virgins went in unto the marriage and the door was shut!

If you go all the way back to the Book of Genesis and the story of Noah, when Noah and all the animals entered the ark the Bible says and God shut them in.

One day friend, the door of salvation is going to shut and the sad reality is that when that time comes, not another single person will enter the kingdom of heaven.

It will be too late!

The 5 foolish virgins here came and begged for the Lord to let them in but it was too late.

Can you imagine all the poor souls who tried beating on the door of that ark to open when the rain started falling?

“Noah, please let us in! The waters are rising and we’re going to die! Please Noah, let us in! We don’t think you’re crazy anymore! We believe you now! Please, Please!”

But Noah wasn’t in control of the door…God was!

And it was God who shut the door and dear friend, when God shuts the door, that’s it!

There’s no getting in after that point!

We need to be on watch this morning for He could return at any moment.

And we need to be ready when that call comes!

If you’re here and you’re not ready this morning, I’d ask you to come while there’s still time and get things right with God!

Don’t put it off!

Don’t wait one more second!

Come and get on this ole fashioned altar and get your heart right with God!

Jesus gives heed to be on watch and to be ready and then He goes on to talk about the work we need to be doing and how we need to be diligent while the Master is away!

The Work - Be Diligent — (Vs. 14-30)

Again here, Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven.

And He says the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Now, this is a parable and it’s about Christ Himself.

HE is the man traveling and He’s traveling to heaven to prepare a place for us.

And His servants here are you and I.

And the goods He gives us are the gifts we’ve been entrusted with.

Ephesians 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

God has given each one of us gifts to eb used for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Now, look on down at Verse 15.

The Bible tells us here that He gave each of these servants talents differing in amounts.

Talent — was a measurement of weight and the specific weight of a talent was 75 pounds. Usually it spoke of silver.

One place I read said this was like 15-20 years worth of wages for a man.

But there’s something very important it says here that you don't need to miss.

He said He gave “to each man according to his several ability.”

John G Butler — God endows us with responsibilities which match our abilities. He does not give us tasks to do which we cannot do. God knows what we can and cannot do and assigns us tasks accordingly. Our responsibility is simply to do what He tells us to do, knowing that any assignment He gives us, we can do.

William Barclay writes — It is not our talent which matters; what matters is how we use it. God never demands from us abilities which we have not got; but he does demand that we should use to the full the abilities which we do possess. Human beings are not equal in talent; but they can be equal in effort. The parable tells us that whatever talent we have, little or great, we must lay it at the service of God.

Listen friend, every single person sitting here this morning that has been born again has been given gifts according to your specific ability.

God created you and He knows the abilities He has given you so the next time God lays something on your heart to do and you think there’s no way you can do it, remember, God knows what you can and cannot do and He’s not going to ask you to do something that He hasn’t equipped you to do!

God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the call!

Now, look on down at what happens next here at what the servants did with their talents and the outcome.

Read Verses 16-30.

Listen Church, the Bible says in...

Matthew 16:27 KJV 1900

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 KJV 1900

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Now, I want to say here that this very last section is extremely hard to understand and if I’m being honest, every commentator had a different outlook on how to understand it.

But one that really stood out to me and I feel probably lines up with my beliefs the best is John Phillips.

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (b) His Exposure (25:26–30)

After being told what he should have done with his talent, He was cast into “outer darkness,” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This verse is certainly the most difficult statement in the parable because it implies that the servant was not saved at all, a conclusion that is contradicted by the rest of the parable.

What else could the statement mean? It does not refer to some kind of purgatory, for the Bible knows of no such place; purgatory is the invention of Catholic theologians. The statement cannot mean that the man was once saved and somehow lost his salvation, for such an idea is contrary to the tenor of the whole New Testament, which denies that salvation is in any way dependent on our works.

To avoid the difficulty inherent in this verse, some have envisioned the place of “outer darkness” as some remote spot, in the kingdom but far removed from the central glory in Jerusalem. But the Bible speaks of no such place. And this theory does not explain the “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” an expression used elsewhere to refer to the misery of the lost in Hell.

What then do we know about the destiny of the worthless servant? We do know that the question of personal salvation will not be raised at the judgment seat of Christ. We know too that rebukes and rewards will be commensurate with neglect or service, as the case may be. Since this servant was one of the Lord’s own people, we cannot envision him suffering personal anguish in the flames of a lost eternity. But may it not be that such faithless servants as he will be taken to that place of “outer darkness” not to suffer but to see? May it not be that they will be taken to where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” not to be punished or purged, but to see souls they might have reached—to see the result of their sinful failure and neglect? It may well be.

The Warning - Be Aware — (Vs. 31-46)