THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Matthew: Jesus As Israel's Messiah And His Kingdom

Q. Christ As Israel's Messiah Seen In His Words Of God's Work With Israel To The Kingdom, Matthew 24-25

4. Christ As Israel's Messiah Seen In His Predicted Second Coming Judgment Of Israel

(Matthew 25:1-30)

 

I.              Introduction

A.    In view of the misunderstandings that have risen in Church History on Christ's Matthew 24-25 Olivet Discourse, we need to discern who the Matthew 25:1-30 parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents address.

B.    We view these parables in light of the context to correct errors and perceive the truth and its application:

II.            Christ As Israel's Messiah Seen In His Predicted Second Coming Judgment Of Israel, Matthew 25:1-30.

A.    Some claim the Matthew 25 parables teach that Christians can lose their salvation:

1.     The Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the Ten Virgins has been interpreted to teach the five foolish virgins who do not obtain oil in their lamps and thus are shut out of the marriage feast are Christian believers in Christ who, due to carnality, lose their salvation so that the Lord tells them, "I know you not" (Matthew 23:12).

2.     Then, the Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents has been interpreted to teach the servant who does not invest his master's talent to earn more money, but hides it, and is cast out into outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30) is a Christian who through failure to serve Christ is sent to hell!

B.    However, (1) Jesus Himself in John 5:24 taught a believer can never lose his salvation, and (2) we previously learned in this lesson series that Matthew 24-25 predicts God's work with Israel -- not the Church -- in the Great Tribulation in preparation for the Messianic Kingdom, so we study these parables to discern the truth:

1.     The Parable of the Ten Virgins shows Israel's need truly to trust in Messiah before He returns, 25:1-13:

                        a.        The marriage customs of the era reveal the Ten Virgins represent Israel, not the Church (as follows; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Matt. 25:1): (1) In the first phase of the Hebrew wedding in Jesus' day, the bridegroom went to the bride's home to obtain his bride by paying the dowry.  This phase is typified in Christ' first advent as the Bridegroom Who paid for the redemption of the Church on the cross.  (2) Next, the bridegroom took his bride to his home, pictured in Christ's coming in the clouds to rapture the Church.  (3) Finally, the bridegroom returns with his bride for the marriage supper, typified in Christ's Second Coming to the earth with the Church to set up His Messianic Kingdom, cf. Revelation 19:7-8, 11-21.  The Parable of the Ten Virgins relate to this final phase of the wedding, meaning the ten virgins represent the "professing Jewish remnant on earth" at Christ's Second Coming, Ibid.

                        b.        As such, though Israel in the midst of the Great Tribulation before Christ's Second Coming will know that His return is near, not all Israel will be PREPARED for it, Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 80.  Accordingly, not all will have TRULY BELIEVED on Christ and thus will be shut out of the Kingdom as unbelievers, represented in the five foolish virgins who are shut out of the feast, Matthew 25:9-13; Ibid.

2.     The Parable of the Talents teaches Israel's need to serve Messiah as evidence of true faith, Matt. 25:14-30:

                        a.        The Parable of the Talents presents servants who either obey or disobey their master in using his money in investments, thus representing Jews in the Great Tribulation who demonstrate their faith in Christ by how or whether they obey Him, being accordingly rewarded at Christ' return, Matthew 25:14-17, 19-23.

                        b.        The servant who hides his talent (Matthew 25:18) actually demonstrates unbelief in his master: (1) he knows that if his master returns, he can simply return the money without loss of investment, but (2) if the master fails to return, the servant intends to keep the talent as his own property, so he does not deposit it in the bank "where it would be recorded that the talent belonged to the master (v. 27)," Ibid.

                        c.        Accordingly, due to his unbelief in the master as evidenced in hiding the talent versus at least putting it in the bank to earn interest (Matt. 25:27), the servant is sent to hell as an unbeliever, Matthew 25:30.

                        d.        Thus, Jews at the end of the Tribulation Period who profess to believe in Christ will need to give evidence that their faith is true by having obeyed the Lord in serving Him prior to His Coming.

 

Lesson: The Parable of the Ten Virgin teaches Israel's need TRULY to TRUST in Christ prior to His Second Coming, and the Parable of the Talents teaches Israel's need to SERVE Messiah as EVIDENCE of TRUE faith.

 

Application: (1) May we TRULY trust in Christ to be saved, John 3:16.  (2) May we test to see if we are truly saved, 1 John 2:18-19.  (2) May we test to see if we have had a changed life following our profession of faith, Ephesians 2:8-9, 10, for NEVER seeing a change in one's life unto righteousness indicates a FALSE PROFESSION of faith.