Jesus is preparing his disciples as he knows he ready to be taken. They expect the kingdom to arrive immediately, but they will need to work until he returns. We all want to hear that we have been “good and faithful”, but Jesus also said in Luke 18:8b (LEB) “when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?” Judgment will come in the end and it will be based on our actions. As it says in Matthew 25:33 (LEB) “And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left”, not based on what they say, but based on what they have done.
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 19:11-27
Well Done, Good and Faithful
Matthew 25:14–23
God give people abilities and expects them to use their ability to produce fruit for his kingdom. Those that do produce are rewarded. And those rewards come through greater responsibility, as in Matthew 25:23 “I will put you in charge over many things” and a positive relationship as in “Enter into the joy of your master!”.
I Hid Your Talent
Matthew 25:24–30
God is a God of faith. He expects us to believe we can and try and have success. There isn’t any place with him for the fearful and timid. He also said this through John in
Revelation 21:7–8 (LEB) The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowards and unbelievers and detestable persons and murderers and sexually immoral people and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their share is in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.
They Thought the Kingdom of God Was Going to Appear Immediately
Lk 19:11–19
But Jesus knew there was going to be time before his final return so he said to them in the parable in Luke 19:13 “Do business until I come back”. Then he sets an expectation that there will be a gain when he returns and if so, we can expect to hear as he said in Luke 19:17 “Well Done!”
I Was Afraid of You
Luke 19:20–27
In Luke’s account, there were those that said in Luke 19:14 “We do not want this man to be king over us!” and he finishes in Luke 19:27 those that refused, will be destroyed. Here there are three kinds of people. Those that refused outright, and they will be destroyed. Those that were entrusted with some work to do but were afraid and they will be included with those that refused. But there are those that overcome, that produce results, that serve Gods kingdom even when if seems he is a million miles away.
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:31–46
This says that in the end, there will only be two groups of people, in
Matthew 25:33 (LEB) And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left.
But how will he know the difference? By their actions. At this point, words won’t mean anything. What is recorded of you, the actions you have taken, will speak for you.
Matthew 25:34–36 (LEB) 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 something* to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something* to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
The thing is, that the sheep will not even recognize that they have done anything exceptional. They will wonder why they are deserving of praise. There is in them a nature to do good. And the others, the goats, well, they also have a nature and in Matthew 25:46 “these will depart into eternal punishment”.
Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls Into the Earth and Dies
John 12:20–26
Father, Deliver Me From This Hour
John 12:27–36
Lord, Who Has Believed Our Message
John 12:37–43
His Commandment is Eternal Life
John 12:44–50
Study Verses
- Matthew 25:14–23 Well Done, Good and Faithful
- Matthew 25:24–30 I Hid Your Talent
- Matthew 25:31–46 The Sheep and the Goats
Today’s Reading
- Matthew 25:14-46
- Luke 19:11-27
- John 12:27-50
The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels
This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.
Operation Exodus
is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview