Written by David Self Monday, 12 November :00 - Last Updated Sunday, 11 November :40

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview November 18, 2007 "Involved in Ministry" Background: Matthew 23:1-25:46 Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46 Motivation: Jesus urged His disciples to always be prepared for the Bridegroom's coming. This lesson focuses on two time frames: 1) the last days, as well as, 2) in the meantime. Examination: I. Warnings About Hypocrisy (23:1-39) Judgment on Scribes and Pharisees - What Jesus had previously suggested in parables, He made plain in Matthew 23. He condemned the Scribes and Pharisees for four basic sins that include several woes. Barclay calls this passage "the most terrible and the most sustained denunciation in the New Testament." A. T. Robertson describes this discourse as "the rolling thunder of Christ's wrath." A. The Problem of Rules "...they bind heavy burdens" (4) - The Scribes and Pharisees surrounded the Law with a "hedge of protection" composed of hundreds of rules of interpretation. Jesus charged them with elevating man made rules to equality with God's laws. Further, their talk didn't match their walk. (3) (Matt. 15:1-9). B. The Problem of Recognition - "But all their works they do to be seen by men" (5) Their position (6), titles (7) and respect (8-12) was vital to them. Jesus affirmed once again that the Christian life is not about the applause of men, (Col. 3:22) but rather we should seek, as Max Lucado titled his book, The Applause of Heaven. C. The Problem of Repentance "Woe to you" (13-16, 23, 25, 27, 29) 1. Failure to repent of Exclusion (13) - Jesus pronounced judgment on those who not only failed to follow God's plan but also led others astray. 2. Failure to Repent of Ethical Failure (14) "devour widows' houses" probably refers to declaring property & quot;corban". (Mark 7:11) 3. Failure to repent of Evil (15) They not only practiced evil and taught evil but they "shipped it across state lines!" 4. Failure to Repent of Equivocation (16-22) These religious leaders had an intricate code of binding and non-binding oaths by which they could evade responsibility. (Matt. 1 / 6

2 5:34-37) 5. Failure to Repent of Excess (23-24) They had no sense of proportion or balance. (Verse 24 is a Biblical example of using humor to make a point) This is a classic case of majoring on minors and vice versa. 6. Failure to Repent of Extortion (25-26) The polished exterior hid an inside full of filth. 7. Failure to Repent of Evasion (27-28) Jesus uses the words "hypocris y" and &q uot;hypocrites" to describe the scribes and Pharisees. Believer's Study Bible, p. 1377: " Hypocrite' is a compound Greek word bringing together hupo, meaning under' and krites, indicating judgment,' hence to judge under.' Originally the word was used for an actor in the Greek theater. One actor might appear in the same production several times with his true identity disguised by various masks. To determine his/her true identity, one would have to judge beneath the mask.' Thus, the word has become synonymous with insincerity and mere pretense." 8. Failure to Repent of Executions (29-36) The Scribes and Pharisees claimed innocence of the murder of the prophets going so far as to claim that if they were present "we would not have been partakers." (30) The supreme irony of the statement is that in a few short days they would organize the murder of their own Messiah! D. The Problem of Rejection "but you were not willing" (37) Jesus' love for His people comes out in this heartfelt lament. His prophecy in verse 39 is fulfilled in Revelation 19:11, the Second Coming of Jesus, the "Blessed One." II. Teachings About the Future (24:1-51) A. The Destruction of the Temple (1-3) Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple (2) was immediately followed by three questions from the disciples: 1) "when will these things be?", 2) "what will be the sign of Your coming?", 3) "...and of the end of the age?" (3) In the minds of the Twelve, the three questions referred to the same event; yet, Titus' destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple came in 70 A.D. We are still awaiting the answer to questions 2 and 3. One's interpretation of this Olivet Discourse hinges on what answers by Jesus pertain to which questions of the disciples. B. Difficult Times (4-26) 1. Two Parameters: Verse six clearly says "the end is not yet;" verse 14 states "and then the end will come." The signs presented did not all occur before the destruction of the Temple but are ongoing, 2 / 6

3 even being fulfilled in the present tense. The phrase "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations" became a rallying cry for Evangelism Explosion which in March of 1996 became the first Christian ministry to establish a gospel-sharing presence in all 211 nations. 2. Time's Progression: "All these are the beginning of sorrows" (8) - Dr. Tim LaHaye notes that this phrase is used to describe labor pains (1 Thes. 5:3). In this birthing of a new age, once the pains begin, they became more pronounced and closer together. Killer earthquakes are good example: From there was an average of between 3 and 4 such earthquakes per decade. In the 1950's there were 9; in the 60's - 13; in the 70's 56; in the 80's - 74; from ! Nowadays it seems that we read of them almost weekly. Creation itself is signaling the birth of a new world order (Isa. 66:8). 3. Tribulations Pronouncement: Just as the "abomination of desolation" has multiple fulfillments, so verses have multiple references. a. First Century - "Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (16) Was this a warning to the Christians of A.D. 70? Absolutely. When the Roman legions swept toward Jerusalem, rather than fleeing to the safety of the mountains, much of the Jewish population packed into Jerusalem. When the food ran out, 1.2 million people either starved, committed suicide or were killed in the fighting. Is this a double-edged warning to the end times? Once again, absolutely. b. Final Countdown "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (21) Since the original questions of the disciples had to do with the "sign of Your coming and the end of the age..." (3), we cannot limit this discourse solely to A.D. 70. Notice that all of these signs have to do with Christ's Second Coming. The Rapture of the Church (1 Thes. 4:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 2 Thes. 2:1) is a signless event. While most Premilennial scholars place the rapture seven years prior to Christ's Second Coming, some have placed as much as 50 years separation between the two events (Tom Lee, When Will the Temple be Rebuilt, Sermon, 1994). The tribulation mentioned here is world-wide and unprecedented (Rev. 7:9-17), and is referred to as The Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:14). C. Coming of the Son of Man (14:27-31) 1. The Timing "Immediately after the tribulation of those days..." (29) The tribulation is so horrible that it is " shortened for the elect's sake " (22). We studied about the Tribulation martyrs in Revelation 7: / 6

4 2. The Tribes "all the tribes of the earth will mourn" (30) We can assume that those who would mourn at His coming would be unbelievers, particularly those of Israel who refused the invitation (22:3), scoffed (22:5), and were spiteful (22:6). Rev. 9:21, 16:21; Zech. 12:10-13:2 3. The Trumpet "He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet " (31) This verse certainly compares to Rev. 19:11 as Christ comes in " power and great glory." " Gathering together His elect " would apply to those believers of all ages gathered from " one end of heaven to the other. " D. Lesson From the Fig Tree (24:32-35) The signs are related to His coming as surely as the greening of the fig tree is related to summer's approach. Six times in the Old Testament Israel is related to a fig tree. Scholars since 1948 have particularly related this prophecy to the return of a Jewish homeland. Relating " generation " to a generally accepted time period of forty years, there was a wave of expectation in 1988 (Remember " Eighty-eight Reasons Christ Will Return in 1988 "?). Some believe the clock began in 1967 with the capture of all of Jerusalem and the temple mount. The issue is not to set a date (36); rather, Christians are to live in anticipation of Christ's glorious return to set things right. E. Need For Preparation (24:36-51) Jesus now addresses an unspoken question of His disciples " What are we to do in the meantime?" These verses have often been applied to the Rapture of the church. However, they might well apply to Jesus' Second Coming (30-31), especially with regard to God's plan for the Jewish nation. For instance, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost ( Things To Come, p. 162) writes that apply not to one being taken up to heaven but rather to one unbelieving Jew being taken up to judgment. Regardless of your interpretation, Jesus makes it quite clear that His return will be soon, sudden and sure. III. Parables About the Future (25:1-46) A. Parable of the Ten Virgins (1-13) In light of the return of Christ (the Bridegroom), the church (the Bride of Christ) must be faithful in preparation. The problem with the foolish virgins was procrastination. They fully intended to go to the marriage feast and were fully aware of the need for lamp oil. They delayed doing what they knew they should. B. Parable of the Talents (14-30) Since we taught this parable as part of our Stewardship series (October 14, 2007) no further commentary is needed. C. A Final Judgment (31-46) In this passage, Jesus picks up the theme of Matthew 24, namely God's plan for Israel in relationship to last things. 4 / 6

5 Believer's Study Bible p. 1383: 25:31-46 "The sheep and goat judgment should not be confused with other judgments (cf. Rev. 20:11-15, note), e.g., the judgment seat of Christ ( bema, Gk.) for believers only, which occurs immediately following the departure of the church at the revelation of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 3:13); or the Great White Throne judgment for unbelievers, which occurs at the conclusion of the millennial age (Rev. 20:11-15). This judgment of sheep and goats is at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation to determine who may enter the millennial or kingdom age. The basis of the judgment is the relationship of men to Christ, as demonstrated by their treatment of Israel during the Great Tribulation (vv ). Those who are saved (the sheep') enter the kingdom prepared for them (v. 34), while the lost (the goats') are turned away into eternal punishment (v. 46). The kingdom consists only of the saved at the outset of that final age." Some have used this passage to support a works-based salvation. Such is not the case. The good works mentioned (35-36) were clearly not done in order to gain an eternal reward. Rather, they came from a changed heart that desired to serve (37). Even though the judgment is future in time, from it, we can learn lessons for the present. 1. Sheep and Goats Are Different By Nature (33) They behave differently because they are radically different by nature. (II Cor. 5:17) 2. Human Need Is A Priority Of Service (35) Our mission remains unchanged: to seek and to save the lost. While about that mission, we must attempt to minister to the entire person. Calvin Miller says, "Unless they like you, they probably won't like your Jesus very much." (I Cor. 9:20-22) 3. The Best Ability Is Availability (37) These acts of service are not exactly high-tech: food, water, shelter, clothing, time (James 2:15-16). The key is that anyone can do them. (I John 3:16-19) 4. Service Is A Means To Touch God (40) The greatest word of encouragement is that when we do simple acts of service, Jesus takes note. In fact, He says to imagine you're doing it to Him (not just for Him). Leo Tolstoy used this theme to compose the short story Where Love Is, There God Is Also. (I John 4:11-21) Application 1. Christ's coming should prompt us to be alert. 2. Christ's coming should prompt us to accomplish. 3. Christ's coming should prompt us to be aware of opportunities to serve. Adult Leaders Pack: Item 18: Handout: "The Last of These"; Biblical Illustrator: p. 68 "Stranger: A Word Study" Notes: **You may now access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: study.org/ ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint 5 / 6

6 link/downloads. Dates: 9/13-12/11 - Men's Life & Breakfast; 11/18 - Christmas Store Gift Collection Day; 11/ 25 - Thanksgiving - 10 a.m. worship (no SS) 6:30; 12/1 - MTC Christmas Store 9-4; 12/1 - Kingdom Kids Winter Event; 12/1 - Preschoolers Christmas Party; 12/ Christmas Presentation; 12/23 - Christmas - both a.m. services (no SS, no Ascend). 6 / 6