Hearts and Hands
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Text: Matthew 25
Introduction:
Last week we looked at Matthew 24—Jesus’ prophecies of the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age and the second coming of Christ. I argued that most, if not all, of the prophecies Jesus makes in that passage were probably fulfilled by the time of the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, except of course the second coming of Christ.
The main point that I wanted you to see in that passage was that it is very possible—likely even—that all that remains to be fulfilled is the return of Jesus Christ, which means that he could return at any point in time. If that is true, then you and I need to be ready.
Now, last week we talked a little bit about what it means to be ready for Christ’s return, but this week we’re going to look at that topic in depth.
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they were going 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 came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 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 drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Being “ready” for Christ’s return means having...
Ready hearts... (vv. 1-13)
Ready hearts... (vv. 1-13)
In this section, Jesus uses a metaphor of a Jewish wedding feast.
Jewish marriage customs were that the groom would prepare a room or house on his father’s compound or land—sometimes even adjoining his father’s house. This happened during the betrothal stage, during which—in Jewish custom—the couple were legally married but could not yet live together.
When the groom had their room/house completed, it was time for the wedding. When it came time for the wedding, the groom and his friends would go in processional to the home of the bride and her family, to retrieve his bride and take her to his home where the wedding feast was prepared. The bridesmaids (“virgins”) would usually wait at the groom’s home for the bridegroom and his bride to arrive.
This was a society in which there were no clocks, and no specific set time that the groom and his entourage would arrive, but it often happened at night. Once the groom and his bride arrived, the virgins/bridesmaids would usher them into the compound/house and the gates would be shut. There was no honeymoon, instead there would be a weeklong wedding feast to celebrate the marriage.
In the parable, half of the bridesmaids are foolish and don’t plan ahead. They didn’t purchase enough oil for their lamps, and instead of being diligent and going out to buy some while there was plenty of time, they slept until it was too late.
The moral of the story is pretty straightforward...
Don’t wait to get right with God. (vv. 2-9)
Don’t wait to get right with God. (vv. 2-9)
Much like the bridegroom’s arrival, we have no idea when Christ will return, or if we will live a full life or die today.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Many people think they have more pressing issues to deal with right now. They’re tired, they don’t have time or energy for God right now. They have enough problems of their own.
When we have a wedding in our culture, we know that you better not be late to the wedding. Imagine walking in right as the “Here comes the bride” song starts playing! You would be ashamed and the bride would probably disown you!
How much more foolish would it be to delay dealing with your eternal destiny?!?!
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Are you right with God? Have you repented of your sins and given your life to Christ? Are you serving him, or yourself?
There will be no second chances (vv. 10-13)
There will be no second chances (vv. 10-13)
10 And while they were going 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 came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
A lot of people think they’ll get a chance to believe after they die—a sort-of post-mortem second chance.
Catholics teach that there is a middle category, called purgatory, for people who aren’t good enough to go to heaven but aren’t bad enough to go to Hell. But this teaching is found nowhere in Scripture. It’s a lie.
Scripture is clear on this—once that gate is shut, once you die or Jesus returns, there are no more chances.
But how do we know if we’re right with God? What does that look like?
Scripture is absolutely clear that we are not saved by doing good deeds—our salvation is a gift of God (grace) that comes simply through faith in what Christ has done for us.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Our good deeds can’t save us...
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
On the other hand, we cannot pretend that we have acknowledged Christ as Lord of our life if we are not living for him. Jesus rebuked those who claimed to follow him but did not obey his commands:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
And James tells us that true faith—the kind of faith that actually saves us—is the kind of faith that produces actions in our lives:
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
So, we need ready hearts. But, hearts that are truly ready for Christ’s return will be...
...Evidenced by busy hands (vv. 14-30)
...Evidenced by busy hands (vv. 14-30)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
So, the next couple of parables show what that looks like. If we truly have hearts that are ready for Christ’s return, we will be busy doing what he has told us to do!
In this first parable, the parable of the talents, Jesus uses an investing metaphor. A talent was a unit of currency that was an extremely large amount of money. One talent equaled about 20 years’ wages for a common laborer.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 18
In approximate modern equivalents, if a laborer earns $15 per hour, at 2,000 hours per year he would earn $30,000 per year, and a talent would equal $600,000 (USD).
So, five talents would be roughly equivalent today to about $3 million and two talents would be roughly $1.2 million.
So, this first servant is given 5 talents ($3 million) to invest, and he does so and doubles his master’s money. The second servant, likewise, is given two talents ($1.2 million) and he invests it and doubles his master’s money.
And, there’s a lesson for us here...
God gives different gifts and abilities to each of us. (vv. 14-17)
God gives different gifts and abilities to each of us. (vv. 14-17)
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability...
The same God who calls us each to our various areas of service in the church also equips us each for our various areas of service. He does not equip us all the same or even equally.
Our gifts from God differ both in their quality and their quantity.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
This means that I do not have your gifts and you do not have my gifts. And many people who have similar gifts to me have them in much greater proportion than I do. I may have a similar gift as John MacArthur did—that of preaching and teaching—but I do not have it to the same degree that John MacArthur did.
What does this have to do with the second coming of Christ?
When Christ returns...
We will be judged based upon how faithful we were with the abilities God gave us. (vv. 20-23)
We will be judged based upon how faithful we were with the abilities God gave us. (vv. 20-23)
And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Notice that both the two-talent servant and the five-talent servant received exactly the same commendation and the same reward.
For those who are constantly judging themselves against the John MacArthur’s of this world, always feeling as though they don’t measure up, this is an incredible comfort. God has given you your unique abilities and gifts and position in life, and he does not expect of you the same amount of fruit as he expects out of others. He expects you to be faithful with what he has given you.
But for those who coast on their successes, comforting themselves that they’re at least more fruitful than “that guy over there,” there is a warning here:
...Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Has God given you a unique talent or ability—like singing, teaching, serving, etc.? That gift does not belong to you—it belongs to God. Are you using that for the glory of God and the good of his church?
Has God given you financial prosperity above and beyond your basic needs? That money does not belong to you. It was given to you so that you might invest it in God’s Kingdom. It is a sad thing when a church struggles and limps along in its mission to reach the lost when it has members among it whom God has lavishly blessed but they are selfishly hoarding their wealth in bigger and better barns.
And every single one of us has a unique circle of influence, people around us for whom we are uniquely positioned to share the gospel. Relatives, friends, coworkers. Are you sharing the gospel with them? Or are you hoping that someone else will? Has it occurred to you that you might just be the one that God has put in their life to bring them to faith?
God does not expect you to be as effective an evangelist as Billy Graham or to have the Scriptural insights of John MacArthur. He expects you to be faithful with what he has given you.
And this is where faith and works meet up again, because...
What we believe about God determines how we serve him. (vv. 24-25)
What we believe about God determines how we serve him. (vv. 24-25)
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
Why did the third servant not invest his master’s money? Or, to put it differently, “Why did the third servant not have busy hands when the master arrived?” Because he did not have a ready heart.
The third servant believed something about the Master, and that belief influenced his actions. Likewise, the first two servants believed something about the master, and their belief influenced their actions, also.
The first two servants believed:
that the money they were given was not theirs.
that the master would return and expect them to give an account.
that the master would reward faithful service.
The third servant, on the other hand, believed the master to be harsh, demanding, and unreasonable. He was afraid to invest the master’s money for fear of losing his investment. He thought the master would punish him if it was not as profitable or if it lost value, so he hid the money. He acted out of fear and false belief.
His false beliefs about the master directly contributed to his inaction. His heart was not ready, so his hands were not busy.
Ironically, though, his own words condemn him.
But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
By his own admission, the servant knew that the master expected a return on his investment. But still, he failed to act on this knowledge.
He knew that the master had given him a lesser amount to invest than the other two servants, which should have made him realize that the Master’s expectations of him were less than the other servants. That should have emboldened him to invest the money. Clearly, the Master expected more out of the first two servants than he did the third.
Many people today think God a harsh and demanding master. They see natural disasters and sicknesses and all the terrible things that happen in this world and think, “If God allows so much suffering, I don’t think that’s a God I wish to serve.” Some have even accused God of being cruel for allowing Jesus to suffer as he did on the cross.
But on judgement day, those very words will be what condemns such people, because by their own admission they acknowledge several truths about God:
First, their anger at God is an admission that he exists. You cannot be angry at something which has no being, after all.
Secondly, the accusation that he allows natural disasters and suffering is an admission of his sovereign power and omnipotence. If you are angry with God for allowing suffering, then you acknowledge that he has the power to prevent it. And, if we acknowledge such power and omnipotence in God, we must also acknowledge that his wisdom and knowledge are vastly greater than our comprehension or understanding.
Thirdly, if you are angry with God for allowing evil, then you also acknowledge that God has allowed much good in the world. After all, we only know what evil is because it occurs on the backdrop of so much good. To acknowledge the existence of evil is an implicit acknowledgement of the existence of good. And if God is omnipotent, as we have already established he is, then all good ultimately comes from him as well.
Fourthly, an accusation towards God of “unfairness” is an implicit acknowledgement that there is such a thing as justice and fairness. And if there is such a thing as justice, then right and wrong must be rewarded and punished accordingly.
And if God allowed his Son Jesus to suffer as he did for our sins, then that tells us of the severity of our sins before him and gives us a taste of what awaits those who rebel against such a God.
So, ironically, those who are angry at God for allowing suffering in this world demonstrate through the irrationality of their beliefs that God is perfectly just and powerful to punish them for their sins of rebellion against him.
Another option is before us, though. We could acknowledge the same premises—that God exists, is omnipotent and sovereign and has the power to allow or prevent suffering, that good and evil exist, that God rewards the good and punishes the evil, and that his understanding and wisdom are as much greater than our own as the sun is greater than the moon, and conclude that there must be a good reason that is hidden from our view as to why such a God would allow such suffering in this life.
We could, like the first two servants, see the justice and wisdom of God in how he has administered his creation, and the goodness of his nature in the gift of his Son on our behalf, and conclude as Paul did:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
That is the choice that is before you today. What do you believe about God?
An eternal Kingdom awaits those with ready hearts and busy hands (vv. 31-40)
An eternal Kingdom awaits those with ready hearts and busy hands (vv. 31-40)
For those whose ready hearts are evidenced by busy hands, a magnificent reward awaits.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Those who are truly ready in their hearts for Christ’s return will be those who are busy serving his church. Notice what it says in verse 40:
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Our primary calling in service is to our brothers and sisters in the faith. That’s why we partner with organizations like The Call and with missionaries both directly and through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program. That’s why we sometimes take up love offerings for people in our congregation who are hurting and in need.
We serve our brothers and sisters in Christ as if we were serving Christ himself.
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Do you realize what this means? This means that when you see a brother or sister in need and you help it is credited to your account as if you had done that for Jesus Christ himself?!?! Do you realize that when you serve the Wednesday night meal to the kids that it is as if Jesus himself is in that line? When you rock a baby in the nursery and give his mom a breather so she can listen to the word of God—it’s as if you’re rocking Jesus himself or giving Jesus himself a breather.
When you prepare your Sunday School lesson so that those in your class will be able to understand God’s Word and apply it to their lives, it’s as if you’re ministering to Jesus himself. When you serve others by helping lead worship, you’re serving Christ himself. When you tithe and go above and beyond in your giving so that the church can better minister to our community, you gave that money to Jesus himself.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
and, unfortunately, that means the opposite is true as well...
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
An eternal fire awaits those who do not have ready hearts and busy hands. (vv. 41-46)
An eternal fire awaits those who do not have ready hearts and busy hands. (vv. 41-46)
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The root issue here is that these people have rejected their king. They have refused to believe in him, refused to bow to his authority over their lives. They have lived as if they themselves were king of their own universe and refused to obey what God has commanded.
They’re like the third servant who treated his master’s money as if it were his own, or believed the master to be unreasonable. Ironically, those who believe that God is harsh get exactly what they expect.
God takes sin seriously. He gave up his only son to pay the penalty for your sins and he offers eternal life if you will simply take him at his word and trust him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
So, are you ready for Christ’s return? Is your heart ready? Are your hands busy? Are you working for the Lord, knowing that the time is short?
Reflection Questions:
In what ways can we ensure our hearts are ready for Christ's return?
What consequences did the foolish virgins face when they weren't ready for the bridegroom's arrival?
What is the relationship between our faith (heart) and our good works (hands)?
What are practical steps we can take to reflect 'busy hands' in our service to God and others?
What are some ways you can use your abilities, time, money, and influence to further God’s Kingdom?
How can you show love to others in your school or home this week?
