Watchfulness the reason

This section of scripture that we are looking at today without a doubt is about judgment, where there are a few different views of this passage it does not change the fact

The parables preceding were about being watchful, some about the destruction of temple with maybe a mixture of the return of Christ being ready for the judgment o the world

The parables preceding were about being watchful, some about the destruction of temple with maybe a mixture of the return of Christ being ready for the judgment o the world.

This section following being told to be watchful shows judgment so it goes hand in hand with the previous section on being watchful.

This section is a warning of what is coming so you better be watchful and better be working.

This section also looks at what we should be doing while we are being watchful, or else

It seems this section, this passage may appear salvation by works, but that is not the truth. Salvation by faith is the basis for acts of mercy. Acts of mercy are from a place of faith and evidence of faith not a means of faith. They are because of our salvation not for our salvation.

The Olivet discourse draws to the close (in Matthew) of Jesus teaching ministry, even to the Apostles now.

Having said all of this, Let us open our Bibles to Mt25:31-46

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

The Setting

In looking at this passage we need to be slow and deliberate so to keep things in context.

What is the setting (v.31)?

Who will be with Him (v.31)?

What is the reason for the coming (v.32)?

What will happen at His coming (v.32-33)?

The coming is nothing new, we have seen this previously (24:3, 27, 29-31)

Matthew 24:3 NASB95

3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:27 NASB95

27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:29–31 NASB95

29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and 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, and 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 “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

The disciples wanted to know the time of His coming and a sign (24:3) and here in our passage the sign is the HE will come in His glory and the angels will be with Him.

Coming in heavenly glory, in all authority all nations will see Him, all nations will be gathered. so this judgment and separation will be entire, no one left out.

Matthew 24:14 NASB95

14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

(insert slide - sheep and goats)

Sheep and goats were often herded together and then separated when then were brought in and then the sheep would be put to the right and the goats to the left. Sheep were thought more highly than goats. - this is a simile showing the greater value of the Lord’s sheep over the goats (those of the world; not His sheep)

The right side was considered the side of honor and authority when it came to being in the presence of the king

Matthew 20:21 NASB95

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”

After the separation of the sheep and goats it is no longer mentioned of them but of those on the right, or the righteous, and those on His left.

Kings words and the righteous response

What does the king say and to who (v.34)?

How are they blessed by the Father (v.34)?

We need to realize before the world was created it was predetermined God’s plan with foreknowledge on how He was going to bless the world and through whom the blessings would come. (1Pt1:2; Act2:23)

1 Peter 1:2 NASB95

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

and then there is

Acts 2:23 NASB95

this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

God’s plan was to save sinful man, to bless man, to make man’s joy full. So Jesus is speaking to the righteous, the blessed of the Father, because of Him!

What is the proof of the blessings (vv.35-36)?

What are the things they met?

Hunger - they fed

Thirsty - fed thirst

Stranger - gave comfort

Naked - clothed

Sick or in prison - came

This really leads us to the response of the righteous and we will spend more time there.

What did the right do (vv.38-39)?

What did the Lord say (v.40)?

There is much that we can glean from (v.40) As mentioned before this is one of the most straightforward parables, if you want to look at it as a parable, first comes the heart, then comes the judgment.

In the helps as Jesus is commending them (the righteous) we can learn application for us today.

It is in the simple things when we serve

It is uncalculating

Help when given is given to man is given to Jesus

Not in the big things that we do, but the little things, a meal, a drink, it is hospitality, and it is in visiting.

It is not looking at or calculating the reward we may get from it, or the sense of obligation to do it, but from the heart not calculating the cost but doing it out of your love for God.

Let’s go back and see the question again the righteous asked

Mt25:

Matthew 25:37 NASB95

“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

Mt2

Matthew 25:38 NASB95

‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

They did not even know they were doing it!

Remember this entire section from chpt24-25 has been about being watchful and being responsible. The application is what are we doing while we are watching, while we are waiting, are we doing acts of faith, acts of love?

Two of the three slaves were doing business

5 virgins were prepared and watching

What will the Son of Man (v.31) find when He returns? (see Lk18:8)

Luke 18:8 NASB95

“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

This leaves us those on the left.

Those on the left

What does Jesus call those on the left (v.41)?

What does Jesus say is waiting for them (v.41)?

Why is it waiting for them (vv.42-45)

What is the promise(s) (v.46)?

The King, who is bringing the judgment tells them.

depart vs. come as the righteous were told

into eternal fire vs. eternal life for the righteous

We cannot miss the fact why was the eternal fire prepared (v.41)?

It think it is pretty point blank, that if we do not have proof of our salvation in Christ by our works that we are following Satan and will have the judgment that was reserved for devil and his angels, not because that was God’s desire but was our choice not to follow Jesus.

Going away or entering into is a choice (v.46) so chose wisely.

Don’t be like the slave that buried his talent

the five virgins who had the door shut in their face.

It is not works that saves us but faith that produces works of love

In the light of the Olivet discourse we have looked at for the last few weeks, like they were warned to be watchful and ready, and many were not ,we need to be watchful and ready at all times for the return of Christ.

We cannot give our salvation to anyone else, they must accept it on their own

Our faithful life, our obedient life leads to the masters blessings that we get to share eternally in His joy in heaven.

What we do with what we have been given, what we have been entrusted with matters

So be obedient as we wait for the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings to come knowing this is a marathon not a sprint and we know the finish line we just cannot see it, so we must continue to train and continue to press on toward the prize.

Apply yourself with the spiritual gifts God has given you and serve the kingdom from your heart not from your perceived obligation