The Life of Jesus (31)Teachings Concerning Judgment

The Lord’s Return (2)

Matthew 25:14-46

In Matthew 24-25:14

• We continue our study of Judgment as Jesus taught it during His final week of teaching leading to His death.

Matthew 24-25 - Background

•24:1-2 – Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple•24:3, “When will these things

be?” “What will be the signs of Your coming and of the end of the age.”

Matthew 24 – The Message

•24:4-35 – the coming destruction of JerusalemAnswering the 1st question!•24:36-25:46– “But of that

day and hour no one knows…” Answering the 2nd question!

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

•25:14-30 – Three servants given talents to manage “according to their ability”.

• The master goes on a journey to a far country (long time)

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• The 5 & 2 talent servants double their resources

• The one talent man buries his talent in the ground (i.e. he did NOTHING!)

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• The master returns to settle accounts

• The 5 & 2 talent servants present their efforts and are rewarded accordingly (25:21, 23)

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• The 1 talent servant

• Returns the talent to the master

• Speaks of his harsh conduct (25:24-25)

• He makes excuses

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• Why the accusation?

• If descriptive of God, is it true?

• Certainly NOT!

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• God does NOT take what does not belong to Him

• What belongs to Him? Everything! (1 Cor. 10:26, 28; Psa. 24:1, Ex. 19:5)

• His critics make harsh accusations against Him

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• “You have what is Yours”

• Is this a true statement?

• What about his abilities and time, as a steward?

• Was he capable of managing 1 talent?

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• One talent man’s response:• Rather than take

responsibility, he made excuses! He accused others!

• How many blame God because they don’t want to take responsibility?

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• “You wicked and lazy servant” (25:26-28)

• Why did master reply this way?

• Plausible: He answers “a fool according to his folly”

Matt. 25:14-30 – “Talents”

• “You wicked and lazy servant” (25:26-28)

• Why wicked? • Did the servant act

honorably?Did he steal (Eph. 4:28)Did he slander?

Matt. 25:14-30 – Lessons:

• We don’t know when the master will return!

• When He returns we will give an account for our conductWe have abilities (Rom. 12:3-8, 1 Pet. 4:7-11, cf. 1 Cor. 12:11, 18)

Matt. 25:14-30 – Lessons:

• God detests laziness!• When He returns we will give

an account for our conductWe have abilities (2 Thess. 3:10-12, Heb. 6:11, 1 Thess. 4:11, Prov. 6:6-11, 10:4, 18:9, 20:13, etc.)

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• Jesus now describes the judgment directly

• Son of Man – Jesus (Matt. 9:6, 12:8, 12:40, 26:2)

• He will come in glory – Phil. 2:5-7, John 17:1-5, 2 Thess. 1:9-10

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• With his angels – 2 Thess. 1:7, Matt. 13:41, 49

• He will sit in judgment on His throne! Rom. 2:16, 1 Cor. 4:5, 1 Tim. 4:1

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• A day of separation – 32-35• All nations (souls) gathered

before Him!

• Separated THEN John 5:28-29, Rev. 20:12,…

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• The sheep on the right – 34-40

• Inherit the kingdom…

• How? They did good to His brethren

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• The goats on the right – 41-46

• “Depart from Me…”Rev. 20:10, 15, 21:8

• Why? They did NOT do good to His brethren

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• The goats on the right – 41-46

• NOTE: It was not the “horrible” sins cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Rev. 21:8, Gal. 5:19-21, … Sin is sin!

• They did not recall their failure

Matt. 25:31-46 – Judgment

• The goats on the right – 41-46

• Their fate – “everlasting destruction”

Matt. 25:31-46 – Lessons

• While our salvation is not based upon works – a godly life WILL be filled with good works Titus 2:14, Eph. 2:10, cf. Jas. 2:14-18, 24

• Do we care about the needy as we ought to? Gal. 6:10

Matt. 25:31-46 – Lessons

• There are only two directions of judgment

• “everlasting” & “eternal” are same word•When we stand before God we will be sentenced one way or the other!

We WILL stand before God!

Are you ready?