Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

March 10, 2019

Matthew 24:42 – 25:13 – Eschatology Parables (Part 2)

{vs. 42-44} We have just learned that one out of two will be taken away in judgement (50% is actually a pretty good rate!) – It is far better than Christ’s description of the odds in the church age – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

No one knows – once again the truth is drilled home “the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him”.  Which means if someone is expecting Him – they are wrong (don’t listen to someone who says they know)!  Jesus, the Son of Man is compared to a thief, they have little in common, except maybe this one thing – they will both be unexpected!  The idea of a thief who sets an appointment is ridiculous!  It destroys the very purpose of his visit.  The same is true for Christ’s Rapture and His Return– if we were to know the day and hour, then the church would not live in a state of watchfulness!  While the Rapture may come at any moment, the second coming has a general timetable set – Christ will return at the end of the tribulation (seven years) which is also three and a half years after the abomination that causes desolation.  Even so, there is no way to know exactly when. 

We may know the season but setting an exact day or time will be impossible!  Will it be morning, noon or night?  In this way there are parallels to those of us waiting for Christ to Rapture the Church - we do not know and must be constantly ready!  The take away is Keep watch, always be prepared or on guard!  These parables teach readiness, preparation and faithfulness. Those unprepared are subject to suffer loss and we are talking about far more than stuff stolen from our houses!  This is about our eternal destinations and about judgement and rewards!

{vs. 45-51} As we continue with a new parable, Jesus raises the standard - - - more than mere watching, more than being prepared - - - Jesus calls for us to be about His business.  This story tells us that those called to serve, given responsibilities like the Jewish nation will be judged based upon their performance!  Faithful service to the King reaps its own rewards.  However slacking or misusing His resources or mistreating those He has put into your life are sins that reap heavy consequences!  Notice the servant is given all that he needs – the job title, the instructions, the resources – even the people to take care of but this evil servant has decided to live for himself instead of his master!  God wants us to succeed!  He gives each of us unique giftings, desires in our hearts to follow and yes, a desire to seek Him.  God created us to love us, to be in relationship with Him - - - He is not some mean micro-manager who is waiting for us to fail so that He can come down on us!  The same God who gives us right and wrong also came in the form of man to die for sinful man so that all of our failings, our wrongs could be paid for!  But if like this wicked servant we take all that God gives and throw it away selfishly – then what else can God do?

We must be watching, we must be prepared and we must be faithfully at work for the Kingdom.  God did not save us to sit around on pews!  Life is an adventure and God wants us to live it – to walk through it, side-by-side with Him!  That great commission is not a command to whittle and wait but to go and make disciples!  God has not just saved us but saved us unto good works prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  He has given us resources and if we horde them instead of sharing them, if we refuse to do our duty - - - like this sinful servant, there will be consequences!  On the other hand, those who are faithful – who use the King’s resources (life, breath, abilities, opportunities, etc.) wisely will be rewarded!  Look at the level of compensation – the master (God) will put them in charge of everything (all of His possessions) – God has a lot to be put in charge over!  Everything that is or ever has been belongs to Him!  Now that’s a promotion worth talking about – “Yes, I am the new VP of God, Inc. and have been put in charge of all creation!”

{Matthew 25:1-13 NIV} As we cross into chapter twenty-five, this next parable is taken from the wedding traditions of that day.  A couple was considered married upon their betrothal or engagement (like Mary and Joseph) but there would be a long period in between the engagement and the consummation of the marriage (often about a year) during which the groom would be preparing everything needed to start their new life together.

It was tradition that when the groom had built a house or added an addition to the family home, when he had sowed crops, prepared merchandise to sell, etc. – basically when he could support his bride, then he would come to get her.  This was done during the night so that the procession would be a light filled parade from her father’s home to their new abode.  As they processed, the whole town would join in the celebration.  Weddings were the biggest social event of their lives – the whole town came into the new place and would stay for about seven days – until the friend of the bridegroom (Best Man) would take the bride’s hand and put it into the grooms and send everyone away (hopefully, they would leave!)

A few ideas from the story:

· the lamps, the Greek word speaks of torches (like those carried into the Garden of Gesemene to find Jesus).  There were long wooden sticks with a vessel at the top to hold oil and cloth.

· The virgins (young unmarried girls) are virtually indistinguishable – Notice that both slept, when the groom tarried but only the wise were prepared upon being awakened.  Both are properly dressed, have torches, even the cloths – the only thing missing is the oil of preparation.  The unwise (Greek same word that we get moron from) look good but at the right time, they do not have what matters – the oil.

· The oil – many will follow other biblical symbolism and connect the oil with the Holy Spirit, others say it is the spirit of grace or some other provision from God.  The important thing about the oil is that it is non-transferrable and that it must be pre-purchased (you cannot wait for the day and then get some).

The simple lesson of this parable is (like the previous ones) about preparation – being watchful and ready because you cannot know the day nor hour.  Once the door is closed, there is no second chance!  Again, this is spoken for a primarily Jewish audience, the remnant who has made it through the tribulation and should be expecting Messiah’s Return but it holds parallel truths for those of us expecting the Rapture!  As Zechariah, John and Revelation predict, “They will look on Me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”  However, just like the church age, those who appear to be ready for His return will be both wheat and tares.  Many false believers will be caught unprepared when Christ comes to rule upon the Earth and be taken away in judgement!  Don’t be like these morons - be prepared (not just in appearance) for Christ’s Rapture of the Church.