Matthew 24-25 - How to Stay Awake

Jesus has entered the city of Jerusalem. He has overturned the tables in the Temple and made the statement very clear that He is here to conquer the spiritual powers of Israel.

Matthew 23:1-7

Matthew 23:1–7 ESV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

These Pharisees will then hear a series of “Woes.” He ends it with

Matthew 23:37 ESV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

His desire to help them “like a hen gathers her brood under her wings” and they were not willing. So, their house, the Temple, is still desolate.

Every since the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar God has left the Temple and the people have longed for His return. In response Jesus says, they will not see His return until they accept the gospel message from messengers.

The first 2 verses of the following chapter...

Matthew 24:1–2 ESV

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Shows us that He is specifically talking about the Temple is desolate of God’s presence and is about to be torn down. These religious leaders have taken over the glory that should be given to God and God doesn’t want any part of that temple.

Later on in Jesus actually lays out the timeline of the destruction of the temple and a few events that will take place beforehand.

He follows up these descriptions to His disciples with a series of parables. The sole purpose of these parables is to help the disciples to understand that they need not concern their selves with an exact time. Just like we need not concern ourselves with the number of people who will be saved. Instead, BE PREPARED!

The first two parables are all about being prepared. The third is warning the disciples of the judgment to come.

Be Responsible Servants

Matthew 24:43–44 ESV

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:45–51 ESV

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

45-

Jesus speaks to His disciples with the purpose of enlightening them about what they have to do in order to be ready for their time of judgment. His one encouragement...

STAY AWAKE

There is no doubt that these disciples have no clue what is about to take place. They aren’t looking for a thief. They have no idea that there is great evil lurking about seeking to sift them like wheat. Yet, when all of these things are over they will have to compose themselves and fulfill the mission that Jesus ascribes to them without delay. That is the whole reason for Jesus placing this great responsibility on their shoulders.

Be Prepared Lamp Holders

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

What did the wedding feast look like?

In the Hebrew culture, they would not go away for the Honeymoon. They would host all of their friends for an entire week of feasting.

When the bridegroom would come with his dowry it would often be attempted to surprise the bride. The wedding party would be waiting and planning for this big feast to come.

The virgins are not the bride. They are servants who are putting out light to guide the way for the bridegroom to enter His chamber.

This parable is about His disciples who would follow Him with their lamps. It is not the case that once we become a Christian we are good. Jesus differentiates between disciples. There are those who are truly seeking and are striving. He is here challenging His disciples to not be like the foolish virgins.

Why wouldn’t you bring extra oil for your lamps?

It wasn’t that important to them.

This is your one chance to be a part of this wedding feast!

You don’t do the bad things, but you also don’t do what is necessary to be a true disciple of the Lord. We can be foolish by not doing the things we ought to do.

Watching doesn’t make them ready. They weren’t ready! They didn’t think they needed to prepare that much!

Watch means go to sleep at the right time and live a sober duty performing life and making sure that you spend your time doing His work. Staring into the sky is not some godly thing that God is expecting us to do.

Why No? The impossibility of borrowing faith! We can’t give you obedience that we have been pursuing all our life.

You can’t have instant end time faith.

Are there times in your life when you think you have done enough? WE never see that mentality being accepted! If you are one of the virgins, the most important thing is that we don’t mess this up!

I don’t know anyone who would be unwilling to make the preparations in order to enter into the feast.

Why No? The impossibility of borrowing faith! We can’t give you obedience that we have been pursuing all our life.

You can’t have instant end time faith.

Foolishness Exemplified!

The master doesn’t misunderstand His servants’ abilities and He doesn’t give more than we are able to take.

Matthew 25:14–19 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

He doesn’t play favorites. He gives equal opportunity for them to be honored! He expects us to take what is given and multiply it!

The key to disobedience is not doing when asked!

After a long time, we get lulled to sleep. Am I ready to settle the account right now?

What has the Lord committed to me?

Time

Opportunities

Children

Friends

Fellow Christians

Your House

Your Car

Your Job

Your Money

Your Abilities

These are His. He gave them to you! We enter the world having nothing and we will leave with nothing. All that we have had in the mean time we were given and at the end we will give an account for those things we are given.

The 1 talent man is given a substantial amount of money.

Harsh words for the Lord?!?! A horrible way to react to the master who committed 20 years wages. Sounds like Satan to me. He has been found empty handed so he tries to blame the master.

Jesus’ response is classic. The master sewed, and the servant missed it. He is wicked because he hasn’t used the master’s goods while focusing on his own life.

God gives all of these abilities and we take them and using them for our own glory! It is incredible to have the freedom to work and use these abilities for ourselves.

One can be wicked without being immoral.

Judgment of His People

Matthew 25:34 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:

Matthew 25:41 ESV

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

When God sucks out all of the blessings of this entire universe and His presence leaves. There is no more joy.

Related Media

Related Sermons