Sermon Tone Analysis

contains the final three parables of Jesus teaching ministry.

Jesus is now 48 hours away from His crucifixion.

These are His final days and His final words.

We would do well this morning to heed the final words of a dying man.

Those who know that death is imminent only speak what they want remembered.

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Do you know how to listen?

That has been the question Jesus has been asking through these parables in Matthew.

Matthew explains that Jesus spoke to them in parables “so that” those who weren’t genuinely listening would miss what he was saying.

· One of our campus pastors told me a story about taking an exam in college…

I have come to the pinnacle of success in business.

In the eyes of others, my life has been the symbol of success.

However, apart from work, I have little joy.

Finally, my wealth is simply a fact to which I am accustomed.

At this time, lying on the hospital bed and remembering all my life, I realize that all the accolades and riches of which I was once so proud, have become insignificant with my imminent death.

In the dark, when I look at green lights, of the equipment for artificial respiration and feel the buzz of their mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of my approaching death looming over me.

Only now do I understand that once you accumulate enough money for the rest of your life, you have to pursue objectives that are not related to wealth.

It should be something more important: For example, stories of love, art, dreams of my childhood.

No, stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God has made us one way, we can feel the love in the heart of each of us, and not illusions built by fame or money, like I made in my life, I cannot take them with me.

I can only take with me the memories that were strengthened by love.

This is the true wealth that will follow you; will accompany you, he will give strength and light to go ahead.

Love can travel thousands of miles and so life has no limits.

Move to where you want to go.

Strive to reach the goals you want to achieve.

Everything is in your heart and in your hands.

What is the world’s most expensive bed?

The hospital bed.

You, if you have money, you can hire someone to drive your car, but you cannot hire someone to take your illness that is killing you.

Material things lost can be found.

But one thing you can never find when you lose: life.

Whatever stage of life where we are right now, at the end we will have to face the day when the curtain falls.

Please treasure your family love, love for your spouse, love for your friends… Treat everyone well and stay friendly with your neighbours.

Life cannot be bought.

- Steve Jobs

· (All these stories about a campus pastor not listening are all the same guy.

I won’t tell you what his initials are… I think his long hair covers his ears)

· That’s what is happening in these parables.

If you have ears to hear, there’s a lot of wisdom to gain.

But if you are not listening, the meaning will go right over you.

Life cannot be bought.

contains 3 parables.

We are going to press in mostly on the 3rd one, but all 3 make a similar point.

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But in these 3 parables he is encouraging them that the day is coming when he will return—this time, not as a baby in a Manger— but as the Judge of all men.

The point of these 3 parables is readiness to meet the Judge of the universe.

Each of the 3 builds on the one before:

1 James Montgomery Boice, “Unprofitable Servants and Unprofitable Goats,” in The Parables of Jesus (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), pp.

199–207

The first parable is about 10 maidens who are supposed to be part of big marriage party, but they don’t know when they are going to get picked up.

The groom, who is the head of the marriage party, just tells them to make sure they are ready.

Five of them are wise, Jesus says, so they pack their bags and keep their lamps filled with oil so that whenever he comes they will be ready to go.

Five are foolish, however, and they think, “You know, he probably won’t come tonight; so they sat at home unprepared and sure enough, that very night, the Master came.

He took the ones who were packed and ready and left the ones who weren’t and they completely missed the party.

· The first parable is about 10 maidens who are supposed to be part of big marriage party, but they don’t know when they are going to get picked up.

The groom, who is the head of the marriage party, just tells them to make sure they are ready.

Five of them are wise, Jesus says, so they pack their bags and keep their lamps filled with oil so that whenever he comes they will be ready to go.

Five are foolish, however, and they think, “You know, he probably won’t come tonight; I’m tired (or, it’s rainy)—no need to go out and get oil for my lamp tonight.

I’ll just stay home and watch TV.” (Unfortunately, there was no Amazon Prime Now; if so, they could have their oil delivered in 2 hours, and this whole dilemma could have been avoided; and but unfortunately that hadn’t been invented yet, so they sat at home unprepared and sure enough, that very night, the Master came.

He took the ones who were packed and ready and left the ones who weren’t and they completely missed the party.

The point is that Jesus is coming back and he wants us to be ready.

But what does that look like?

Well, the second parable explains that.

It is about a Master who went on a trip and left various amounts of money with 3 of his servants—To one he gave 5 talents; to the other he gave 2; to the third he gave 1.

Each talent was worth about $15K in today’s currency, so we’re dealing with substantial amounts of money.

Well, the first two of them invest the money and get a return; but the third was scared he’d lose it in the market so he buried it and waited for the master to get back.

When the Master returned, he rewarded the two that invested their talents and multiplied them, but the one who buried his talent out of fear he called “wicked.”

This is parable shows us what it looks like to be ready.

It means to leverage whatever God has given you for his kingdom.

He has given you a certain amount of time, talents, and treasure, and he is going to hold you responsible to use them for the kingdom.

What does it look like to leverage your life for His Kingdom?

What does it actually look like to invest your talents for the Kingdom?

Well, that’s why Jesus tells the 3rd parable.

In this parable Jesus gets at the essence of what it means to be his follower in this day and age.

Well, that’s why Jesus tells the 3rd parable.

In this parable Jesus gets at the essence of what it means to be his follower in this day and age.

Let me ask you to consider: How do you define the essence of being a Christian?

What determines whether you really are one or aren’t?

I’ve told you that for many Christians it seems like Christianity means not much more than believing the right things and obeying a few moral laws.

But is that really it?

Francis Chan, in a book called Crazy Love, says:

“Just to read the Bible, attend Church, and avoid ‘big’ sins—is this really the passionate, whole hearted life of discipleship Jesus was calling us to?”

· I’ve compared most Christians view of what it means to follow

Jesus to a dog that used to live at the house I lived in in college…

This third parable explains how Jesus defines “a Christian.”

It is the culmination of the other 2 parables, showing us what it looks like to live with your lamp trimmed and your bag packed, and what it looks like to invest your talents in a way that pleases the Master.

-­46

Mathew 25:31-­46

��31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

First, notice the authoritative position Jesus has put himself in.

This is no longer a Man of Sorrows, born in a manger, meek and lowly, riding on a donkey.

This is the Son of Man in his glory, sitting on the throne of the Universe, with authority over heaven and hell.

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2 Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart (Quoted in Francis Chan, Crazy Love, 19)

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left.

34 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.

📷��📷35 “‘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 took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’

📷��📷37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

(I don’t remember that and I feel like I would remember it).

38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and we clothed

you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’

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for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Who exactly is Jesus talking about here?

Some want to equate these people with all poor everywhere, and certainly God wants us to care for all the poor, which I’ll show you in a minute—but specifically here in this parable, he is talking about poor Christians.