Today’s passage: Matthew 25:31-46

Helpful thoughts:

• Not so hidden in the content of this passage…God is omniscient.  He knows all and will judge perfectly.
• Also, as we continue to read through the Olivet Discourse, remember that Jesus did not shy away from teaching about judgment and damnation.  He wasn’t mean or rude about it, but he didn’t sugarcoat the truth.
• The nations being gathered for this judgment appear to be those who remain on the earth at the end of the Tribulation.
• The selfless works done by the sheep who have been blessed by the Father are an evidence to the grace given to them.
  • The sheep are blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for them, and have a record of living for the King.
  • The goats are under the curse (John 3 – “Condemned already”), are sent to the punishment prepared for the devil and fallen angels, and have a record of living for themselves.

Questions to consider:

1. Even if this particular judgment is for those alive at the end of the Tribulation, are the principles applicable to us?  How so?
2. Why is it loving to be honest about what we believe will happen to people in the end?  What should the truth of the judgment compel us to do?
3. In what ways is God’s grace being manifested in your life?  In what ways are you (could you be) serving others who need help?  Praise God for His grace in your service!

Today’s passage: Matthew 25:14-30

Helpful thoughts:

• Like yesterday’s parable, all three servants are seen outwardly as servants of the Master (Followers of Jesus Christ).
• Different level of responsibility was given to each, but equal acknowledgement of “Well done…” was given to each obedient, diligent servant.
  • Regardless of what the servants were given, they were expected to use those resources to gain profit for the Master.  They were expected to produce.
  • Obedience in this life will result in greater responsibility and joy in the Kingdom.  There is a reward.
• The third servant blamed the Master and His reputation for his own failure to be obedient.
  • He was found to be faithless and wicked, and therefore punished.
  • The language in verse 30 is what Christ used to describe hell.  This servant was only one outwardly (such as the 5 virgins with no oil in the previous parable). He did not have faith in the Master.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it so magnificent that we would be rewarded for our service?
2. Why will it be a reward to get to serve Christ in a greater capacity?
3. Why should we be thankful for the abilities and talents we have?
4. Take some time to evaluate your service.  What are you doing that can bear fruit?

Today’s passage: Matthew 25:1-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Traditionally, when it was time for the wedding celebration to start, the wedding party would go through the main street in the town with the bride and bridegroom in the evening with their torches/lanterns lit.  They did this to alert the town when the week-long party was about to begin.
  • The ten virgins are the bridesmaids.
  • They all give the outward appearance of supporting the marriage and the bridegroom.
  • Only half of them are actually prepared for his arrival.  The oil represents salvation.
• When he arrives, they realize their error and seek to rectify it…but it’s too late.
  • These are professing believers who are not truly saved.
  • They may acknowledge the truths of the Gospel, but have not repented and submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. How can a person say they are a Christian but not truly be one?  In what way(s) is that possible?
2. What does it mean to be saved?  What does a person believe?  What part does repentance have in our salvation?
3. Are you ready?

Today’s passage: Matthew 24:32-51

Helpful thoughts:

• There are/will be signs of the times…but those who reject Jesus Christ will not heed them.  The world will continue to move forward as if nothing is wrong.
• “This generation” is not the generation of the disciples in Matthew 24.  It is the generation that sees these end times.  The events of the end leading up to Christ’s return will not take very long.
• This world will pass away. (See Revelation 21:1) But, Jesus’ words will never pass away.
• The wise servant, the true follower of Jesus Christ, will be found to be serving when Christ returns because that servant is serving continually, not waiting for the master to arrive in order to look good.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the truth that Jesus’ words will never pass away help you to properly measure the value of anything this world has to offer?
2. After reading the illustration of the Master’s servants, what do you think it means to be ready for His return?  What do Christians do, how do they live, regardless of the time of Jesus’ second coming?

Today’s passage: Matthew 24:15-31

Helpful thoughts:

• The abomination of desolation is recorded in Daniel 9:27.  This is the work of the Anti-Christ at the mid-point of the Tribulation, bringing on what is called the Great Tribulation.
• When Jesus truly returns at the end of the Tribulation, it will not be mysterious.  The world will know.
• This passage speaks of the elect being on the earth during the Tribulation, which calls into question the idea of the rapture occurring BEFORE the Tribulation begins.  However, we know from other scripture that others will put their faith in Christ DURING the Tribulation.  So, this passage does not necessarily speak to the timing of the rapture at all.

Questions to consider:

1. How can the fact that Jesus knows exactly what is going to happen in the end give you confidence?
2. Why are signs and wonders not to be taken automatically as indicators of God’s blessing?
3. How are we to remain confident in the truth when others would want to show us alternative information (False doctrine)?

Today’s passage: Matthew 24:1-14

Helpful thoughts:

• Matthew 24 and 25 are commonly referred to as the Olivet Discourse.
• The disciples were admiring the awe-inspiring Temple.  Jesus promise of its destruction came to be less than forty years later in 70 A.D. when Rome destroyed it.
• The disciples still were uncertain about the timing of Jesus’ rule and reign as King.  They were about to learn of an end times that they previously thought they were already taking part in.
• Notice two times in this passage, we are told that these events are not the signs of the end.
  • Verse 6, “But the end is not yet.”
  • Verse 14, “Then the end will come.”
    • So, all of these things written in verses 4-14 should be expected throughout the church age and into the tribulation, until Christ comes again.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the hope of Christians for enduring these difficulties that can arise?
2. What is the message that goes around the world that keeps people from going astray, stumbling, believing false teachers and betraying one another?  What message must we continue to hold dear and proclaim?
3. How does the Gospel message accomplish this?  How does it give us hope and help?

Today’s passage: Matthew 23:1-39

Helpful thoughts:

• This chapter contains Jesus’ final public sermon.
• Phylacteries are boxes that are worn on the head of Jewish men for prayer.  They contain parchments with verses from the Law.  They are a literal way to apply Deuteronomy 6:8.  The Pharisees wore large ones solely to impress people.
• A proselyte is a convert.  Jesus questions to what these new believers are being converted.
• Even after all of these “woes”, Jesus shares His desire to care for these people.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the marks of great leadership shared in this passage?
2. What are the marks and the goals of hypocritical and poor leadership?
3. What was the consequence for those who chose to follow in the way of these leaders in Matthew 23?
4. Who was all included in Jesus’ call at the end of the chapter?  Who had the opportunity to repent?

Today’s passage: Matthew 22:34-46

Helpful thoughts:

• Again, the purpose of these questions given to Jesus is to trip Him up…didn’t work.
• The Pharisees had to get in a huddle to decide what questions to ask AND how to think about the answers.  They also had to meet to decide how to answer questions.  They were driven by fear of man.
• Jesus’ question to them is most important of all.  Who is the Christ?  Their answer signifies what they were looking for in the Messiah…a king.
• The Scripture Jesus quotes is from Psalm 110.  In this passage, David addresses the coming Messiah as his Lord, as Divinity.

Questions to consider:

1. What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul and mind?  Are these three kinds of love or one kind of love that is comprehensive?
2. In what way would it make sense that the whole Law and Prophets hangs on loving God and loving our neighbors?
3. How do these two commandments point us to our need for the Messiah who did more than just reign as a king?  Why do we need a savior?

Today’s passage: Matthew 22:23-33

Helpful thoughts:

• The argument of the Sadducees is, since all the men can’t have one wife at the same time, there can be no resurrection.
• The Sadducees were the wealthiest, most politically successful of the Jewish sects.  So, they were also the least liked among the Jewish people.  They prided themselves on being true to the OT and specifically the Pentateuch.
  • Therefore when Jesus basically told them, “You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” It was a direct hit on their credibility and pride.
• Along with the resurrection, the Sadducees did not believe in angels.
• Jesus teaches about marriage and our future here:
  • Marriage is wonderful.  But it is not eternal.  The purposes for marriage will no longer be needed in the resurrection.
  • We will be LIKE the angels (We will not BECOME angels) in that, we will be glorified, spiritual, eternal and joyfully serving the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. Where are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob right now?
2. What will our relationships be like after we see Jesus?  How will they all be better?  Who will be in our “family”?
3. If the Sadducees did not believe in life after death, what would have become major temptations for them?
4. How does thinking about eternity change how we think about “today”?