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The Book of Matthew

Key Verse: Matthew 25:13

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour..”
Continuing to explain the end times, Jesus used another parable to show that we must be ready and we must be vigilant. He spoke of ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom; however, he was late in arriving. Those who had been wise took extra oil for their lamps and were ready when the call went out to come and meet the bridegroom. Those who had no extra oil found their lamps were fading and they could not see to make their way. They begged for oil from the wise virgins, but were turned away.

Matthew 25:9 – “’No,’ they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’”

While they were gone to get more oil, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins accompanied him into the wedding banquet and the door was shut so that the foolish virgins were not able to enter when they returned.

Matthew 25:13 – “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Going on, Jesus spoke of a man who was going away on a long trip. Before he left, he disbursed certain funds to his servants so hat they could use them to his benefit while he was way. He gave one man five talents (one talent was more than a thousand dollars), another received two talents, and another only one talent, “each according to his ability.” (I’m assuming he gave the most money to the one whom he felt was smart enough to do the most with it, etc. Apparently, he was correct in his evaluation of his servants.)

The man who received five talents doubled his money while hismaster was away, as did the man with two talents. But, the man with only one talent dug a hole and buried it to keep it safe, thus gaining nothing.

When the master returned, he said to the two who had doubled his money…

Matthew 25:23 – “His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your maser’s happiness!”

The man who had buried his money and gained nothing tried to explain that he felt his master was a “hard man” who “harvested where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered seed,” (Now I’m not sure what he meant here. Either he was calling his master a thief, or he was saying his master seemed to make money easily in places and in ways no one would expect.) and he confessed to being afraid and hiding his one talent.. This made his master very angry and he told him he should at least have put his money in the bank so it could have drawn interest while he was away. His punishment was harsh.

Matthew 25:28-30 – Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where thee will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In another parable, Jesus explained by example comparing his people to sheep and goats. When he returns to sit upon his thrown, he said he would separate them and put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. He will tell those on his righ to take their inheritance…

Matthew 25:35-36 – “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

And they will ask “When did all these things occur?”

Matthew 25:40 – “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Those people he had divided to his left will be cursed and sent into the eternal fire which had been prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:42-43 –" For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me thohing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invie me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."

They also asked when this had happened…

Matthew 25:45-46 – “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Next Week: Jesus begins his last days

Reference: The Holy Bible – NIV and King James Version