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Matthew

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Careful Or Careless With The Light

Matthew 25:1-9 

The prospect of a wedding is exciting; joy is about to be unleashed on the happy couple, their families and all around them.  Jesus used this picture to describe the Day when He will come again as a Bridegroom with His Bride, the church (Revelation 21:1-2).  The scene is set at the bride's home.  In those days, the bridegroom would come from his home to collect his bride, and the couple would then be escorted back to his home by bridesmaids.

Too Late

Matthew 25:10-13

This is the second part of Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13).  They had waited a long time for the bridegroom who surprised them by his unexpected arrival, in the middle of the night. The wise ladies had prepared themselves with extra oil to fuel their lamps, just in case it was necessary.  The foolish ones had to go out to buy oil but when they got back, the lamp-lit procession from the bride's house to the home of her new husband was over.  The doors were locked.  They were too late.
 

Return On Investment

Matthew 25:14-18

Jesus often used illustrations from business life.  This one is about a man who gave money to trusted servants, expecting them to invest it profitably.  He then went away but clearly expected a good return on his investment.
 

Spiritual Productivity

Matthew 25:19-23

This passage continues Jesus’ parable about an investor (Matthew 25:14-30).  The wealthy man had placed significant sums of money with three of his servants, before he went on his travels.  He trusted them to do good business and produce a profit.  The servants were not given equal amounts to invest and trade with.  Each had as much as their master knew they could handle.  After a long time, the boss returned.  He wanted to know what they had done with the money entrusted to them.
 

Wicked Laziness

Matthew 25:24-30

These verses continue Jesus’ parable of three servants in whom a wealthy merchant had invested different amounts of money, expecting to receive a good return on his capital (Matthew 25:14-30).  The servant in this part of the story may have been the least talented.  But his master had entrusted him with a whole bag of gold (Matthew 25:14-18), knowing that he had the ability to make a profit from it over a period of time.  However, the trusted servant was not motivated to please his master.  He was too lazy to buy and sell in the market-place, so that he could make a profit.  But he knew he

Gathered And Separated

Matthew 25:31-33

These verses describe the core of what will happen when Jesus comes again (Matthew 16:27).  The whole event will be cosmically awesome – the glorious presence of Jesus surrounded by every single angel.  He will be seen to be the King of everything and everyone, and nobody will argue that He is not.  Such obvious authority and power will make everybody come to Him; those who love Him will come in grateful joy, and those who have despised Him will be judged by their lives (Revelation 20:11-15). 
 

The Family Inheritance

Matthew 25:34-40

When Jesus returns, He will announce to some people that they will receive a share of His inheritance.  The people on His right-hand side are the people who agree with His right to rule: they are His sheep.  All these believers have the blessing of Father God, because their faith in Jesus pleased Him.  John 6:28-29 says, "Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'"
 

Separated For Punishment

Matthew 25:41-46

The popular image of Jesus is that He is a benign person who loves everybody, and will not harm anybody.  Certainly He is not in any way bad or malignant; and He definitely does love all that He has made (Psalm 145:9).  But He will also be a righteous judge: patient, yes, but indulgent, no.  All the people who do not love Him will be separated out; their destiny will be the same as that of the devil and the demons.  If that seems like strong language, it is exactly what Jesus said in these verses.
 

God's Appointment

Matthew 26:1-5

The briefing could not have been clearer.  Very soon, Jesus would be dead.  During the previous year (Matthew 16:21), He had repeatedly told them that He would die a violent death.  Life for the disciples would never be the same again, but in amazing ways they could never have imagined.  Jesus’ death would not be the end – only the beginning of the church!  After His resurrection they would be commissioned (Matthew 28:18-20) to tell the world about Him, their God and Saviour (John 20:28): millions would trust in Him and be saved. 

Conflicting Values

Matthew 26:6-13

Even though the disciples had been with Jesus for almost three years, they still did not understand what was valuable.  They applied their business values and understanding of money, but they forgot the value of loving relationship.  Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (who Jesus had raised from the dead – John 11:43-44).  Simon, a neighbour who previously suffered from leprosy, was hosting a dinner in Jesus' honour (John 12:2).  Perhaps Jesus had healed him because nobody could come to the banquet unless the host was free of disease.
 

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