Matthew 25:1-32

God revealed his Law in the Bible and yet one place tells us that we’re subject to that law, while another place tells us we’re not under it at all.

We can see this if we compare Matthew 5:17 to Romans 6:14, and if we compare Deuteronomy 6:25 to Romans 10:4.

In one verse circumcision is a matter of salvation, while on another page circumcision voids the cross of Christ!

We see this when we compare Genesis 17:14 with Galatians 5:2.

What about the Sabbath day? In one section it’s a commandment. In another the Lord of the Sabbath supersedes it. In yet another we’re not to let anyone judge us about it.

See Exodus 20:10, Mathew 12:2 and Colossians 2:16.

Is our justification based on our works or not? Compare Romans 4:5 with James 2:24.

No wonder it seems confusing. Confusion is compounded when preachers don’t rightly divide the Word.

Often pastors and teachers make excuses, avoiding, or distorting the passages to try and make sense out of from what they know or think they know, but what’s really needed is the correct dividing of scripture between the ages.

 

The Bible was inspired over the course of 1400 years and its content spans from eternity to eternity. It’s because of this great span of time, where we have different audiences who’re being dealt with by God in different ways, that we need to pay close attention to exactly what God’s done, what He will do and what He’s doing now!

 

This is called dispensational Bible study, and it’s a method described in 2 Timothy 2:5 as “rightly dividing the word of truth”.

A new dispensation or age can change what we know about God’s will and how we respond. These changes need to be clearly understood.

Now, of course, we know God Himself never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever, but the way He deals with mankind, with us, does change according to theses time and ages.

 

A common mistake in Bible study is reading future revelations into passages where it wasn’t yet revealed.

Also, future revelations can replace or change instructions given in older revelations.

For example, Moses didn’t know the later promise made to David. Abraham knew nothing of water baptism by John the Baptist.

Likewise, the Apostle Peter didn’t need to follow the previous instructions to build an ark given to Noah. You see, instructions and how God was dealing with mankind had changed.

God treats each man on the basis of what He’s revealed in that age. It’s man’s responsibility to know God’s revelations, or dispensations, and respond in faith and obedience.

All scripture is profitable for our learning, but not every instruction is for us to carry out today. It’s vital to understand who God’s revelations are intended for. To whom was God speaking?

 

While we can find the instructions for the church in Paul’s letters, there’re many instructions to past saints, or future Israel, that don’t address any one of us in the church, The Body of Christ, today.

It would be wrong to claim that these instructions are for us to enact today. We can understand the Bible if we follow Paul’s advice and rightly divide it.

When we study Jesus’ ministry to Israel, as we are in Matthew, we must also study the prophets if we’re to have any idea of what’s happening because Jesus ministry on earth was to fulfill the law and prophecy.

One example is the account of the distressed disciples in a boat during a storm, but the Lord was sleeping through it.

Luk 8:24,

And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 

What an amazing event, but what’s more amazing is knowing the prophecy of Psalm 107 verses 28 and 29,

Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. 

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 

This Psalm was written hundreds of years before the Lord appeared to Israel and calmed the waters. This, and hundreds of prophecies like it would have been strong evidence to Israel, who knew these scriptures well, that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

 

As we’ve already said, this chapter, Matthew 25, further explains the answer Jesus gave to the question the disciples asked in Matthew 24:3, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

This time Jesus is going to use three parables or word pictures to expand on what He’s already told them.

 

Let’s remember that Christ’s earthly ministry is still under the Law. The Temple’s still operating, and Jesus is not permitting Gentiles to participate in His ministry.

All the Abrahamic Covenants and promises are still in effect so it’s Jew only. Our basic doctrine in the Body of Christ, The Church today, is that salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of the Cross.

But here, the finished work of the Cross hasn’t been accomplished yet, so they couldn’t be preaching that, nor were they supposed to preach that.

Luke 9:44-45 shows that even the Twelve, after being with Jesus for nearly three years, didn’t understand the Cross. Here Jesus is speaking.

“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 

But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. 

They couldn’t even get up the courage to ask Him, “What are you talking about?”

Turn to Luke 18:31-34 for more,

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 

For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 

They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” 

But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. 

They had no idea that in a few days Jesus would be crucified. Look at John Chapter 20 verse 9,

For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 

You see, after the Crucifixion they’re now at the tomb on Resurrection morning and the Scripture again makes it plain that they didn’t know. The setting here is Peter and John running to the sepulchre after Mary had told them that it was empty. And they look in and are amazed.

 

If they had no idea that Jesus was going to be crucified, and that He was now raised from the dead, how could they’ve been preaching our Gospel of Grace back there in His earthly ministry.

Yet this is what’s been shoved down our throats. Most of us have been taught that our Gospel came on the scene as soon as Jesus did, but as you can see, that’s impossible.

The Old Testament was full of prophecy of Christ’s first coming; His death, burial, and Resurrection; His ascension and His Second Coming. But we’ve always got remember it was in such veiled language they didn’t know what it was. The prophets themselves couldn’t understand. We can now, since we have the whole Book. But they couldn’t.

 

So, Jesus is going to expand on the answer He gave to the disciples about the signs of His second coming and He’s going to use parables to do it.

Now, there are two mistakes people make when trying to understand the parables of Jesus.

1. They think they’re intended to make things clearer.
2. They think they were given to reveal truth about the church today.

A parable is not a children’s story, an illustration, or a proverb. A parable is not intended to make things clear, but to teach a hidden meaning through fiction, or allegory, like a riddle.

Why would someone, especially Jesus, speak in parables?

This is exactly what the disciples asked Jesus after he told the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:10.

His response was so that certain people would not see, hear, and know see Matthew 13:11-15.

The disciples of Jesus repeatedly asked Jesus to explain the parables after they were spoken and Jesus did give them, and by extension us, a clearer explanation, but to the others that explanation was not given. Jesus explained that understanding these mysteries was a gift granted to some but not to all

The parables of Jesus were hidden teachings to the crowd that he taught clearly at other times to his disciples.

The parables weren’t mere everyday stories. They contained spiritual mysteries about the Kingdom of God.

All Jesus’s parables relate to this coming kingdom. Almost all start with “the kingdom of heaven is like”.

 

Jesus is speaking directly to the disciples in these parables on the Mount of Olives.

 

Matthew 25:1-5,

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

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 

 

Notice the first word, “Then”, which is referring back to and carrying on from chapter 24, and the illustration of the evil servants and the master. It clearly places this parable in the time preceding and during the King’s return to earth.

Jesus here likens the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and had oil for their lamps; the others had none. While waiting, all fell asleep.

Weddings in ancient Jewish culture were joyous occasions, often lasting several days.

Virgins, or bridesmaids, or torchbearers, played a crucial role in the wedding procession.

Their lamps symbolised readiness for the bridegroom’s arrival. Extra oil represented preparedness for unexpected delays.

The bridegroom represents Jesus, who will return to His people, the nation of Israel, and the virgins symbolise Israel waiting for His coming. His delay symbolises the period between His two comings, so far, 2000 years.

The oil signifies faithfulness, spiritual readiness, and the Holy Spirit.

The foolish virgins lacked true preparation and missed the opportunity to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Why did they lack? Through unbelief. Through lack of faith. They didn’t believe enough to be ready.

The five wise virgins represent the true disciples of Christ in the Tribulation, the believers.

The foolish virgins represent those who outwardly profess to hold the Messianic hope but who’ve never truly believed and so don’t have the Holy Spirit.

The fact that all ten virgins slept shows that outwardly there wasn’t much to differentiate them.

This parable emphasises Israel’s need for vigilance and readiness for the King coming back to set up His kingdom.

 

Matthew 25:6-7,

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 

 

At midnight the announcement rang out that the bridegroom was coming. In the previous chapter we learned that His arrival will be heralded by awesome signs.

At an unexpected hour the bridegroom came for the wedding. Jesus returned in His second coming to set up the Kingdom. The wedding party, all those virgins, representing the entire nation of Israel, immediately began to prepare their lamps for lighting.

The term “Trimmed their lamps” is literally “put their torches in order”.

It’s a warning addressed specifically to the nation not to assume that their future in the kingdom is unconditionally assured just on the basis of their lineage from Abraham. Romans chapters 9 and 11 describe that in detail.

All ten are expecting to be at the feast. All Israel are expecting to enter the kingdom when it comes, and until that moment comes, there’s no outwardly appearing difference between them. The crisis is that there is a divide, a separation between the ready and the unready.

The foolish virgins were unprepared because they lacked oil for their lamps. Oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost. He was given to Israel according to the end time prophecy of Joel chapter 2, which the Apostle Peter quoted as happening at that time of Pentecost, as we see in Acts chapter 2.

The nation was given the New Covenant which Christ ratified in His blood. He was the testator of that New Covenant.

Through the now arrived Holy Spirit, God’s law would no longer be a matter of self-discipline and personal effort, it would be written on their hearts and minds. They would all know God and do His law in a perfectly natural way. It would be in their hearts and minds it what they would feel and think!

The only condition is faith! They had to believe that these things clearly given in God’s Word were true. They had to trust God.

 

If the nation had not rejected their Messiah way back 2000 years ago, those end time prophecies of Joel would have happened back then as Peter said in his preaching at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. But Israel did reject their Messiah! Now, because of that rejection, the setting up of the kingdom has been on hold for 2000 years while a new age, the dispensation of Grace, the age you and I live in today, was slotted into God’s prophetic timeline.

Without the oil, the Holy Spirit and the New Covenant in their hearts and minds the wedding party was not ready for the bridegroom. They aren’t ready for the return of Jesus and the kingdom.

 

To verses 8 to 10 now,

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

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.’ 

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. 

 

Our lamps are going out.

So, it’s obvious that if they’re going out they were once lighted.

Their hearts had once been illuminated and faithful, but they’d backslidden and are excluded from the kingdom. They’ve let the light that was in them become darkness, and haven’t turned back to the faith they once had.

They find they can’t get that faith from another person’s supply; it must be their own.

The saddest, and I guess most horrific part of this parable, is while the unwise virgins were desperately trying to get the required oil, trying to get back to their faith and belief, The Lord came, and they were too late. That lateness is now eternal.

 

Now to verses 11 to 13,

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 

But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 

 

The door was shut!

“Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” what chilling words!

The penalty was severe for the foolish ones.

They’re not allowed in; the door was shut against them in the strongest terms.

The girls’ appeal and the bridegroom’s response recall the chilling words of Matthew 7:22-23,

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 

 

I do not know you! This must be the ultimate rejection.

When that door’s shut, it’ll never be opened. Many people dream about an opening of that door, after death, for those who have died without faith in God and His finished work on the cross of Christ, but there’s absolutely nothing in the Scriptures to support that.

Any ‘greater hope’ than what’s revealed in the Word of God is a delusion and a trap.”

Watch therefore say’s verse 13, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The whole point of this parable to Israel during and near the end of the tribulation period is simple – be ready.

The price for failing to be ready is too high.

 

There’s no Body of Christ language here in this or any of the other parables. Nothing of the completed work on the cross, salvation by God’s free gift, without works to the whole world both Jew and Gentile. A gift available through faith alone, believing God and His Word.

This is law, not the grace we freely have today. This is enduring till the end or else you’ll lose. This is the language of the tribulation just before Christ’s return.

We mustn’t try and somehow fit the Body of Christ into this parable apart from the instruction and learning we get from it.

 

Now we move to the next parable and again we’re still on the Mount of Olives and Jesus is continuing to expand his answer to the disciples about the signs of His second coming.

This is another parable for that future generation that’ll be waiting for our Lord’s return to earth.

 

Matthew 25:14-18,

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 

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. 

And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. 

But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 

 

We notice again the opening. “For the kingdom of heaven is like”.

This parable also teaches that when the Lord returns, there’ll be true and false servants.

The story revolves around a man who, before going on a long journey, assembled his own servants and gave to each varying amounts of money, according to his own ability. One got five talents, another got two, and the last, one. They were to use this money to bring income to the master.

The man with five earned another five talents. The man with two doubled his also. But the man with one went and dug a hole and buried it.

It is not difficult to see that Christ is the master and the long journey is the period between His first and second coming. The three servants are Israelites living during the Tribulation, responsible to represent the interests of the absent Lord. They’re given responsibility according to their individual abilities.

Matthew 25:19-23,

After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 

“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.’ 

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.’ 

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.’ 

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.’

 

After a long time, the Lord … came back and settled accounts with them. This depicts the Second Coming of Christ.

The first two received exactly the same commendation: “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.”

The test of their service was not how much they earned, but how hard they tried.

Each used his ability fully and earned one hundred percent. These represent true believers whose reward is to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom. What motivated these two to do what was expected of them? Belief, faith. They believed that the Master, The Lord, would return and that they would receive benefit from that return if they did what was required of them.

 

To verses 24 and 25 now,

“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. 

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 

 

The third servant had nothing but insults and excuses for his master. He accused him of being hard and unreasonable, reaping where he’d not sown, and gathering where he’d not scattered seed.

He excused himself on the basis that, he was fearful, so he buried his talent.

This servant was an unbeliever. He had no faith in Who the Lord was and in His inevitable return in judgement.

 

Verses 26 and 27,

“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. 

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 rebuked him as wicked and lazy. Having such thoughts of his Master, why hadn’t he deposited his money with the bankers to earn interest? Incidentally, in verse 26, the lord’s not agreeing with the charges against him. Instead, he’s saying, “If that’s the kind of master you thought I am, all the more reason to have put the talent to work. Your words don’t excuse you; they condemn you.”

 

Now to Matthew 25:28-29,

So, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 

‘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. 

 

If this man had earned just one talent with his talent, he would’ve received the same commendation as the others.

Instead, all he had to show for his life was a hole in the ground! His talent was taken and given to the man with ten talents. This follows a law in the spiritual realm: “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.”

Those who desire to be used for God’s glory are given the means. The more they do, the more they’re enabled to do for Him. On the other hand, we lose what we don’t use.

The mention of the bankers in verse 27 suggests that if the wicked and lazy servant couldn’t use his talent for the Lord, he should’ve turned it over to others who could. There’s an application here for us today, even though this parable is for tribulation Israel. The bankers in this case may be missionaries, Bible societies, Christian publishing houses, gospel radio programs, etc.

In a world like ours, there is no excuse for leaving money idle.

 

To Matthew 25:30 now,

And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 

 

The unprofitable servant was cast out. He was excluded from the kingdom. He shared the fate of the wicked and the unbeliever, because, ultimately, he was an unbeliever. It was not his failure to invest the talent that condemned him; rather his lack of good works showed that he lacked the faith required to enter the kingdom.

 

Notice again the lack of any mention of salvation through the shed blood of Christ and free grace apart from works. This is a works-based program and does not speak of the Body of Christ today.

 

Now to the judgement of the nations in Matthew 25:31-32,

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

 

This section describes the Judgment of the Nations, which is different from the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Judgment of the Great White Throne.

 

The Judgment Seat of Christ, a time of review and reward for believers only, takes place after the Rapture of the Body of Christ.

We see that judgement in Romans 14:10, in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; and in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

An important point to realise in this judgement is that 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 say this,

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 

If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

You see we should understand that this judgment is not for our salvation. If we’re here at this judgment we’re saved. And even if our works are such that they’re burnt up, we are not.

 

The Judgment of the Great White Throne takes place in eternity, after the Millennium.

The wicked dead will be judged and consigned to the Lake of Fire, and we see that in Revelation 2:11-15.

Anyone finding themselves at this judgment is totally without hope.

 

These two judgements are both judgments of individuals and according to Romans 14 verse 10, We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

But the passage we’re reading here in Matthew 25:3-32 relates to nations.

The Judgment of the Nations, or Gentiles (the Greek word can mean either), takes place on earth after Christ comes to reign, as verse 31 clearly states: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him.”

Joel 3:1-2 refers to this happening in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, outside Jerusalem and we read,

I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

 

The nations will be judged according to their treatment of Christ’s Jewish brethren during the Tribulation as we see in Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:12-14 and the rest of this chapter of Matthew.

There are actually three classes of nation mentioned: sheep, goats, and Christ’s brethren. The first two classes, over whom Christ sits in judgment, are Gentiles living during the Tribulation. The third class is Christ’s faithful Jewish brethren who refuse to deny His Name during the Tribulation in spite of incredible persecution. The judgement of the nations is going to be about how those nations treated the horrendously persecuted Jewish nation in the tribulation.

Until next time friends when we finish up Matthew chapter 25 and begin chapter 26, may God bless you and keep you and may you come into the knowledge of the truth.