Matthew 25-26

What I Noticed Today (Matthew 25-26)

Matthew 25

Jesus’ fifth discourse continues through Matthew 25. Here the focus is on being ready for the end times and the judgment that will come upon the nations.

In verses 1-13, the parable of the ten virgins. Ten virgins took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and took extra oil for their lamps, and five were foolish, having no extra oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom came, the foolish virgins' lamps went out, and they had to leave to get more oil. The five wise virgins were invited into the wedding feast. When the foolish virgins return, they found the door shut and were denied entrance to the wedding feast.

The lesson of the parable is we do not know when the Lord will return, but we must be ready. Commentators generally agree the bridegroom is Christ; five wise virgins represent true believers, the oil represents the Holy Spirit, the foolish virgins those who believe in a messiah but have not accepted Jesus as Messiah.

In verses 14-30, the parable of the talents. A master who is leaving on a long trip assembles his servants and gives one five talents, one two talents, and the third one talent, each according to their ability. The servants with five and two talents each made five and two talents more, but the servant with one talent buried it in the ground. When the master returned, he gathered the servants for an accounting. The two servants who doubled what they were given were praised and promised much more. The servant who buried the talent returned it to his master, claiming that he was afraid of the master. The master rebuked him, calling him wicked and lazy. Then the master took the one talent from him and gave it to the servant with ten talents. The worthless servant will be cast into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The lesson of the parable is that we are each given talents according to our ability. They must be invested into the Kingdom while the master is away, for when He returns, He will demand an accounting for how the gifts were used. To not invest them at all is to reject the gift of the master.

In verses 31- 46, when the Son of Man returns in His glory, he will sit on His throne and judge the nations.

• People will be separated in the final judgment like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Sheep on the right, goats on the left. Those on the right will be invited into the Father’s Kingdom (vv. 32-34).
• Those sheep invited in serving the people of God’s kingdom in some way: welcomed me, met physical needs, food, clothing, emotional needs visited me when I was sick (vv. 35-36).
• They wondered when they had done this for the king, and He said when you did it for the least of my brothers, you did it for me (vv. 37-40).
• Then the Father will send those on the left away to be with the Devil, accusing them of not welcoming him or of serving or caring for His brothers (vv. 41-45).
• The righteous will go on to eternal life while the wicked will be sent to eternal punishment (v. 46).

Matthew 26

In verses 1-2, as soon as He was finished with the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24-25), Jesus reminded the disciples that Passover was only two days away and that at that time, he would be delivered to be crucified.

In verses 3-5, the chief priests and elders gathered together with Caiaphas, the high priest, and plotted how to arrest and kill Jesus.

In verses 6-13, Jesus was in Bethany (east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives) in the home of Simon, the leper. A woman (Mary, John 12:3) anointed Jesus with a jar of expensive ointment (oil worth a year’s wages). A disciple (Judas Iscariot, John 12:4) complained the oil could have been sold to the poor. However, Jesus commended the woman saying she did it to prepare Him for burial.

In verses 14-16, Judas betrayed Jesus by going to the chief priests and taking 30 pieces of silver to deliver Jesus over to them.

In verses 17-25, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Thursday of Passion Week), the disciples asked Jesus where they would prepare the Passover.  Jesus answered a certain man in the city would host them. They gathered the food, prepared it, and began the Passover meal that evening. Jesus told them the one He dips bread with would betray Him. Judas asked if it was him, and Jesus confirmed it was.

In verses 26-29, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. The bread is representing His body, and the cup representing His blood.

In verses 30-35, after singing a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus told them they would all fall away that night, but after He was raised up, He would meet them again in Galilee. Peter said he would never fall away, and Jesus told him he would deny Him three times before the rooster crows (in the morning).

In verses 36-46, Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane (which means olive vat or olive press). Jesus asked the disciples to sit and wait for Him while He prayed. Then, taking Peter, James, and John (Matthew 4:21) with Him, he asked them to watch over Him while he went a little further and prayed. He returned to Peter, James, and John and found them asleep. He told them to pray that they might not enter into temptation. When he returned a second time, he found them sleeping again. He left them and went to pray for the third time. When Jesus finished praying, he woke them and told them it was time to go; his betrayer was at hand.

In verses 47-56, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas came with a large crowd, including the chief priests and elders. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, and the soldiers grabbed Him. Peter (John 18:10) grabbed his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest (John 18:10). Jesus reprimanded Peter, saying if He desired, He could call twelve legions of angels to protect Him, but this must happen to fulfill the scripture.

Jesus asked them why they came this way at night when they could have captured Him anytime while He was teaching in the synagogue. So the disciples abandoned Jesus and fled.

In verses 57-68, Jesus is brought before Caiaphas, the high priest surrounded by the chief priests and elders, with Peter in the background. The chief priests and the Council (the Sanhedrin) solicited false testimony against Jesus, but they could find none. Finally, a man came forward saying that Jesus had said he would destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Ultimately, the high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy for saying He was Christ, the Son of God, and condemned him to death.

• Before Annas (John 18:12-14).
• Before Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57-68).
• Before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1-2).
• Before Pilate (John 18:28-38).
• Before Herold (Luke 23: 6-12).
• Before Pilate (John 18:39-19:6).

In verses 69-75, while the trial before the Sanhedrin was going on, Peter was asked three times if he was with Jesus. At first, he denied he was with Jesus, then he took an oath that he was not with Jesus, and finally, he swore a curse upon himself, saying he was not with Jesus. As soon as he finished denying Jesus three times, the rooster crowed.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• When Jesus returns, the righteous and the foolish will be separated.
• There will be a time of accountability in which people will be evaluated based on what they did with the gifts God gave them.
• Many kingdom-building opportunities come our way to accept or reject. Mary chose to serve while Judas chose to reject.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Matthew 27-28