MATTHEW 25 Lesson
Today we covered Matthew
25 in 1st hour SS Class.
We will continue going through Matthew verse by verse. (We
typically cover the 5W’s and H as we dissect the chapter….then we take the main
themes and draw a storyboard that lines up with the topics in each chapter.
Below is a copy of the lesson
page that we discussed in class during 1st Hour.
(purple words are the “fill in the blank” answers)
Matthew 25 is a continuation of the Olivet Discourse.
It’s Wednesday prior to Jesus’ Crucifixion. He’s teaching His
disciples. He’s speaking about people who are “professing
believers”. (The 10 virgins, the 3 slaves/bond-servants, and the sheep
and goats…..all would profess to know Christ). But we see here in this
passage, once again, that many are not “true believers”…and will not enter the
Kingdom of Heaven.
We discussed that many in the
Church today (even FBC) have not been “internally
transformed/regenerated/born-again”.
Article excerpt from Barna
Research: Barna’s findings are similar to those reported by
Bill Bright, founder and fifty-year president of Campus Crusade for Christ.
According to Bright, “Our surveys suggest that over 50% of the hundred million
people in church here in the United States every Sunday are not sure of their
salvation.” In addition to discovering that 50% of people in church are “lost
churchgoers,” the Barna Research Group has also revealed that 44% of Americans
are “notional Christians.” These 90 million notional Christians are people who
describe themselves as Christians but do not believe that their hope for
eternal life is based on a personal relationship with Jesus and the belief that
He died and rose again from the dead. http://www.facingforever.org/downloads/lost_in_church.pdf
EXPANDING ON THE SHEEP AND
GOATS JUDGEMENT:
At the end of class….We also went through the “good person” test and talked
about the courtroom situation and how a good judge will not find us innocent of
obeying God’s 10 Commandments.
Here
is a link to the Way of the Master video that goes through the good person
test. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcDXT6pH7A
Here are a few more that you can watch: http://www.wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml
We asked this kids:
Have
you ever told a Lie?
Have
you ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you?
Have
you ever been angry or hated someone?
Have
you ever disobeyed your Parents?
How
many commandments did you break?
The
Bible says in James 2:10 that if you break one commandment/law – you’re
guilty of all of it. “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has
become accountable for all of it.” James 2:10
“None is righteous, no, not one ….no one seeks for God….. no one does good, not
even one” Romans 3:10-12
“the fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God’….there is none who does
good” Psalm 14: 1-3 & again in Psalm 53:1-3
If
you stand before a good Judge …. Would HE find you guilty or innocent?
What
if someone comes into the courtroom and offers to take your punishment for you
and pay your fine? ….Would you put your trust and faith in HIM?
You
can’t just “believe” in Him ….. you must trust HIM and put on the robe of
righteousness (as in Isaiah 61) …. Like you would “put on” a parachute and
trust it to save you when you jump from a plane.
Joni Eareckson Tada gives a great example of being CLOTHED IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS: Listen or read: http://www.joniandfriends.org/radio/5-minute/clothed-righteousness/
Matthew 25
Read Matt. 25:1-13 Parable of 10 Virgins = Professing
Christians in the Church
Who is the bridegroom referring to in vs. 1? Christ
Who would the virgins represent? People in the Church who claim
to know Christ
What are the types of Virgins? The foolish and the
prudent/wize
What does the oil represent? True salvation….a
repentant individual who has put the faith and trust in Christ
What did the foolish virgins say to the prudent/wise
virgins? Give us some of your oil for our lamps
are going out.
How did the prudent/wise virgins respond to the foolish
virgins? No, there will not be enough for us and
you too
Where did the prudent tell the foolish to go? To the
dealers and buy some oil
What happened while they were gone? The bridegroom
came and the prudent/WISE went
into the wedding feast and the door was shut
What did the foolish virgins say when they returned?
Lord, lord, open up for us
How did the Lord respond? Truly I say to you, I do not
know you.
Read Matthew 7:21-23
What do the “many” say to Him? Lord, Lord…..
§
They prophesied in Your name
§
They cast out demons in Your name
§
They performed many miracles in Your name
How does the Lord respond? I
never knew you, depart from ME, you
who practice lawlessness
Read Matt. 25:14-30 The Servants and Talents
In vs. 14, who do you think HIS own slaves
represent? Professing believers
How many slaves were given talents? Three
When the Master returned what did HE say to the 2 who
doubled their talents? Good and faithful slave
What did the 3rd slave do with his talent?
He buried it
The slaves view of the Master was a cruel and ruthless
opportunist “reaping and gathering” what HE had no right to claim as HIS
own. By repeating this false perception, HE was allowing the slaves own
words to condemn him and point out his laziness.
What did HE say to the other slave in vs. 26?
You wicked, lazy slave
In vs. 29 What will be given to everyone who
has? More shall be given
What will happen to everyone who does not have? What
he does have will be taken away
Read Matthew 13:12 ….what
verse does this mirror? Matthew 25:29
What happens to the worthless slave? He’s thrown into
outer darkness
What happens in outer darkness? Weeping and
gnashing of teeth
Matthew 24:43 – 25:30 Illustrates 2 types of people:
Prudent
vs.
Foolish
Faithful
vs.
Wicked
True Seekers who
hunger vs.
Lazy who wait to be fed
Doing the bare minimum to get by…. Those who just go
to Church on Sunday, but don’t live for Christ as His bond-servant. (these are
the foolish/wicked/lazy – who “think” they are saved)…they said a prayer, were
baptized, went through some sort of ritual that made them “think” they have
eternal salvation. But they don’t have a … “broken spirit and contrite
heart” Psalm 51:17 …they have not truly “surrendered to Christ”.
Read Matt. 25:31-46 Description of the last judgement (an
explanation of the former parables)
In vs. 32 what happens to all the nations? They are
gathered before HIM and HE will separate the sheep from the
goats
Why will HE separate them? To Judge them
What did those who are “blessed of My Father” do?
He was hungry and they gave Him something to eat
He was thirsty and they gave Him something to drink
He was a stranger and they invited Him in
He was naked and they clothed Him
He was sick and they visited Him
He was in prison and they came to Him
So when we do these things for others what does Jesus
say? To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even
the least of them, you did it to Me.
Where do those on His left (the goats) go?
Vs.41: into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his
angels
Vs. 46 go away into eternal punishment
In vs. 46 where do the righteous go? Into eternal life
What do you think makes someone righteous before God?
Matthew
Henry…..”This is a description of the last
judgment. It is as an explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment
to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting
happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father,
but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked and godly here dwell together, in
the same cities, churches, families, and are not always to be known the one
from the other; such are the weaknesses of saints, such the hypocrisies of
sinners; and death takes both: but in that day they will be parted forever.
Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; he will shortly distinguish between those
that are his, and those that are not.”
Story
boards
1. Ten virgins with lamps (5 have oil – 5
don’t have oil)
2.
Bridegroom comes and invites the 5
virgins in
3.
5 Virgins return and say “Lord,
Lord…..open up for us” …He says “I don’t know you”
4.
Man gives 3 slaves some talents (one
gets 5, one gets 2 and one gets 1)
5.
Slave with 5 doubles his
talents….master says “well done good and faithful slave”
6.
Slave with 2 doubles his talents…
master says “well done good and faithful slave”
7.
Slave with 1 bury’s his talent…master
says “you wicked , lazy slave”…and he’s thrown into outer darkness
8.
Christ separates the sheep from the
goats
9.
The sheep did righteous things:
a.
gave food
b.
gave drinks
c.
invited him in
d.
gave clothes
e.
visited when he was sick
f.
visited in prison
10.
wicked goes to eternal fire and
punishment
11.
righteous goes to eternal life
Just so you know…. Your kids
are so precious….. many of them know these answers and always surprise us when
we give them point blank questions. It’s apparent that many of you are
having these deep conversations at home. Every single one of them
today had an answer to one of our “gospel-centered” questions….that shows us
The Lord is working in their heart!! We’re honored to be able to come
alongside you and reinforce truth from God’s Word.
Here’s a link to a Sermon Series called: Almost a Christian
by Mike Fabarez from Compass Bible Church and Focal Point Ministries: http://focalpointministries.org/product/almost-a-christian-part-1/
You can benefit greatly from Christ & his
church without ever receiving the most important benefits of new birth,
forgiveness & eternal life.
Also….below are some sermon notes from John MacArthur’s
Sermon on Matthew 25
John MacArthur
Another critical issue in
understanding Matthew 25 is to recognize that the division Christ makes is not
between the church and the pagan world, but between true and false Christians. While
the pagan lives in open unbelief, the false Christian is an imposter who has
blended in among God’s people. False Christians are the recipients of Christ’s
most terrifying judgment:
So then, you will know them by
their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And
then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who
practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:20–23)
Matthew 25:34-46 makes a similar
division between those who have genuine faith and those whose faith is false,
according to the evidence of their works. Note carefully that both groups of
people think they are Christians because they address Jesus as “Lord” (Matthew
25:37, 44). Both groups are also surprised by the verdict. The surprise reveals
humility among Christ’s people (“when did we,” Matthew 25:37–39) and
self-righteousness among those who are faking it (“when did we . . . not,”
Matthew 25:44).
This is not to deny any duty we
have to love the disenfranchised people of the world. But if proponents of the
social gospel were serious about Scripture, they would target passages that
refer to loving our neighbors—even loving our enemies (Matthew 22:39; 5:44).
Christ’s words in Matthew 25 have nothing to do with the social justice they
advocate.
Matthew 25:34–46 was never
written as a blueprint for salvation through social work nor should it be
employed as such. It’s not an argument for preaching the gospel through our
actions alone, but rather that our actions authenticate the gospel we preach.
And those actions must be prioritized towards our suffering fellow believers.
So please, care for other believers because Jesus commanded us to. Realize that
a lack of care may point to a lack of saving faith. And preach the gospel with
words because they’re always necessary.
And ….. John Calvin’s commentary
on Matthew 25: 1-13
1. Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went
out to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were foolish, and five were
wise. 3. They that were foolish, while they took their lamps, took no oil with
them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. 5. And
while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6. And at midnight
a cry arose, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go you out to meet him. 7. Then all
those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. And the foolish said to the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. 9. But the wise
answered, saying, By no means, lest there be not enough for you and for us;
[170] but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10. 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. 11. And afterwards came also
the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answering said,
Verily I tell you, I know you not. 13. Watch, therefore, for you know not the
day nor the hour in which the Son of man shall come.
Though
this exhortation -- as will appear from the conclusion of it--has nearly the
same object with the former, yet it is properly added, in order to confirm
believers in perseverance. Our Lord knew how strongly the nature of men is
inclined to idleness, and how, for the most part, they not only grow weary
after a great lapse of time, but give way through sudden dislike. To remedy this
disease, he taught his disciples that they were not duly fortified, unless they
had sufficient perseverance for a long period. When this is ascertained to be
the design of the parable, we ought not to trouble ourselves much with minute
investigations, which have nothing to do with what Christ intended. Some people
give themselves a good deal of uneasiness about the lamps, the vessels, and the
oil; but the plain and natural meaning of the whole is, that it is not enough
to have ardent zeal for a short time, if we have not also a constancy that
never tires. And Christ employs a very appropriate parable to express this. A
little before, he had exhorted the disciples, that as they had a journey to
perform through dark and dreary places, they should provide themselves with
lamps; but as the wick of the lamp, if it be not supplied with oil, gradually
dries up, and loses its brightness, Christ now says, that believers need to
have incessant supplies of courage, to support the flame which is kindled in
their hearts, otherwise their zeal will fail ere they have completed the
journey.
Please continue to pray for the
Humphrey family….they will continue to need the Lord’s strength, plus
encouragement and love from our Church Family in the days ahead.
May you all have a blessed
week…. and we pray that the seeds planted in the heart of your child will be
watered and continue to grow
Best regards,
Mike & Kim Armstrong
No comments:
Post a Comment