Matthew 25

The parable of the ten virgins (vs. 1-13)—This parable helps illustrate the point Jesus was making at the end of chapter 24—that we must always be prepared for His Second Coming. There are 10 virgins in this story—five “wise” and five “foolish.” What made them “wise” or “foolish” was their vigilance. They were waiting for a “bridegroom”—no doubt representing Christ at His Second Coming. Five of them brought oil for their lamps, in case he came at night; the five “foolish” brought no oil. The key thought is in verse 5—“But while the bridegroom was delayed.” If He had come earlier, perhaps when the five “foolish” were expecting him, then their lack of oil would have posed no problem. But he came “at midnight” (v. 6). It was dark and they needed oil. They asked their five companions, who had oil, to share with them, but the five “wise” virgins had only enough for themselves—we can’t make preparations for others, we have to be ready ourselves. The five “foolish” rushed out to by oil, but while they were gone, the bridegroom came, “and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding” (v. 10). And then…”the door was shut.” The five foolish virgins came back, sought entrance, but were denied—it was too later. The lesson is clear: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (v 13).

The parable of the talents (vs. 14-30)—Another point Jesus made at the end of chapter 24 was that part of that preparedness was to be faithfully about the Master’s business (Matt. 24:46). In this parable, a man was going on a journey and delivered his goods to his servants, expecting them to use them wisely while he was gone. To one he gave five talent, to another two talents, and to a third one talent. It isn’t easy, in today’s inflationary times, to determine the exact monetary value of a “talent,” but it was an enormous sum. The man given five talents used his gift well and accrued five more talents; the two talent man likewise doubled his money. The man given one talent, however—the one of whom the least was expected—“went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money” (v. 18). He failed to employ what was entrusted to him for his master’s benefit. When the lord of those servants returned, there was a reckoning, and the five and two talent servants were commended and blessed: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (vs. 21, 23). The one talent man made an excuse: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours” (vs. 24-25). The lord knew it was an excuse: “You wicked and lazy servant” (v. 26). Yes, God can be “hard,” but only if we fail to live up to the blessings He has given to us. So part of the preparedness for His Second Coming is to be faithful with what He has committed to us so that we will be fruitful laborers. Not surprisingly, the penalty for the slothful servant was, “Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 30). This is not a fate we wish to experience.

The final judgment scene (vs. 31-46)—When He returns, “He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (vs. 31-32). The “sheep” are the saved, and the “goats” are the lost. Both will ask why they receive their sentence. The essence is, “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 sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (vs. 35-36). Or, in the case of the “goats,” they did not do that. “The righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?” and so forth (vs. 37-39), and “the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (v. 40). And the “goats” did not do such and thus were condemned. Jesus has made it plain that “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:26)—the route to “greatness” in God’s eyes is in serving others, and in this final scene in Matthew 25, that point is emphasized. Do note, please, that nothing is said in this scene about the love and grace of God! Nor is there a word about church attendance, baptism, or the Lord’s Supper. Does that mean these matters have no role to play in our eternal destiny? Of course not. But those things aren’t what Jesus emphasizes in Matthew 25. We look for the easy way; unfortunately, that’s not the road to heaven. Be watchful, be prepared, and be busy with serving others. Then, “the righteous [will enter] into eternal life,” but the lost “will go away into everlasting punishment” (v. 46).