Parables of the Kingdom

In Matthew 24, Jesus disciples were asking Jesus when the temple would be destroyed, and when the end would come and he would establish His kingdom as foretold in the Old Testament.

Jesus told them some of the signs of things that were going to happen, and how the temple would be destroyed. But He did not answer that question, ‘when’. Instead, Jesus said no one but the Father knows the day and hour of the end of the age, and the coming of the Son to establish the kingdom.

So if Jesus was not answering their question of when, why did He have so much to say in regard to their questions? Because more important than knowing when is the instructions, or exhortation, He had for them.

What were the exhortations from Matthew 24?

Watch out - Matthew 24:4

Be on Guard - Mark 13:9

Witness, but do not worry about what to say - Mark 13:9-11

Pray - Matthew 24:20

Watch and be ready - Matthew 24:42, 44

Jesus continues his instructions to the disciples in Matthew 25 by relaying three different parables. We are going to read and look at them, one at a time.

Upon telling that He was coming at some unknown time in the future, Jesus gave the exhortation for people to be ready.

That theme of being ready is what Jesus emphasizes 3 more times in Matthew 25, using parables.

Parables - a story from life as an illustration to teach a point

Parables are stories or examples taken from what was common life at that time, and using it to make a point. Parables typically have one point. Sometimes people try to take the details of the parables to extrapolate many points, but a parable really is used to get across a main point. No illustration is meant to be taken too far looking for correspondence in all the details.

For example, I bought a tent for Jen which we call the Taj Mahal of tents. Why do we call it that? It was really large compared to our other tent. So, just as the Taj Mahal is big. so the tent is big. That is the point of the illustratoin. Now, the Taj Mahal is actually a Mausoleum. I did not buy the tent as a final resting place for Jen. That would be taking the illustration too far in trying to make a correspondence. That is what I mean by taking the illustration of the parable too far. We do not need to look for symbolism in every point of the parable. When it comes to parables, look for the main point.

Be Ready

What does it mean to be ready? What does it take to be ready?

So, as I said, the main point in these parables is to be ready for Jesus’ coming to establish the kingdom. The question I want you to think about is, “What does it mean to be ready? What does it take to be ready?”

Now, let’s dig into the passage, and look at what Jesus was communicating in these parables.

First, Matthew 25:1-13.

Matthew 25:1–13 NIV

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Parable of the Ten Virgins

This is based upon the typical Jewish wedding.

Main point: be ready

Believe Him. He said He was coming. Live in faith and expectation.

But why were they not allowed in? They were not known.

To be ready is to be known, to be a part of the wedding party.

The next parable is found in Matthew 25:14-30.

Matthew 25:14–30 NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Parable of the Talents (bags of gold)

Luke 19:12-27 is similar

Differences:

Setting:

Luke is on way to Jerusalem

Matthew is on Mount of Olives

Background of Parable

Luke - man going away to be crowned king

Matthew - man going on journey

Number of servants

Luke - 10 servants

Matthew - 3 servants

What was given

Luke - one minas (3 months wages) each

Matthew - one was given 5 talents (15 years wages per talent), another 2 talents, and another 1 talent, each according to their ability

Reward

Luke - rule cities

Matthew - put in charge of many things

Punishment

Luke - the servant lost out on reward, the enemies who did not want him as king were killed

Matthew - unfaithful servant was cast out

Similar to Ezekiel 20:33-38, judgment of Israel when Messiah comes and establishes his kingdom

What does it mean to be ready?

To be ready is to believe that God is true. If we believe it, we will act on it. We will take what He has given us, and use it for Him.

To be ready is to be faithful and produce fruit.

The final parable is found in the midst of Matthew 25:31-46.

Matthew 25:31–46 NIV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

When this takes place is made explicit. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

Who will be gathered and judged? The nations.

What is it to be be ready? Do what God says.

Micah 6:8 NIV

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Doing what He says shows faith.

To be ready is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

What about me?

2 Peter 3:13–14 NIV

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Homework:

Read Matthew 24-25 in one sitting. What is the setting for the parables in Matthew 25? What is the main point, or the main exhortation of the parable/example of the servant left in charge in Matthew 24? What is the main exhortation for the parables in Matthew 25? As we discussed when studying the Rescued and Caught up, we, the church, wlll not be on Earth to be watching for His second coming to the earth, as we will be with Him in heaven and then with him for his return to earth. However, until He comes to get us, wouldn’t this apply? Should we be ready? Should we be watching? Consider Titus 2:13; James 5:7, 8; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 3:12.

Read Matthew 25:1-13. What made the foolish ones foolish? Why would they have not taken along extra oil? What was their attitude that they did not take along extra oil? Why were they not admitted? See verse 12. What does it mean to be ready in this parable? Could being ready mean that you are known to be a part of the wedding party?

Read Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27. What are the differences? Can a teacher use a similar illustration on multiple occasions? Can an illustration be changed slightly to get across a slightly different point? What is the point of Luke 19:12-27? Who is it that is put to death in that passage? What is the point of Matthew 25:14-30? Who is put to death in that passage? Why?

Read Ezekiel 20:33-38. Who is being judged? Where are they going based upon the judgment? Who goes into the kingdom and who does not? Could this be similar to those who went into the wedding feast, and those who did not? Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Who is being judged? (Hint: Who has the foundation of Jesus in their lives?) What is being looked at? What is burned up? The people? Is anyone lost, or sent to the outer darkness, the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth? (i.e. The Lake of Fire / Eternal judgment) Read Revelation 21:11-15. Who is being judged? Where are they going?

Now Read Matthew 25:31-46. Is this a judgment like Ezekiel? Who is being judged here? Is is like 1 Corinthians 3? Who was being judged there? Is it like Revelation 21:11-15? Who was judged there? This is different in that it is the nations who are alive at His coming to earth. Not the dead. It is similar to Ezekiel in that it is whether they are going into the kingdom or not. However, it is the nations, not Israel being judged. What is the basis of the judgment? How they treated whom? Knowing that there will be great persecution of the Jews in the Great Tribulation, anyone who is nice to the Jews during that time will have to be someone who believes God. No one else would want to care, or be nice to Jews during that time. So, their faith leads to action. Hmm. Isn’t that what James talks about? Faith should result in action? The result is that they will either go into the kingdom, or go away for eternal punishment.

These parables from Matthew 25 are recorded for the exhortation of those who will be present on earth leading up to the time of Jesus second coming to establish the kingdom. However, doesn’t the same application of being watchful and ready for Jesus apply to us now? What does it mean to be ready when He comes? Read 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 4:7-19.

Related Media

Related Sermons