Today I read in Matthew 24 and 25 all about the warnings of the Second Coming of Christ- how He will come suddenly at a time that no one even knows, even the angels of heaven, when we might least expect it. Indeed, He is coming to take His people to Himself before judging the world in righteousness! So, this leaves the question- who does He consider to be “His people” and how will He find them when He comes? How do we make sure we are taken up by Him rather than judged? He gives several warnings right after that section about His Second Coming to answer these questions, which I find amazing and awesome of Him to provide us with such rich Insight! So, I want to look at what the following teaching parables will show us. I do this in a way that will hopefully also inform those who are not familiar with the scriptures of their value and power. I encourage such as you to read these posts!
The first parable at the end of Matthew 24 is the parable of the faithful servant and the evil servant. In this parable, two servants are waiting for the return of their master (Jesus’ Second Coming), one faithful, who makes sure to do the master’s will giving food to His household in due season. The other, evil, sees the master is delayed in his coming and begins to beat the master’s servants and to eat and drink with the drunkard. The master then returns at an hour he is not looking for him, and he is “cut in two” and thrown out with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. So, while we await the return of our Master Jesus, a good servant will feed His household- mankind- by teaching and reflecting the truths of His Word in their lives. The evil one lives an unholy life that does not fear God. The lesson is simple- God’s servant fears and obeys Him and reflects His life to the world around him.
The next parable is that of the wise and foolish virgins. In this parable there are 10 virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish who take their lamps out to wait to meet the bridegroom (Jesus’ Second Coming). The wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps, prepared for any delay in case the bridegroom came in the night hour. The foolish did not, and furthermore, they didn’t stay awake at night but rather “they all slumbered and slept.” At midnight, a cry was heard that the bridegroom was coming! The wise went to meet him, but the foolish were running out of oil and asked the wise to share with them. The wise said there is not enough for both of us- go out and buy some from the market. When the bridegroom arrived the wise went with him into the wedding banquet, but the foolish missed him and when they returned, they knocked and asked to be let in, but the bridegroom refused them and said to them, “I do not know you.” The lesson here is that even if you are living a holy life (as a “virgin”), you must be alert and vigilant, actively awaiting your bridegroom’s return with extra oil (the Holy Spirit) for your lamp to be lit and prepared for the night hour. We must live holy and seek God and His Spirit through spiritual disciplines like study of His Word, prayer, and fasting, for example. We must be longing for His arrival.
The next parable is about a Master with three servants whom he entrusts with talents (money of old) to manage while he is away on a trip. He gives one 5, another 2 and the last one he gives 1 talent. The servants with 5 and 2 talents immediately went and traded them and gained another 5 and 2 talents. The one with 1 talent however, believed the master was a “hard man, reaping where you have not sown” and so he buried his talent in the ground and then gave it back to the master when he returned. On his return (Jesus’ Second Coming), the master counted this servant “wicked and lazy” and cast him in the “outer darkness” where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The lesson here is we must not only live holy lives awaiting our Lord’s return with alert longing and active pursuit of His Spirit, but we must make use of His gifts to us to bear fruit for His kingdom. We must be upright and about His business building the kingdom of God, “immediately,” at that, bringing him glory in our doing.
The final parable is that of the sheep and the goats. At the last judgment (after Jesus’ Second Coming), the Son of Man or Jesus will judge “the nations,” and will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from the goats. The sheep, His people, will be blessed by the Father and gathered into His kingdom because they did His will. Jesus tells them, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” And they say when did we do these things to you? And He tells them, “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” But the goats are the opposite. He says to them, “Depart from Me into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food…” and they did none of those things for Him. And they say, but Lord, when did we do none of these things for You? And He says, “Assuredly I tell you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” The lesson here is that even those who know God and call Him Lord, must understand that all the people in this world, especially the lowly and needy, are His and we are obliged to care for His own. He calls us to give to others as we would have them give to us. In fact, this is one “talent” granted each person and especially a believer with the Holy Spirit- that of compassion. It is one He expects us to use proactively!
Just a few chapters earlier in Matthew 22:36-40, a lawyer tested Jesus asking what is the greatest commandment? And Jesus answered him, “’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Interestingly, in John 14:15, Jesus talking to His disciples says, “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” Then in John 15:14, He tells them, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” So, what can we expect when God comes to judge us? And how can we be prepared for His arrival? How can we know that we truly are a faithful servant of our Master and bridegroom? That we are a sheep in our Shepherd’s flock?
He tells us explicitly in these parables that lay between warnings of His Second Coming and the description of His Final Judgment. Amazingly, each parable builds on the expectation expressed in those preceding it. It is not enough to fear God with holy conduct, even if we are a good servant feeding His household the truth. It is not enough even to keep chaste as a virgin. To this we must add the disciplines that keep His Spirit alive and fresh in us and keep extra oil in our lamps eagerly longing for His arrival- even in the night hour. It is not enough even to long for Him with discipline, chaste and holy! We must also make the most of the gifts He’s given us to build His Kingdom and bear fruit for Him and for His glory so that people will see His reality in this world and our lives can testify of the truth of faith in Him! Finally, we must most of all exercise the one essential talent and gift He has given all of us, that of His compassion for the least of these, for in this we show His presence in them His very love. In these ways do we obey His teachings in these parables and warnings and show Him our love with all our heart, soul and mind, loving Him with all of ourselves and loving others with His very love. In this way do we fulfill the whole of the law and hope to one day even be considered His friend!
So let us be compelled and encouraged in this Love to go out in our lives with All of ourselves in All of our might! and show Him our gratitude! Gratitude for His truth He so generously shared with us in His time here on earth, for the gospels we are so blessed to be able to study in our day and in our country, and for His wisdom and His great love for us in guiding us to live for His Kingdom not just as His servants, but as citizens of Heaven! Even as we eagerly wait for His return! Praise God!
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