Matthew 24:45- 25:30 "The Olivet Discourse: The Parables of the End Part 2"

We are adopting a family for Christmas… blessing them with gift cards to Amazon/Kohls/Meijer for our adopted Christmas Family. Please have gift cards by 12/19.

Christmas Caroling in surrounding neighborhoods on Sunday Dec 19th 5-7pm… with cookies and cocoa to follow. Meeting at Lakeland. Fliers available.

Christmas Eve Service: Dec 24th 7pm

If you are new to Calvary Chapel…I’m Pastor Marc, welcome! Thanks for joining us today!

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Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 24. We are covering Matt 24:45 to Matt 25:30 today finishing this section on the parables, and then next week we will finish The Olivet Discourse.... Jesus’ Discourse on End Times.

As a recap, Jesus in in His final week prior to the cross… in Jerusalem during Passover… and informed His disciples that the Temple would be destroyed sometime in the future.

The Disciples ask, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And, Jesus answers describing that future Seven Year Tribulation time… Daniel’s 70th Week… A time of Jacob’s trouble.

Then, describes His second coming.

To reinforce His teaching, the Master Teacher, Jesus, shares parables.

We looked at a parable last week… “The Parable of the Fig Tree” and an illustration of “The Days of Noah.”

And, a key take away was to “Be ready.” We don’t know when Jesus will return… it will be on a day and hour no one knows… except God alone.

We also don’t know how much time we have left. And, I don’t know about you, but when God calls me home… either by death or rapture… I want to be busy about His business.

Peter said, 2 Pet 3:11-12 “… what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...”

Paul said, Tit 2:12-13 "...denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...”

We are going to look at 3 more parables today, and as a reminder… Parables compare one truth to another… a natural truth to a spiritual truth… and I caution you to not run too far in allegorizing parables… look for the main point… the simple truth.

Many people get themselves in interpretive trouble by over allegorizing parables… by looking for hidden meaning… assigning each element of the story a specific meaning.

Carson shared this example of Augustine allegorizing… Carson wrote, “Augustine found in the parable of the Good Samaritan references to Adam, Jerusalem, the Devil and his angels, the Law and the Prophets, and Christ and the church!”

That’s over-allegorizing.

Peter warned, 2 Pet 1:20 -21 “...knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

When it comes to prophecy, and scripture in general, be cautious of private interpretation... out of context interpretation… over-allegorization, etc.

Interpretations not tried, tested, and proven to be in harmony with the rest of scripture are likely wrong.

Now, what’s tricky about these passages in Matthew... is that in these parables, Jesus did not provide specific interpretations, so even within our camp… Evangelical-Fundamental Dispensationalists… even some of us see these passages a bit different. Even amongst Pre-Tribulationists… still… differences of opinion.

And, that’s ok! Just have a view on eschatology.

I’m fairly confident that when we enter eternity... Jesus is going to set the record straight and we’re likely all a little wrong, and will stand amazed at God’s grace, and goodness, and justice, and mercy, and the list goes on.

After the tribulation… after the Millennial Reign of Christ, but before ushering in Eternity, God says this, Rev 21:6-7 “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

A glorious promise, and I believe part of the ‘inheritance of all things’ is God will reveal exactly how it is. Magnificent revelations in the “ages to come.”

Well let’s get into our teaching today, which is titled, “The Parables of the End Part 2.”

Let’s Pray!

Matt 24:45-51 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In this parable, there are two servants.

Both were trusted to care for the master’s household - the master’s family… to feed them at the proper time.

One servant did what he was asked. He is called, “faithful,” “wise,” “blessed,” and is promised a position of authority in the master’s kingdom.

The other servant did not do what was asked. He is called, “evil.” He was abusive and a drunk… and is promised judgment and punishment.

In interpreting these parables… there is a difference of opinion. The interpretive divide to these parables is primarily over which return of Jesus…

The rapture where Jesus returns for His church, to meet them in the air…

1 Thes 4:17 “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

Or the Second Coming, where Jesus returns with His church… to rule and reign 1000 years…

Rev 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True…”

Zech 14:4 “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”

Now, depending on how you see this… the rapture or 2nd coming… that determines who you perceive Jesus to be addressing...

Either exhortations for the church, or exhortations for end-times believers.

I lean towards the latter view, that these parables are primarily for Jewish believers of the end times… given the highly Jewish context of this teaching… and the highly Jewish context of the tribulation time as compared to scripture as a whole.

And, if you’ve been here for the past couple weeks… you’ve heard me speak on this in detail… so I won’t continue to beat a dead horse.

(I’m waiting for an ‘Amen!”)

What’s interesting… is no matter your interpretation… how valid is the application for saints today, or tribulation saints?

Jesus is returning, so how are you living now? Are you being faithful and wise with what He has entrusted to you?

But, in this parable, there is a separation… perhaps picturing believing and unbelieving Israel or the nations… the Gentiles being sorted… as pictured in the Sheep / Goat judgment... at the end of Matt 25.

Matt 25:37-40 describes Gentiles during the tribulation who cared for… who fed Israel... “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

At the end of the tribulation, after His return the Lord will judge the nations of people who survived the Tribulation based on their treatment of Israel… His brethren.

Zech 13:8 states two third shall be cut off and die, and one third shall remain. So, Israel will not be treated kindly.

Jesus will separate the Sheep… the “righteous” and they will inherit the kingdom, and “eternal life.”

And, the Goats… who He titles the “cursed.” They will “go away into everlasting punishment.”

Interesting parallels to this illustration.

This parable, like the last, is a warning about readiness for Jesus’ return… faithfulness to His calling… and a promise of either reward or punishment.

And, certainly… all those applications apply to people today as well.

Jesus continues… Matt 25:1… “The Parable of the Ten Virgins”...

Matt 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose 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, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

So, another parable. Jesus is bringing to life His teaching about the Tribulation time to His disciples.

Jesus says, “the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to…”

“…shall be likened to” highlights the parabolic nature of this teaching.

And, Jesus is comparing the kingdom of heaven to the story of this parable.

The kingdom of heaven is a big concept and an important concept emphasized by Jesus often.

In Jesus’ Parabolic Discourse… Matthew 13… He used the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” 8x.

Overall… the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is found in the Bible 33x…all in the Gospel of Matthew. Plus, the parallel phrase “kingdom of God” is found 70x in the Bible…all in the NT.

In the beginning, middle, and end of Jesus’ ministry, He spoke about the kingdom of heaven.

Even during the forty days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension… Acts 1:3 states, "...He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Now, defining the “kingdom of heaven” is not simple because it’s multi-faceted depending on the context.

But, generally...the idea is God’s sovereign rule, the eternal nature of His kingdom, the future eschatological expression of His kingdom, and so forth.

Some people limit the kingdom of heaven as specifically the church…and the church is part of the kingdom of heaven, but the kingdom is a much larger concept.

So, Jesus says, V1 “...the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”

So, in this parable Jesus is comparing the “kingdom of heaven” to… “ten virgins.”

The figurative NLT translation states “ten bridesmaids...”

And, when you combine, “the virgins, “the bridegroom,” and V10 “the wedding,” then you get a sense of the setting… A Jewish Wedding.

Now the comparison though… is not to the wedding, but to the “ten virgins.” An important distinction. The focus of this parable is not on the bride, but the bridesmaids.

“…the kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins...”

So, what can we observe about these “10 Virgins.”

First there is 10 of them… those who like biblical numerology would state 10 is a perfect number… certainly it is repeated often in scripture…230x specifically.

Ten commandments… A tithe is a “tenth” …ten plagues in Egypt.

And, many more examples… and some people get really excited about biblical numerology. I find it interesting, but I don’t run too far with it. And, I’m not sure what the significance would be for this parable.

10 Virgins… all have lamps… all went out to meet the bridegroom…all were assumed invited to the wedding… all awaiting the return of the bridegroom.

The five wise virgins were prepared with oil for their lamps. At midnight, when it was announced that the bridegroom was coming, they trimmed (or prepared) their lamps… and when the bridegroom came, the went to the wedding.

But, the five foolish virgins… had lamps with no oil. And, while waiting for the bridegroom… they slumbered… they slept.

And, when the bridegroom came at an hour they did not expect (at midnight) they attempted to be ready for him… they tried to borrow oil… then they went out to buy oil…AT MIDNIGHT… I can’t imagine anyone was selling oil at the hour though.

Ultimately, they were too late, and the door to the wedding was shut.

Even when they called out, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” The bridegroom would not let them in, and did not even know them.

The warning from Jesus is V13, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

And, that is a great application no matter the interpretation.

For people living today, we don’t know how much time we have… either in life, or before the rapture… therefore… don’t sleep… don’t slumber… don’t be caught unprepared. Be busy about the Lord’s business… live life expecting His return… and faithfully serve… “be doers of the word not hearers only” as James wrote.

For there will be a day that we all will stand before the Lord, and none of us want to hear those words, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

Now, let’s look at the interpretation.

The Bridegroom is Jesus, and this is rather uncontested. John the Baptist title Jesus the Bridegroom in Jn 3; and Jesus called Himself the Bridegroom in Matt 9:15 and Mk 2:19.

The virgins, or the bridesmaids, are not the church. The church is the bride.

Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ, also loved the church and gave Himself for her...”

But, the virgins…the bridesmaids are the friends of the bride.

John the Baptist said, John 3:29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”

John the Baptist was the last of OT prophets… he was not part of the church age, and he titles himself a “friend of the bridegroom.”

And, the virgins are going to the wedding… which in Jesus’ day… A Jewish Wedding was a multi-step process… with three main stages:

First, was the erusin or kiddashin… we call it the Betrothal Period where the groom gave the bride-to-be a pledge… a promise of his intentions for their union.

A good parallel in our Christian life is when we were saved… justified… and God sealed us with His Holy Spirit. His pledge to us.

Eph 1:13-14 states, “…having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

During this betrothal period…which is similar to our engagement period, but much more intentional and legally binding.... the bride would stay in her father’s house, and make herself ready for the coming of the groom.

And, presently, we are to be making ourselves ready for our Groom, by living lives “set apart”… living lives of holiness … being sanctified.

This preparation of the bride seems somewhat pictured in Eph 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Also in Rev 19:7 this preparation is pictured, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

Also, during this betrothal period... the groom would get their home prepared… typically a home or a room built onto his parent’s home.

Jesus said, Jn 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

This present church age has been likened to the betrothal period and the time of preparation. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and He will come again for His bride. And, we are being sanctified… in preparation of Jesus’ return.

The second phase of the Jewish wedding was when the bridegroom would claim his bride, and and take the bride to his own home for the nissuin or the Marriage Ceremony.

Often, the groom would surprise his bride by an unexpected or early return… and often at night. And, there would be a procession of friends leading the couple, carrying lighted lamps to the husband’s home for the wedding banquet.

Interesting parallels to our parable today.

This second phase of the wedding could be compared to the unexpected return of Christ at the Rapture 1 Thes 4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

And, following the rapture… while the world faces Tribulation, the church is part of “The Marriage of the Lamb” as pictured, again in Rev 19:7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The marriage ceremony was typically a more intimate event where a few invited guest attended… a ceremony occured… the couple was made husband and wife… and then followed seven days of celebration.

An interesting parallel to Daniel’s Seventieth Week… a week of years. While the world goes through tribulation, the bride is getting married.

The third and final phase of the Jewish Wedding was the Marriage Feast… held at a different location and many were invited.

This separate event is pictured in Rev 19:9 and will occur after Jesus returns with His bride… during the Millennial Reign of Christ, “‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”

You may have grabbed one of the charts I had available... from the Apologist and Bible Scholar, Charlie Campbell. Charlie places the “Marriage of the Lamb” [Jesus] to the Bride [the Church] during the Seven Years of Tribulation, and places the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” during the Millennium.

And, Charlie noted on his chart… regarding the Marriage Supper of the Lamb: “This glorious time of celebration takes place on the Earth and will include the Jews saved during the Tribulation period (the bridesmaids of Mt. 25:1-13) who are ready to go into the “wedding feast” when the bridegroom comes (Mt. 25:10).”

So Charlie, and I agree, pictures the bridesmaids as the Jews of the Tribulation time… and the wedding … as this final phase of the Jewish Wedding.

Another scholar wrote, “The Marriage of the Lamb in heaven can be compared to the Jewish wedding ceremony itself. And the Marriage Feast at the beginning of the Millennium can be compared to the Jewish marriage supper.”

So, in light of the context of the Tribulation… Jesus central teaching of Matt 24..., this parable best fits as a judgment on faithful and unfaithful Jews (virgins…bridesmaids) after Jesus’ return.

“...the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”

At the end of Matt 25, the Sheep / Goat judgment pictures the Gentiles… the nations being judged.

And, in this parable of the ten virgins… what is pictured is Israel judged as a nation… which is also picture in Ezek 20:37-38… the LORD speaking to Israel… “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

The church, the bride, is not named or pictured in this parable, because this is a warning parable for the Jews, but certainly, as discussed… the church is the bride… a central figure in the Marriage of the Lamb.

And, then Jesus shares one more parable… the “Parable of the Talents.”

Matt 25:14-30 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man [no doubt Jesus between His first and second advents] traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ [Wow… this last servant has nothing but insults for the Lord]. 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. [The Lord is not agreeing with this third servant, rather He is saying, “If that’s your perception of me, then all the more reason you should have been a wise steward.”]. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

In the final parable, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man… who had servants…Gk. doulos, “slaves.”

He entrusted his servants with vast sums of money. A “talent” was a unit of measurement weighing between 58-80 lbs.

When assigned to coinage of the day, a common value was 6,000 denarii… and a common laborer earned 1 denarii per day, so this would be about 20 years of wages. No small sum.

The Master trusted each of these servants with different sums… five, two, and one talent.... “… each according to his own ability.”

The first two servants are praised for being “good and faithful servants”… they were wise stewards and doubled their talents. As a result...

...they are entrusted with increased responsibility “… I will make you ruler over many things.”

...they share in the Master’s joy. “Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

…and they are promised abundance “... more will be given, and he will have abundance.”

The third servant did nothing with his talents and was...

rebuked as “...wicked and lazy”…

he was corrected “…you out to have deposited my money with the bankers...”

he lost privilege “…take the talent from him...”

and he was punished “... cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Which is a picture of hell, therefore this last servant, based on his negative perception of the Lord, ...based on disobedience to the Lord… ultimately His rejection of the Lord… it’s safe to say this is an unbeliever.

And, unbelievers now and during the tribulation will meet a terrible end.

But, what about the faithful? After all, that’s a key point of this parable. The main or simple truth is that while Jesus is away, there is an expectation to serve Him and to be wise with what He has entrusted us with.

True for believers today, and true for believers during the Tribulation.

So, I have to ask, “Are you being faithful?... Are you using your talents wisely?”

“But, Pastor Marc… I’m not that talented. I don’t really have any gifts. I don’t have anything to offer.” Nonsense… we all have gifts.

Eph 4:7-8 states, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

Rom 12:4-8 states, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

We all have gifts… are you using them… and using them well? Using them to glorify God?

Repeatedly, in these parables, we have heard exhortations and warnings…

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

“...be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant...”

And, no matter how you interpret these parables, the application is clear...

Time is short. With the time that you have left, be wise a servant for the Lord. Be faithful… use your talents wisely.

Let’s Pray!

Paul wrote this in his ‘swan song’… in his final epistle, 2 Tim 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

And, I’m confident that when Paul’s account was settled… he heard the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’