Chapter 14
Ready Or Not
“32 ¶ “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (Mt 24:32-33 NAS)
Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ questions concerning when He would return in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. Jesus provided us an outline of the events that will lead up to His return and the end of the age. But Jesus did not just answer their questions. He also issued warnings about false teachers, false prophets, false Christs, deceptive signs and wonders, and false teachings. And then Jesus spent considerable time emphasizing the fact that His return would come swiftly without warning and those that were not ready would perish with the ungodly.
For this reason, I began this book rehearsing the fundamentals of salvation, sanctification, and righteous living. As we conclude our study of these end time events I return to the 24th chapter of Matthew to walk through the important reminders that Christ gave us about the importance of being ready for Jesus’ return. Jesus began with a parable of the fig tree. You do not need a calendar for you to know that summer is near. When the trees begin to put forth leaves you know summer is very near. Likewise, when you have seen all that Jesus prophesied come to pass, you will know that Jesus is near and ready to burst on the scene.
Parables
Often Jesus used parables to teach the truth. Here in the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth chapters of Matthew He presented a series of parables that are all focused on being prepared for His return. All of these in one way or another emphasize the fact that His return will be sudden and unexpected. Those that are watching in anticipation of His return are faithful and true disciples of Christ. Jesus is well aware of the dangers we face in a world that has been corrupted by the influence of Satan. Each one of these parables reveals a different challenge that can leave us unprepared to stand before our Lord in righteousness when He returns.
Keep in mind as we look at these parables that a parable is a short story that is intended to make a specific point. It is important that we pay attention if we are to understand the important points that Jesus wants us to understand.
“36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.” (Mt 24:36-37 NAS)
We have learned from Scripture that when all of those things that Jesus prophesied have come to pass that we will know that His return is very near. But the exact timing of Jesus’ return is known only by God. The day and the hour will not be known by us until it actually happens. This point is driven home many times in the following scriptures. In spite of this people have on numerous occasions have attempted to determine the day of Christ’s return and convinced themselves that they had succeeded. They always end up sorely disappointed though.
Christ coming will be just like the days of Noah. I am sure if we are acquainted with the description of conditions in Noah’s day that we could see many similarities to the conditions in our day. I have heard sermons that have expounded upon this principle. But we need to be careful that we do not miss the point that Jesus is making in this passage. Jesus was pointing out some specific similarities to alert us as to why His return will catch people off guard.
“38 “For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Mt 24:38-39 NAS)
Jesus’ return is a day of judgment for the righteous and the unrighteous. Everyday activities will be conducted until Jesus returns. There is nothing specific or special that is going to alert you that today is the day. For some, it will begin just like any other day.
Jesus goes on to give examples of how judgment will suddenly come upon people just like it did in Noah’s day. Two will be in the field and one is taken. Two will be grinding and one is taken. Judgment will come as surely and suddenly as it did in Noah’s day.
“43 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Mt 24:43-44 NAS)
The judgment of the Lord is not about our standing in a moment of time. It is about our being ready always, committed to our Lord and Savior. Jesus goes on to illustrate this fact.
“45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 “Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (Mt 24:45-47 NAS)
As we go through these illustrations we will see that all of them are addressed to those who are believers, servants of our Lord Jesus. Yet we see many of them through unfaithfulness being condemned with the ungodly. I think it is clear that these warnings are specifically intended for those in the company of saints.
This illustration seems pointed to those who are overseeing the feeding of God’s household; pastors, teachers, and leaders. But I think the principle holds true for each one of us that when Christ returns He is looking for those who are faithfully doing what He has asked each of us to do.
“48 “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and shall begin to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and shall cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; weeping shall be there and the gnashing of teeth.” (Mt 24:48-51 NAS)
There are those ministers that have risen to fame or are in charge of a large congregation that have become drunk on the power and prestige of their position. Some have heaped unto themselves riches and live like kings. Some have abused their position and had adulterous affairs. Those who take advantage of their position in our Master’s household will be caught unaware by Christ’s sudden return. Their punishment will be harsh and swift, suffering the same fate as those who rejected Christ.
Ten Virgins
1 ¶ “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.” (Mt 25:1-2 NAS)
This parable has been expounded upon a lot. In the process, I am afraid that we have lost the main point that Jesus is trying to bring home to us. So, follow with me as we simply take it in the context of Jesus alerting us to the dangers of not being ready to meet Him when He returns.
Five are wise and five are foolish. The wise enter in and the foolish are shut out. Jesus wants us to be able to enter in. So, first, let us look at what they had in common.
As Christians, we can identify with this group because they are morally pure and they have prepared themselves to meet the bridegroom. They all have lamps that are lit. Obviously, this is a necessity as they go out to meet the bridegroom. When the bridegroom tarried all ten of them slumbered and slept. When the call came, they all arose to trim their lamps to meet Him.
Now we are confronted with what differentiated the wise from the foolish. The wise has brought with them extra oil and the foolish did not and their lamps had gone out.
This is a parable so we need to focus on the point Jesus is making. If the bridegroom had come when they were expecting Him, then all of the virgins would have been ready to meet Him. But when the bridegroom delayed His coming the foolish we unprepared for the delay, their lights had gone out. The foolish then asked the wise to share their oil with them. But the wise replied that they need the oil for their own lamps to be assured that their lamps kept burning.
The weight of this message hit me at a time when I was coming to realize that there was no place in all of Scripture that said the Church would be raptured before the time of great tribulation. The fear that gripped me was that if Jesus does not rapture the Church before the tribulation, many Christians may not be prepared for him to tarry and their light may go out. Our preparedness must not be contingent upon what we may think we know. Our preparedness must be based upon our faithfulness to be about our Father’s business until our Lord returns.
We are talking about a spiritual preparedness, of being able to stand in righteousness before our Lord at His return. But there is a clear example of the consequences of being unprepared for His return on a more physical level that may be easier to understand and then applied spiritually.
Back in 1844, William Miller predicted that Jesus would return and had a great following. Miller was wrong and there was a great disappointment. Spiritually it shook the faith of many people. But even on the physical level, it taught an important lesson. Many of these people were so convinced that Christ was going to return that they had not prepared provisions for winter. Back in 1844 that was a big deal for without the help of friends and neighbors they would have been starved and been out in the cold.
“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” (Mt 25:13 NAS)
The Talents
“14 ¶ “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 “And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.” (Mt 25:14-15 NAS)
We have here another parable that helps us understand the kingdom of Heaven. In this context, we know that Jesus is still talking about the time of His return. Again we are talking about those who have made Christ Lord of their lives and are by choice His servants. The master is entrusting His possessions in the care of His servants until He returns. This master knows His servants so He entrusts His possessions to each of His servants based upon their own abilities. To one He leaves five talents. To another He leaves two talents. And to another, He leaves one talent.
Upon the Master’s return, his servants are called to account. The one who was given five talents has earned another five talents. The one who was given two talents has earned another two talents. But the servant who was entrusted with one talent presents that talent back to his master.
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.” (Mt 25:24-25 NAS)
Some time ago pirates had become popular in some circles. As some of my colleagues were joking around like pirates, I mentioned that all pirates by definition were evil. I was corrected: Veggie Tale pirates were good pirates, they were the pirates that did nothing.
Jesus has given us an example of a servant that has accomplished nothing. Could we say that this is an unserving servant, or an unservant. I know that these words are not in the dictionary, but what do you call a servant who does not serve? Jesus called him wicked and slothful, for with minimal effort he could have put the money in the bank, and at least it would have earned interest. At first glance, the judgment of this servant may seem extremely harsh, but we need to think about it from Jesus’ perspective.
“And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt 25:30 NAS)
Those servants that had served to the best of their ability were praised and generously rewarded by their Master, whereas this servant lost everything. We are being told this story so that we will not make the same mistake. In verbalizing his excuse he condemned himself. He admitted that he knew that his master expected a profit. He said he had hidden it for fear and it seems like he expected to be excused simply because he had not lost anything.
So, how does this apply to us? What is Jesus expecting of us when He returns? Have we been entrusted with the riches of the kingdom? This parable was given to us to expand our understanding of the kingdom of God. God created Adam and Eve and blessed them so that they might multiply and fill the earth with God’s glory. Jesus’ return is continuing the fulfillment of God’s purpose for mankind as the kingdoms of earth become part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
“21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” (2Co 1:21-22 NAS)
Until Jesus returns we have been entrusted with the riches of Heaven. We have the message of the Gospel of redemption and we have been commissioned to share it with the world. We have the anointing of God which is His Holy Spirit, a pledge of the glory to come. If Jesus is our Master, then it would be wicked to hide that which we have been entrusted with. The least we could do is to live in the light of that Word. Rather we should declare the Word of God to our generation so that it will multiply and be fruitful. God’s Word will accomplish its purpose. When it is accepted it brings salvation. When it is rejected it brings condemnation. If we should fear as the wicked servant did, it would signify a lack of faith in the giver of the Word. Why else would we not serve Him?
“So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isa 55:11 NAS)