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Matthew 25

Why is it the assorted churches of God focus so much on end time prophecy? Why is it the assorted churches of God focus on the book of Revelation, the book of Daniel, other prophets from the Old Testament, and certain chapters about prophecy from the Gospels? Why is it we focus more on the prophecies of the end time rather than the weightier matters of the Bible wise and we focus on saving ourselves rather than establishing love for others?

Today, let's take a look at Matthew 24 and Matthew 25 to get an understanding of what our focus should be. Matthew 24 is the all of that prophecy and in this chapter Jesus shares with his disciples many of the signs of the end time. Of note in Matthew 24 is verse 12 and 13.

Matthew 24:12-13
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jesus says because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold but he who endures to the end shall be saved. Traditionally the churches of God have interpreted enduring to the end as obedience to God until the end to be saved. What if Jesus was talking about that our love should endure until the end and should not grow cold? Would this change our responsibility to obey God and would this help us focus on a course of action that would ultimately lead us to salvation?

In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the parable of the two people in Matthew 24:40 and describes how one person will be taken and the other left. Jesus tells us in verse 42 to watch because we don't know when Jesus is returning. Jesus tells us in verse 46 that the servant who is doing what they are supposed to be doing will be blessed when Jesus returns.

Matthew 24:40-46
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore:for ye know not what hour your Lord doth comeBut know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

In Matthew 25 beginning in verse one is the parable of the 10 virgins. In this parable five were wise and five were foolish. The five foolish virgins were not invited for the wedding supper.

Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

In verse 14 of Matthew 25, we begin the parable of the talents. In this parable the lord provides a certain number of talents to each servant. The servants who double their talents are blessed. The servant who doesn't grow his talent is cursed.

Matthew 25:14-30
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25 concludes with the parable of the sheep and goats beginning with Matthew 25:31. In this parable the king blesses those who provide for those who are in need and he curses his servants who do not provide for those who are in need.

Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not. Sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25 tells us that if we want to endure to the end our love cannot grow cold. We must help those who are in need, those who are hungry, those who are thirsty, those who are a stranger, those who are naked, and those who are sick. If we take care of those in need we show our love for them and we show our love to God.

The end time prophecies are important for the churches of God to know. Without the love of God that causes us to take care of others in need, this knowledge is useless. All that knowledge with inaction does is condemn us to our fate unless the love of God causes us to serve those in need.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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