Decisions - Consequences

Matthew 25:1-46

Among the most painful memories of going to public school were the playground games. Especially for boys playing flag football. Someone would organize a game, everyone would gather around and the two most athletic or most popular would be the captains. Then came time to pick teams. I remember vividly standing there and waiting. If you were buddies with one of the captains you\'d be picked first. If you had some athletic ability you\'d be picked next. But as the numbers dwindled you realized you were now becoming the person the teams were trying not to have to pick.

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We don\'t like separations like that and we don\'t like judgments of ourselves. In fact, our public school system today seems more and more aimed at making sure everyone feels equal. I\'m not here to judge whether that\'s good or bad, but I wanted to bring back that feeling of being picked, separated, based on some criteria. As much as we don\'t like to admit it, the Scriptures teach us that a separation is coming, in fact several separations-like the sifting of wheat from chaff.

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When do those separations occur and what criteria is used is the subject of Matthew 25. Here we have two parables that illustrated what it takes to be \"picked\" and one metaphor that pretty clearly spells out this sifting process when Jesus returns.

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1 - 13

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The two keys in this parable are the oil and the relationship. The oil represents the life of the believer given by a relationship with the bridegroom.

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In ancient weddings, the bridegroom would be accompanied by a procession after dark as he came to the bride\'s house to collect her to return to his house and a wedding feast. If you didn\'t have your own torch you were a wedding crasher-not invited.

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The bridegroom was delayed, again stressing the delay in Jesus return. Both groups fell asleep, but one group had prepared for a long wait, the other had not. The foolish virgins did not have enough oil, but could have gone to the merchants, even at that hour. Jesus, however, focuses on who was prepared for the coming of the bridegroom and who was not. It wasn\'t that the wise virgins were selfish, there simply wasn\'t enough for all of them, just as salvation comes from the Lord and we cannot give it to each other.

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While they were away the bridegroom came and the door was shut. The others came for a second chance, but notice the emphasis on \"I don\'t know you.\" So two important elements here: knowing and being ready. I think they are one and the same thing. Knowing Jesus personally is being ready for His return. But putting it off only means you will be shut out. Neglecting Jesus\' invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb has irreversible consequences.

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14 - 30

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This has to do with relationship as well. The ones given the talents entered into the family business. The one who did not clearly did not love the master and gave him back \"what is yours\" - notice he didn\'t want any part of it.

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\"Talent\" means \"a sum of money.\" So the master wanted his servants to keep his money working for him while he was away. Notice that the third servant disobeyed the instructions of the master. Not only did he not invest himself in the master\'s work but he wouldn\'t even invest the master\'s money.

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I\'m reminded of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 where after a crop of the gospel is planted, some produces 100 fold, some 60, and some 30.

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To clarify, let\'s look at the words of Paul:

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1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a? foundation, and? someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- 13? each one\'s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed? by fire, and? the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone\'s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

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So even for the last servant, putting it in the bank might be like this final person in Paul\'s example-he has salvation, but nothing else to show for it. But this servant would not even do that.

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Now some suggest that this is a lesson in using the \"talents\" (like skills and abilities) God has given us wisely. The master gave to his servants no more or no less than they could handle, and certainly God expects us to use what He has given us wisely until his return.

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But I think the focus of this part of the story is on the attitude of the last servant. He misunderstood the character of the master, reacted with fear, and then shunned what was given to him. The master was actually very generous, just as God is very generous.

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41 - 46

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This is not a parable but a metaphor and a prophecy. Jesus is literally telling the disciples about one of the judgments that will occur on his second coming. This one is about Gentiles (\"nations\" = ethne).

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The sheep are saved Gentiles, the goats are unsaved Gentiles. The brothers could either be the people of Israel during the Tribulation, or the brothers and sisters of Jesus\' household of faith. Israel will be persecuted beyond belief during the Tribulation period. Though the church will be separated prior to that period of time, the gospel will still go forth (Revelation 14:6) and so people will be saved.

No books are opened and it deals with the living, rather than translated individuals or ones that have been raised from the dead. This does not appear to be the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

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In one scenario, the treatment of Israel (and probably means attitude as well as action) is the fruit that reveals the inner reality of whether they have a relationship with Christ or not, but it is not what actually determines their faith, it is a sign of it or a lack of it. The other is that the way people treated Christ\'s ambassadors was indicative of their attitude towards the gospel. Galatians 5:22 says \"the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.\" Many of these attributes are externally focused-they are actions that result from an inward character.

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I think there is a more general application of this as well. Each one of us is responsible for our own spiritual condition before the Master (the virgins). Relationship with the Lord means we take ownership and action on that relationship-allowing God access to our lives and investing ourselves in His new life (the talents). Finally, that investment pays off in actions. We become different people, people who, like God, have compassion on the less fortunate. It doesn\'t mean we subscribe to a social gospel where the church becomes a giant welfare provider-it is a natural byproduct of becoming more like the Master.

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In Matthew 7:16 Jesus said \"you will recognize them by their fruits.\" He doesn\'t say the fruit will save them, but it becomes a mark, external evidence, if you will, of an internal transformation. It is interesting to me that the sheep couldn\'t even recall the good deeds they\'d done. We become so transformed by the Holy Spirit that we do good without even thinking about it. This is the hallmark of a maturing believer.

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On the other side, the goats, who mingled with the sheep by day, perhaps thought they would get by unnoticed. But the Master Shepherd sees even \"the thoughts and intentions of the heart\" (Hebrews 4:12).

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The goats too were surprised at the King\'s words. People who are of the opinion that mankind is basically good inside are basically mistaken. We need to start from a position that we are evil and need a savior, not that we are good by default.

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Conclusions

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• Are you anticipating the return of the bridegroom? Are you ready?
• Are you invested in the family business? Are you all in for Jesus?
• Are you aware, at least a little, of a transformation of your character that comes out as changes in behavior?

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If you answer \"no\" to any of these, perhaps now is the time to reevaluate your relationship or lack thereof with God. You can\'t meet the king without oil. You have to be willing to take the new life He offers and you have to let it change you.

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If you answer yes to some, perhaps it is time to reinvest, and if you can answer yes to all, then feel secure that when He comes, Jesus will, like the master, say to you: well done, good and faithful servant, ... enter into the joy of your master.\"