Matthew 25

Matthew 25:1-13

Chapter 74 The Parable of the Ten Virgins “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.” (Matthew 25:1-13) Matthew 25 is a continuation of our Lord’s sermon on the Mount of Olives, which began in chapter twenty-four at verse three. The purpose of the sermon is to teach us that when the Lord Jesus comes again we must be ready to meet him. We must exercise diligence and care, always watching, that we may always be ready to meet the Master at his appearing. When the midnight cry is heard, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him,” whether at his second advent or at death, let us be found ready. This readiness consists not in gazing idly into the heavens, but in doing the Master’s will. Someone once said, “They are always ready who are always doing his will.” “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24:46). A wife may watch for her husband because she is anxious to see him, but a good and faithful wife will have the house cleaned and dinner prepared. She has been anxiously watching for her husband as she performed her daily responsibilities. Her watchfulness is readiness. That is the kind of watchfulness and readiness with which we are to look for our Savior. This twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is divided into three parts. All three sections have a definite reference to the second coming of Christ. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) our Lord uses his second coming as an argument for watchfulness, showing us the necessity of heart faith, heart worship, and heart obedience. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) our Savior uses his second coming as an argument for diligence and faithfulness. In Matthew 25:31-46 our Lord concludes his sermon with a description of the great and terrible Day of Judgment, and does so in language of unparalleled greatness and beauty. The parable of the Ten Virgins contains lessons that are peculiarly solemn, which ought to awaken and stir our souls. The five wise virgins represent all true believers and the five foolish virgins represent all professed believers, who are yet without the grace of God. A Mixed Multitude First, our Lord is teaching us that his church and kingdom in this world is always a mixture of believers and unbelievers. I do not mean that any are to be received into the fellowship of the church who do not personally profess faith in Christ. That must never be done. But our Lord constantly taught us that in his visible church, in his earthly kingdom, there are both true believers and those who merely profess to be believers. The ten virgins represent these two groups. We must never be surprised to find goats among the Lord’s sheep, tares among the wheat, bad fish mixed with the good, foolish builders alongside the wise, and hypocrites mingled with true believers. That has always been the case, and always shall be. And we must never try to separate the bad from the good. That is God’s business. We do not know the one from the other. If we try to separate them, we will throw out the good and keep the bad every time (Matthew 13:28-30). Yet, we must not be too surprised and disappointed when God separates the bad from the good (1 John 2:19). After all our preaching and praying, witnessing and visiting, teaching and exhortation, after all the missionary endeavors expended abroad and all the labors put forth at home, in the last day, when the Lord Jesus comes again, many will be found inside the walls of Zion who are dead in trespasses and sins! It is horrible to be found in the streets of Sodom without Christ; but it will be indescribably more horrible to be found in Zion without him! Be Warned Read this parable and be warned. All these virgins had lamps of profession; but only five had the oil of grace in their lamps. It is one thing to be baptized, but something else to be baptized into Christ. It is one thing to have a profession of faith in Christ, but another thing altogether to have the grace of Christ. It is one thing to wear the Master’s name, but something else to have his nature. It is one thing to be in Christ’s church, but another thing altogether to be in Christ. It is one thing to be religious, but another thing to be righteous. It is one thing to sing about the blood, and another thing entirely to be washed in the blood. All ten of these virgins were outwardly moral, pure and upright; but only five were made righteous in Christ. A mere outward righteousness will be of absolutely no benefit to your soul in the day of judgment. We must be washed in the blood of Christ, forgiven of all our sins (Hebrews 9:22). We must be robed in Christ’s spotless robe of perfect righteousness (Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:11). All ten of the virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom. The wise separated themselves from family and friend, but so did the foolish. The wise professed to trust, love and follow Christ, but so did the foolish. The difference was that the wise had an inward principle of grace, while the foolish had nothing but a name, a profession, and an outward show of religion. Let us make our calling and election sure. We must have a God-given, heart faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). We must be born again by God the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We must have Christ formed in us, being made “partakers of the divine nature,” or we have no hope of everlasting salvation (Colossians 1:27; 2 Peter 1:4). Both Asleep Second, we learn from this parable that both the wise and the foolish will be taken by surprise at Christ’s second coming. Both the wise and the foolish shall be found asleep. While the bridegroom tarried, that is, while waiting in the ordinances of divine worship, they all slumbered and slept. The Church of God describes herself in such a sad condition, saying, “I sleep, but my heart waketh” (Son 5:2). But the sleep of God’s saints is not the sleep of spiritual death. Rather, it is a deadness that causes lamentation.

The sleep of the foolish virgins is the sleep of spiritual death, the sleep of those who have never been awakened from being “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-5). Without question, there is a vast and vital difference between the two. The believer sleeps, but his heart wakes (Son 5:2), while the unbeliever sleeps the sleep of death in carnal ease. Because both “slumbered and slept,” both the wise and the foolish were surprised when their lord appeared. I know that we are commanded to watch, always to watch and be ready. That is our responsibility. That is what I want to stir up in you and in myself. But our Lord plainly teaches us that at the last day, when he comes again, all ten virgins, both the righteous and the wicked, both the true believer and the carnal professor will be asleep. When Christ comes again, he will find the great majority of mankind unbelieving and unprepared; and he will find the vast majority of his own people, his true saints, in a state of slothfulness, indolence and sleep. Business, politics, farming, buying, selling, and pleasure seeking will consume the care and attention of men; just as they do now.

The Lord Jesus, when he comes again, will find his church in the very same state as the angels found Lot in Sodom, asleep in the lap of the world. “There is something unspeakably awful in the idea,” wrote J.C. Ryle, “but thus it is written, and thus it shall be.” One of God’s servants long ago described the church today, as well as the church of his own day, when, on his deathbed, the faithful pastor said to those gathered around him, “We are none of us more than half awake.” Christ Tarries Third, this parable teaches us that our Lord tarries his coming. I was once asked by a friend, “Is it right to say, ‘If the Lord tarries?’” I suspect it is. That is the language our Lord used to describe his physical absence. — “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept” (Matthew 25:5). The fact that our Lord is not yet here is proof enough that he tarries. But do not imagine that he tarries haphazardly. He tarries for a purpose. The Lord tarries to exercise our patience. He tarries to arouse our desires after him. Our Savior tarries to gather in his elect (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 11:25-26). He tarries that the mystery of iniquity may be fulfilled (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Our Lord tarries to accomplish his Father’s purpose (Romans 8:28-30). Too Late Fourth, when our Lord does come, many will discover the value of heart faith, heart worship, and heart obedience; but they will discover it too late. The virgins all went forth with their lamps to meet the bridegroom, to meet the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom of his Church. They went forth to meet him with a profession of faith in him. The foolish took their lamps, but had no oil. What multitudes will be found like them when Christ comes! They have a profession of faith, but no oil of grace.

They have religion, but not Christ. They are yet without life, without the Spirit of God, without Christ, and lost. Yet, they are ignorant of their own lost estate before God. Though professing faith in Christ, they know nothing of his saving power and grace in their hearts. Whereas the wise, having been made wise unto salvation, know their need of Christ and earnestly seek him. “The foolish virgins, destitute of all vital godliness, unawakened, unregenerated, unacquainted with the plague of their own heart, and ignorant of the person, work, and glory of Christ; in all his saving offices, characters, and relations; and having nothing but a lamp of profession, were found in utter darkness, at the Lord’s approach. While on the contrary, the wise virgins being furnished with the oil of grace, under the teaching of God the Holy Ghost, and brought into an union with Christ, and communion in all that belonged to Christ, in regenerating, converting, justifying, and sanctifying mercy; thus prepared by the Lord, for the knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord; arise with holy joy, at the bridegroom’s coming, and enter with him into the marriage and the door is shut.” Robert Hawker The parable tells us that when the bridegroom came, the foolish virgins said to the wise, “Give us of your oil,” or “our lamps have gone out.” The wise virgins told them to go buy oil for themselves. But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and they were shut out. Then their opinion was drastically changed. Then they would have given anything in the world for true, vital godliness, anything for Christ. There is much to be learned from this. Let me just mention two or three things that must be understood by all. True Christianity is a personal thing. No one can trust Christ for you, secure the grace of God for you, or convey grace to you. If you would be saved, you must seek the Lord. The oil of grace can be bought (Isaiah 55:1-7). C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “There is a proper place where the oil can be bought at the right time: we are bidden to ‘buy the truth,’ grace is sold in God’s market on gospel terms, ‘without money and without price;’ but when the midnight cry is heard, the day of grace has closed, and buying and selling are over for ever.” But true, saving faith is more than a decision for Jesus. If faith is simply deciding to get saved, these foolish virgins would have been saved with the wise. They decided to get some oil, but could not. Saving faith is the gift and operation of God the Holy Spirit, by which our souls are wed to Christ. Shut Out Fifth, this parable teaches us that when Christ comes, the door will be shut and sinners shall be shut out of his kingdom forever. The door is open now. Sinners are bidden and urged to enter into the kingdom of God by the door, Christ Jesus; but soon the door will be shut. In that great day, all true believers shall receive a great reward of grace (Matthew 25:10). Those who are ready shall be carried away to glory to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who are ready are those who are washed in the Savior’s blood, robed in his righteousness, and born again by his Holy Spirit. All mere professors of religion shall be cast away into hell with the rest of the damned, as those who are unknown to the Son of God (Matthew 25:12). The foolish virgins professed to be the bridegroom’s beloved, but proved at last not even to have been acquainted with him. They represent all the multitudes of lost religionists in every age, who wear the name of Christ, but have neither part nor lot in his great salvation. When the Master says, “I know you not,” his meaning is, “You are not the object of my love and care. I never chose you. I do not approve of you. I will not accept you.” When Christ comes again, the door will be shut forever. What a blessing this will be for God’s elect! The door shall at last be shut, shut upon all sickness, sorrow, sin and pain; shut upon a tempting world; shut upon a roaring devil; shut upon all doubts and fears; shut upon bereavement and death; shut never to be opened again! What terror this will be for the wicked! The door shall be shut upon all mercy, love, grace, righteousness, happiness, life and joy; shut forever, shutting you out from God and his kingdom! Are you a wise or a foolish virgin? Let us constantly prod our hearts and souls, lest we sleep (Matthew 25:13; l Thess. Matthew 5:6-9).

Matthew 25:14-30

Chapter 75 The Parable of the Talents“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 25:14-30) This parable, like so many of our Lord’s parables, clearly teaches us that in this world the church and kingdom of God is a mixed multitude. There are many among the professed people of God, many who have been baptized in the name of Christ, many who are very confident that they have a saving interest in Christ who do not know Christ at all. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were wise and five foolish. Here, among those who claim to be the people of God and the servants of Christ, two are represented as being faithful; the other is described as wicked and slothful. Both parables are intended to remind us that among all the multitudes who profess to be the people of God, there are but few who shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. The warnings of Scripture in this regard are abundant both in number and in clarity (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 13:18-23; Matthew 22:14; Luke 13:23-25; Luke 17:32-33; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Applicable to All Without question, the parable is applicable to those who are pastors, preachers and teachers, in the church of God. Some have greater talents and greater spheres of usefulness than others, according to the decree of God and by the gift of Christ. Yet, all who are God’s servants are faithful in the place of their calling and in the use of the talents trusted to them. Be sure you do not miss this: The servant who was faithful over two talents received the same reward and entered into the same joy as the servant who was faithful over five (Matthew 25:20-23). The man to whom two talents were given was not expected to do the same thing as the man to whom five were given; but both were expected to do what they could with what they had. All who do what they can with the gifts of grace bestowed upon them are rewarded as good and faithful servants (Mark 14:8). However, it would be a great mistake to apply the parable to none but those who are responsible to teach and preach the gospel of Christ. This parable speaks to us all. In the day of judgment we shall be held accountable to God for every blessing, benefit, and privilege he has given us in this world. Talents and Rewards The lord in this parable portrays the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, who gives different talents to his servants and shall in the day of judgment justly reward each for his use or abuse of the things committed to his charge. The two servants to whom great charges were entrusted are represented as making good use of their time and talents. They were at the coming of their lord approved of and rewarded. The one to whom less was committed proved himself an unprofitable servant, and was condemned to utter darkness at his lord’s coming. And the talent with which he was trusted was taken from him and given to the servant who had best used that which was trusted to him. Robert Hawker very properly warns, “The rewards given to the faithful servant, must not be considered in a light contrary to the whole tenor of the gospel, as if any man merited divine favor.” When we have done all, we are still unprofitable servants. We do not make God a debtor to us by anything we do for his honor. The Lord God is not moved, or in any way compelled, to bestow his blessings because of anything a man does that might be called good. And his blessings of grace can never be restrained by, or withheld from, any because they are undeserving. — “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). The talents given to the two faithful servants portray the gifts of grace bestowed upon God’s elect, by which they are made faithful. Being gifts of grace, they do not become meritorious! Both the original gifts (talents) of grace bestowed upon us, and the increase of grace are God’s. — “LORD, thou also hast wrought all our works in us” (Isaiah 26:12). The one talent the unprofitable servant received cannot represent anything except the gift a man has from God’s hand by creation, nature, and providence. Grace is that “good part” which cannot be taken away (Luke 10:42). But every good thing of nature, both created and providential, that men enjoy in this world, shall be taken away from the ungodly when Christ comes again. And all good shall be given to God’s elect. It is written, “All things are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 1:21-23). Seven Obvious Lessons Seven lessons are clearly set before us in this parable. Certainly there are more; but the following lessons should be obvious to all who read this parable. First, this parable shows us how readily religious men and women wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction. “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.” (Matthew 25:24-25). The wicked servant described in this parable twisted the Master’s sovereignty into a doctrine that represented him as an unjust tyrant, and sought to excuse his disobedience and sin by blaming God for it. That is exactly what Adam did in the garden. He said to God, the real problem here is “the woman thou gavest me.” Many, attempting to justify doctrines that are clearly contrary to the message of Holy Scripture, turn to this very passage and wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction. They would have us to believe that this parable teaches that God’s grace and salvation may be taken away from one who truly has been saved. Others point to this parable and assert that believers, by diligently improving God’s gifts of grace, earn for themselves a greater degree of acceptance with God and a greater reward and eternal happiness in heaven. We do not build our doctrine upon parables. Our doctrine must be built upon the plain statements of Holy Scripture, not upon parables, illustrations, and obscure texts. Any honest man will build his doctrine not by piecing verses and phrases together, but by the plain statements of Holy Scripture. The clear, obvious message of Holy Scripture is this: “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9), by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5), through faith alone (Romans 3:28; Romans 3:31; Romans 4:16), and in Christ alone (Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Wherever there appears to be a conflict between the obvious and the obscure, we must always interpret the obscure by the obvious. Only dishonest men will ignore the obvious, plain statements of Holy Scripture, and interpret the Scriptures by pointing to imaginary proof texts, found by diligently searching a concordance, or digging out a minute rule of grammar in the Hebrew or Greek text to validate their doctrine. Such self-serving teachers are not to be followed or even heard. They cannot be reasoned with, because they will not bow to the authority of the Word of God. Their authority is the traditions of men, held forth in creeds, confessions, catechisms, liturgies, and historic church dogmas. Our only authority is the Word of God (Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

And you do not need to know Hebrew and Greek to understand God’s Word. He has providentially given it to you in your own language, and has done so in simple, easily understood words. Second, we are here taught that the Lord Jesus Christ is the sovereign Master of all things; and that all men are his servants. — “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” (Matthew 25:14). Here our Lord Jesus calmly speaks of his death and all the sorrow and suffering he must endure to save us as a well planned long journey, a journey which he was determined to take. And he describes himself as the sovereign Lord, Master, Owner, and Possessor of all things. The servants are his, the bad as well as the good (2 Peter 2:4). The goods are his. And the kingdom is his. Third, this parable teaches us that all men have received certain talents from the Lord, with which to serve him. — “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” (Matthew 25:15). Anything given to us by which we may glorify God is a talent given to us to use for him. The word “talent,” as it is used here, does not refer to special abilities, but to any ability or opportunity by which we may glorify our God. Our gifts, our money, our health, our strength, our time, our knowledge, our senses, our memory, our affections, our privileges, even our families, all are talents loaned to us by God. And we are responsible to use them all for God. All these talents are given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, not according to our ability, but according to his ability. The words, “according to his several ability,” do not refer to the servants’ ability, but to the Master’s ability. The talents he gives determine our ability (Psalms 68:18-19; Ephesians 4:8-11). Fourth, our Lord shows us that many who profess to be his servants terribly abuse the talents he gives them. — “But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money” (Matthew 25:18). This man represents many in the visible church. They do not use their talents for evil. They are not adulterers, murderers, or riotous people. They simply hide their talents. Rather than using the opportunities God has given them to know, worship, serve, and glorify him, they neglect them. Does this man represent you? He represents anyone who has a Bible, but does not read it. He represents anyone who has opportunity to hear the Word of God, but chooses not to hear it. He represents anyone who uses his powers, abilities, and talents for sensual pleasure, rather than the glory of God. If this man’s behavior is representative of you, then Daniel’s words to Belshazzar must be addressed to you, too. “The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Daniel 5:23). Daily you rob God, using what he has given you to honor him for yourself. Fifth, we are again taught that, when our Lord comes again, there will be a great day of reckoning with God. — “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them” (Matthew 25:19. Soon we must meet God before the Great White Throne in judgment. We shall all give account before him of every privilege that was granted to us, and of every ray of light that we enjoyed. In that great day we will be dealt with as accountable and responsible men and women. And to whomsoever much is given, of them much will be required. Be wise and remember this. Live every day in the prospect of that great day. Let us “judge ourselves that we be not condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). “After this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). What solemn words those are! There is a day coming in which God shall judge all men. Every man will be judged according to exact truth, righteousness, and justice. The standard by which we shall be judged is the holy law of God himself. We shall be judged according to the books of God, in which are recorded all our earthly thoughts, words, and deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Revelation 20:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46).

In that great and terrible day of the Lord everyone will receive exactly what is justly due to him. None will be punished who do not deserve to be punished. And none will be received into heaven’s eternal glory who do not deserve to enter in. Those who are found guilty of any sin, or infraction of God’s holy law, shall be cast into hell. Those who are perfectly holy, holy as God himself, shall enter into heaven (Psalms 24:3-4; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:11). In that day the Judge of all the earth, who must do right, will do right. He who sits upon the Great White Throne will not show any lenience, partiality, or favoritism. He will not bend his law. At the bar of God there will be no mercy and no grace. The judgment seat is not a place of mercy. It is a place of strict, unbending, unwavering, immutable justice.

Only the facts will be considered when we stand before God. Guilty or not guilty, righteous or unrighteous, holy or unholy, these will be the only matters of consideration in that day. — “Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed” (Proverbs 13:21). — “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). He that “hath done that which is lawful and right shall surely live” (Ezekiel 33:16). God will by no means clear the guilty. And he will not punish the righteous. In the light of these facts, most plainly set forth in the Word of God, it is obvious that the only hope any sinner has of eternal salvation and acceptance with God is that he might be saved by the infinite merits of an able, all-sufficient Substitute. And that substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Christ, by his precious blood, has completely washed away the sins of his people, so that they are no longer recorded in the book of God’s law and justice against us (Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22; Jeremiah 50:20). And his righteous obedience to God is imputed to all who believe on him, making us worthy of eternal life (Romans 5:19; Colossians 1:12). Again, I say, let us “judge ourselves that we be not condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). Sixth, this parable shows us that in the day of judgment all true believers receive the same joyful, abundant reward from their Master. “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” (Matthew 25:21-23). Every faithful servant of Christ, that is to say, every believer, every sinner saved by his grace, washed in his blood and robed in his righteousness shall hear the Savior say, “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.” Perhaps you think, “How can that be?” The answer is as simple as it is glorious. Christ’s obedience to God is our obedience. Just as he was rewarded for our sins, when our sins were made his at Calvary, so we shall be rewarded for his righteousness, which has been made ours by his grace. The glory he earned by his obedience unto death for us (John 17:5), our Savior has given to us by his grace (John 17:22). And we shall possess it with him. In that great day he will say to every saved sinner, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!” Seventh, our Lord once more shows us that in that great and terrible day of reckoning every unprofitable servant will be cast away and condemned by the Son of God. “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 25:26-30). In that great and terrible day every condemned soul will acknowledge that his damnation is fully deserved. Each will be judged by the things that he now knows, but will not obey. As he casts the wicked into everlasting hell, the Judge will say, — “Thou knewest!” You and I are the stewards of God. Let us be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2), using what he has put in our hands for the glory of his name.

Matthew 25:31-46

Chapter 76 “When the Son of Man shall Come”“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 25:31-46) Few passages in the Bible are more solemn and heart-searching than Matthew 25:31-46. Here our Savior speaks to us about his glorious second advent and the day of judgment. What a solemn passage this is! In that great day every son and daughter of Adam shall be present. Each one shall “receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Every thing here spoken by our Master is plain and clear. There are no parables here. It is impossible to misunderstand our Savior’s words in this passage. When He Appears This passage begins with the fact of our Lord’s glorious second advent. Verse thirty-one identifies three things about our Savior’s second coming. His Coming: — “When the Son of man shall come in his glory.” He states the fact of his coming again as a well-known, commonly acknowledged fact. With his disciples, Christ’s second coming is not a speculative matter. We have no idea when he will come again. But we do know that he is coming. We rejoice in the hope of it. And we know that when he comes again, our great God and Savior will appear in all the splendor, grandeur, and majesty of his glory as the God-man, our Savior. Not only is he coming, but “the Son of man shall come in his glory!” His Companions: — When Christ comes again, he will not come alone, but “all the holy angels with him.” Elsewhere we are told that he will come with all his saints, too. This will be no secret rapture, but the glorious appearing of the great God, who is our Savior. The holy angels, who sang his praise at his first advent, will accompany him in his second advent. His Character: — “Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” When our Savior comes again, there will be no more debate about his sovereignty. The throne of judgment upon which he shall sit will be “the throne of his glory.” Every knee shall bow before “the throne of his glory.” All his enemies shall be made the footstool of “the throne of his glory.” Everyone will worship before “the throne of his glory.” Two Groups “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.” (Matthew 25:32-33) We are once more reminded of the fact that all the human race is divided into only two families, two groups and two races, the one called “the sheep,” the other called “the goats.” You will never understand the Bible, or any of the workings of God, until you understand this fact. Earthly distinctions of race, nationality, social status, mental aptitude, and even religious affiliation are of absolutely no significance before God. We are all either sheep or goats. Sheep have always been sheep; and goats have always been goats. Sheep never become goats; and goats never become sheep. Some sheep are saved, and some are yet lost; but all sheep shall be saved (John 10:11; John 10:14-16; John 10:27-30). Goats never shall be saved (John 10:26). Everything God does in this world, he does for the sheep, to save his sheep. He chose his sheep. Christ redeemed, seeks, and finds his sheep. And, finding them, he fetches them to himself by his omnipotent grace in the effectual call of his Spirit. And when Christ comes again, the sheep shall be set on his right hand, the place of highest honor and blessing. The goats shall be set on his left hand of contempt, judgment, and destruction. Blessed of God God’s elect, the sheep set on the Savior’s right hand, are described as a people “blessed” of God the Father, and are bidden to come and inherit the kingdom prepared for them “from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). In Matthew 25:31 our Savior calls himself “the Son of Man.” Here he calls himself “the King.” He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the King of his church, the saints, and the King of the whole earth. He will appear in his glory as the King, sitting upon his throne of glory as the Judge of all the earth. In that great day he will speak as gently, tenderly, and lovingly to his sheep as he does today in the gospel, saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father.” He will call those on his right hand to come before his great white throne with intrepidity and confidence, entering into and taking possession of heavenly glory as a people “made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12), “which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23). When we stand before Christ in judgment, he will call us a people “blessed of my Father.” What reason have any who are blessed of God to fear that day? God’s eternal choice of us as his people declares that we are loved of him with an everlasting love, accepted of him in Christ from eternity, and blessed of him with all spiritual blessings in Christ before the world began. Being blessed of God, we are redeemed by Christ’s precious blood, forgiven of all sin, justified, and sanctified by his grace. Having given us his grace, the Lord will give us glory, too (Psalms 84:11). A Kingdom Prepared The happiness of God’s elect in the world to come is here described as a “kingdom,” because of the glory, riches, grandeur, and majesty of it. It is a kingdom prepared and suitable for a people who have been made kings and priests unto God by Christ. It is “an inheritance” obtained by the gift of our heavenly Father. It is ours by right of adoption as the children of God, by right of purchase by the blood of Christ, and by right of our union with the Lord Jesus Christ, who has already taken possession of it as our Forerunner. Heavenly glory is a kingdom “prepared” for us by God’s free grace and everlasting favor. Being prepared, it is both sure and made ready. As John Gill wrote, “It is a kingdom erected, an inheritance reserved, and a crown of righteousness laid up in heaven, a glory really provided and secured in an everlasting covenant, and that for you….the peculiar favorites of God, the objects of his love and choice, the redeemed of the Lamb, and that are born of the Spirit.” That kingdom into which we shall enter at last was prepared for us “from the foundation of the world.” Heavenly glory is a kingdom prepared for God’s elect from all eternity. That fact alone should convince all that the blessings of eternity do not, and cannot be dependent upon or determined by the things we do in time. The whole of heavenly glory is the gift of God in Christ. It is written, “The gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). Nothing connected with eternal life is earned and merited by those who shall possess it. “But plainly,” as Robert Hawker put it, “the whole is the result of free, sovereign grace, and not an atom of merit in man, contributing, in the least degree, to the accomplishment.” What can be so truly blessed than to contemplate this provision of grace our God has made for us, not only before we were born, but before the foundations of the earth were laid? How delightful our Savior’s words are! It appears to me that his intent is to covey to us the greatest possible peace and joyful hope as we anticipate his glorious appearing, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:21). He seems to be saying here, as he did in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock, for it is your heavenly Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” The Day of Judgment In Matthew 25:35-46 our Lord Jesus Christ describes the day of judgment. Let no one be deceived, there is a day appointed by God when all men shall stand before his righteous bar, “the throne of his glory,” to be judged by him. There is a day of reckoning. Put it out of your mind, if you dare. Try to dismiss it from your thoughts, if you like. But there is a day fixed by God almighty when you and I must give account to him. It is written, “after this,” after this life is over, after we have finished our little space of appointed time in this world, “after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Therefore, I make no apology for echoing that which all men by nature prefer never to hear, “Prepare to meet thy God!” Consider this sober fact seriously: You must soon meet God in judgment! How will it go for you in that great and terrible day? Where will you spend eternity? Do not be so foolish as to ignore these questions. Let me show you four things taught in these verses by the Son of God himself about the day of judgment. First, our Savior assures us that he will himself be the Judge in that great day. Understand this. Everything God does he does through the Son, for the honor of the Son, that the Son may have all preeminence and glory. The saving of men is the work of the Son; and the judgment of men shall be the work of the Son (John 5:22; Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Philippians 2:9-11). That same Jesus who was born at Bethlehem, who was raised in Nazareth, who preached and performed mighty miracles of mercy in the days of his humiliation, who was despised and rejected of men, and who was at last betrayed, beaten, scourged, stripped naked, and nailed to the cursed tree by the hands of wicked men, — that same Jesus shall himself come again in power and in great glory to judge this world. You and I will soon be gathered before his august throne of glory to answer for our lives upon this earth. As I have already suggested, believers have every reason to look upon this august, solemn event with comfort and joy. He who shall sit upon that throne in that great and dreadful day is himself our Savior, our Redeemer, our Good Shepherd, our mighty Advocate, our great High Priest, our Elder Brother, and our Faithful Friend. I do not suggest for a moment that he will bend the law on our behalf. He will never do that! But I do mean for you to understand that so long as we have such an Advocate as Christ is in the court, indeed, upon the very bench of judgment, we have no reason to fear the proceedings of that bench. If you are without Christ, if you are an unbeliever, if you are yet unconverted, if you yet live in rebellion to our great God, every thought of this great and terrible day should fill your very soul with utter terror. Your Judge in that day will be the very Christ whose gospel you have despised, whose gracious invitations you scorn, whose blood you trample beneath your feet. If you go on and die in your rebellion and unbelief, how great will be the wrath poured out upon you in that day! To be condemned by anyone would be terrible; but to be condemned by him who is “the Savior of the world,” who is able, willing, and ready to save all who come to God by him is unthinkable! I urge you in the words of the psalmist, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way” (Psalms 2:12). Second, our Master tells us that everyone will be judged by him in that day. “Before him shall be gathered all nations” (Matthew 25:32). All who ever lived shall in that day give account of themselves before the Son of God. When the King of heaven issues his summons, his holy angels like a great hosts of deputies will fetch you before his throne. Each one will be forced to step forward to receive his sentence from Christ himself. J. C. Ryle wrote, “Those who would not come to worship Christ on earth, will find that they must come to his great assize, when he returns to judge the world.” In that great day all the human race shall be publicly divided into two groups. — “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:33). In that day earthly distinctions shall be meaningless. Rich and poor, the learned and the unlearned, black and white, religious and irreligious men and women, moralists and rogues shall all be lumped into one group -— goats. All former, earthly distinctions, for which people contend and strive, will then have passed away. In that day nothing will matter to you or to God himself except this — Are you or are you not in Christ? Grace or no grace, faith or no faith, converted or unconverted, saved or lost are the only distinctions that will matter when you stand before the bar of God. If you trust the Son of God, you shall be seated with Christ on his right hand, with his sheep, in “the throne of his glory.” If you die without faith in Christ, you will in that day be found among the goats at his left hand. Third, our Lord here shows us that the judgment of that great day will be totally righteous, just, and equitable. No one will challenge the proceedings of that day. When the judgment is over, even the damned will acknowledge that it was right. The judgment will be conducted upon the basis of evidence. We recognize that we are justified by grace through the redemption that Christ accomplished at Calvary. Our only righteousness before God is his righteousness, that which he has made ours and given to us, the righteousness of God in Christ. Our works have nothing to do with our everlasting acceptance with God. When God opens the books on that day, he will bring us into heaven because no sin is recorded against us; but only righteousness, perfect righteousness is recorded under our names in heaven (Revelation 20:11-12; Jeremiah 50:20; Numbers 23:21; Romans 8:33-34). However, God will in that day demonstrate that grace made his elect to be truly new creatures in Christ. Their works, which follow them into heaven, shall be witnesses brought forward by Christ himself as to why they should be admitted into his heavenly kingdom. Above all else, their works of charity, kindness, and hospitality shall be brought forth as evidences of their faith. Our faith is proved to be either false or true by our lives. In that sense, and only in that sense, the Spirit of God declares, “by works a man is justified” (James 2:24). Believers show the reality of their faith by their works (James 2:18).

The fact is, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:11-14; James 2:20-26). And the great test of godliness, the great evidence of faith in Christ is love. — “He that loveth not knoweth not God.” The day of judgment will bring great, eternal joy to every believer (Matthew 25:34). The savior will say to each of his elect, to every believing sinner, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21; Matthew 25:23). The wages God shall give to his faithful servants shall be the full kingdom of grace and glory. The least, the lowest, the poorest, the weakest, and the youngest shall have the same reward as the greatest, the richest, the highest, the strongest, and the oldest. We shall all receive “a crown of glory that fadeth not away” from the King of glory. The day of judgment will bring utter confusion to all unbelievers (Matthew 25:41). Those who will not heed the Savior’s call now, “Come unto me,” will obey with terror when he says, “Depart from me, ye cursed!” Judgment day will demonstrate the character of all the saved and the character of all the lost in a striking manner. Believers, the saved, Christ’s sheep, will be clothed with humility, never imagining that they had done anything worthy of his notice and approval. When the Lord Jesus speaks of their good deeds, they will be astonished by his words. “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.” (Matthew 25:34-40). Whenever we think of “good works,” we ought to think of works of kindness, mercy, and love. Nowhere in Holy Scripture are good works spoken of under any other terms. And, it appears, judging from our Savior’s words here, that those who perform such works are totally oblivious to having done so. Whereas, those who never perform such works, but only live in the delusion of self-righteousness, presume that they do good all the time. The lost, the unbelieving, will yet be blind and self-righteous, never imagining that they had failed to make themselves worthy of God’s acceptance. “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 25:41-46) In that great day, our Lord will make all men see how highly he regards his people. He considers anything done for them or against them as being done to him. It seems to me that no man alive is able to conceive how real the union of Christ and his people is. The astonishment here expressed, both by the redeemed and the reprobate, at our Lord’s words seems to suggest that the real union of Christ and his church will be comprehended by none until we stand before him in that great day. Fourth, the Son of God here tells us that the results of that final judgment will be final, everlasting, and immutable. — “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). Everything after the judgment will be eternal. There will be no changes in eternity. The blessedness of the saved shall be eternal. We shall enjoy eternal life, eternal rest, eternal peace, eternal joy, eternal satisfaction, eternal righteousness, eternal communion with the Lord Jesus Christ! The misery of the damned shall also be eternal! Who can describe the woe of the damned? It is eternal wrath, everlasting fire, undying torment, “the second death,” everlasting hell! It is unceasing separation from God and all good! All the lost shall be required to endure eternal agony, eternal separation from all that is good and pleasant, eternal sin, eternal want, eternal company with the most vile, wicked, abominable creatures! Let us solemnly consider these things. Soon, you and I must meet God in judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)