According to the Lord

Wednesdays at MFBC, 2026

Reading/Studying the Torah: A Series from Our Weekly Reading

Exodus 39:42-43; 1 Corinthians 3; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Central Idea: We should live in obedience to God’s instruction out of a heart of gratitude towards Him.

I. The text [Exodus 39:42-43]

Chapter 37 shifts from the section on instruction about the tabernacle to the construction of the tabernacle.

“He made” occurs over and again of the workers

Notice that the work was completed according to the instruction of the Lord. [42]

This phrase, or some form of it, occurs ten times between chapter 38-39.

Notice the inspection was completed according to the instruction of the Lord. [43a]

By nature of God’s instruction to Moses recorded beginning in chapter 25, he examined everything according to what God commanded.

Notice the blessing of Moses on the people based upon their faithfulness according to the instruction of the Lord [43b]

By nature of their faithfulness found upon inspection, Moses blessed the people.

II. The Gospel [Mt. 28:18-20, 1 Cor. 3:10-15, 2 Cor. 5:6-10]

Jesus has given us instruction

Matthew 28:18–20 “18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

John 13:34–35 “34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

Matthew 22:37–40 “37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.””

Each person’s work will be tested/inspected based upon this

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 “10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:6–10 “6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

1 John 2:28 “28 So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

Faithful stewards are rewarded; unfaithful stewards are shamed

Matthew 25:14–30 “14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. 28 “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

2 John 8 “8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.”

Distinction:

This is not a salvific or judicial issue. Our salvation and justification are not dependent on our works — both our salvation and justification are secure in Jesus Christ.

Judicial would be like that of the Great White Throne of Judgment on the unrepentant found in Revelation 20:11–15 “11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Rather, it is relational pertaining to our obedience to what God has commanded us to do following salvation, of which each will go before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of his obedience and stewardship of that entrusted us by God

2 Corinthians 5:10–15 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.”

Takeaway: Obedience is an act of worship | Specifically, out of gratitude for what God has done and realization of what He has entrusted to us.