THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL BE LIKE. The third question the disciples asked in Matthew 24:3 was about the end of the world. Chapter 25 is an answer to this. The central idea of this chapter is the wise use of this life in order to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. TEN GIRLS. No special meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLISH - WISE. Notice the difference in attitude. Compare Matthew 7:21-27.... [ Continue Reading ]
DID NOT TAKE ANY EXTRA OIL. These girls started out with full lamps, but no extra in reserve.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THE WISE ONES TOOK. They were not going to be caught short. [Read Hebrews 6:1-3 and compare.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRIDEGROOM WAS LATE IN COMING. Later than they had any reason to expect. TO NOD AND FALL ASLEEP. The thought is that the bridegroom would come unexpectedly.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS ALREADY MIDNIGHT. The hour of quiet sleep. The coming is sudden, unexpected! (Compare Matthew 24:27.)... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS. The Jewish lamp was a cup filled with oil, and a wick floating on it. After burning some time, the wick would need trimmed and the oil refilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT. They had kept their lamps flickering up to now. Both death and Judgment will show things in their true light.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO, INDEED. THE WISE GIRLS HAD NONE TO SPARE. No one can give surplus righteousness to another. [Except Jesus, of course.] GO. BUY. Everyone must reach out to Christ with his own faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THEY WERE GONE. If they had started earlier, they would have had time. The door of the Kingdom is open wide now, but it must close one day.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIR, SIR! LET US IN! As Augustine says: "They came looking for mercy when it was time for judgment." Compare Luke 13:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW YOU. Their right to come in had been forfeited!... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH OUT, THEN. The whole parable illustrates this. APPLICATION. Some understand the parable in this way: The Bridegroom is Christ; the time of the wedding feast is the coming to Judgment; the delay in coming symbolizes the unknown period of time between Christ's first and second comings; the girls... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WILL BE LIKE A MAN. Christ returning to heaven (Acts 1:9). CALLED HIS SERVANTS. Symbolic of the obligation which Christ placed on his followers (Matthew 28:19-20).... [ Continue Reading ]
TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY. He gives them the amount of responsibility they can use, to carry out his work.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT WHO HAD RECEIVED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. He doubled the investment by using his ability wisely.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY. The servant who received two thousand dollars also did well.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE SERVANT. People commonly hid their money in the ground for safe keeping. This servant's only thought is to preserve what he has. Note that what he does is not illegal, only unwise.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A LONG TIME. This implies the Lord will be late in coming [to our way of thinking]. AND SETTLED ACCOUNTS. At Judgment, our character, our life, and how we have used our opportunities, will all be examined. Revelation 22:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT. He had doubled what he had received, and hands it to the master.... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL DONE. Faithfulness in managing small amounts will bring new opportunities.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SERVANT. He also has doubled what he has received.... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL DONE. Exactly the same reward, even though he was not given the same responsibility. He used what he had well.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIR, I KNOW YOU ARE A HARD MAN. This is an insult. Many will not work for Christ because they think following him imposes unreasonable demands on their time, talents, money, and life in general.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS AFRAID. This is his motivation. Compare 1 John 4:18; Revelation 21:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU BAD AND LAZY SERVANT. Not only unfaithful, but insulting. Compare Jude 1:14-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU SHOULD HAVE DEPOSITED. If he had put the money in the bank, he would have at least made something. By hiding it, he even lost the interest the bank would have paid.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM HIM. He has failed his trust. An opportunity which is not used, is taken away, and becomes a curse. GIVE IT TO THE ONE. Because he has proved his faithfulness.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TO EVERYONE WHO HAS. This is a general law of life. Every opportunity used, brings further opportunity. Every opportunity unused, is a step backwards. "Wealth protects the rich man; poverty destroys the poor" (Proverbs 10:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
THROW HIM OUTSIDE IN THE DARKNESS. This implies total separation from God for those who refuse to love him and do his will (see Matthew 7:21-23).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SON OF MAN. (Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20:11-15.) The Second Coming at the end of the world is meant. AS KING. He is King now (1 Corinthians 15:25) and has a Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). But at his Second Coming, he will sit on the _great white throne_ as the Judge (compare... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE EARTH'S PEOPLE. This is the final separation of the good from the bad.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHEEP AT HIS RIGHT. The sheep symbolizes the Lord's people. The "right side" is the place of honor (compare Hebrews 12:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE KING WILL SAY. Those who have chosen to follow Christ in this present world are called to share Eternity.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU FED ME. The reason why those on the right receive the eternal kingdom is seen. They had demonstrated their faith by their actions (James 2:14-26). What they had done to fellow-men, they had done to Christ by proxy. These are things which everyone can do. A real, personal service... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN, LORD, DID WE EVER SEE YOU? Christ has been gone from earth. They did not see him in person.... [ Continue Reading ]
I TELL YOU, INDEED. Compare Matthew 20:25-28. These had acted out what the Lord said, in serving others in the name of Christ. But they had not known that Christ accepted this as personal service to himself. The righteous are: (1) those whose sins are forgiven; (2) those who have lived and acted in... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAY FROM ME! The redeemed will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Those who have turned their back to Christ, will be thrown out into the darkness forever! Jesus makes a strong statement of Eternal Punishment for the wicked. Note this was not intended for humans.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU WOULD NOT. This is the story of their life. They are doomed, not for what they did, but for what they failed to do!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN, LORD, DID WE EVER SEE YOU? If they had seen him in all his glory, they would have given him everything they had!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENEVER YOU REFUSED. Christ came to them in many forms, but they turned him away and closed the door in his face.... [ Continue Reading ]
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. ETERNAL LIFE. A separation will take place. Both states will last the same length of time. The choices made in this present world determine which way each of us will be sent.... [ Continue Reading ]