New Testament 2
Lecture 24
Matthew 25
Olivet Discourse 2
Introduction
•	This chapter has three major divisions: two illustrations and one final warning of coming___________________
The Ten Maidens (25: 1-13)
•	This well known parable has one major point: He is coming even though the _____________________is not known.  The parable should be understood against its cultural background.  It happens in a city where the streets are not lighted.  When guests came out to a wedding or another gala occasion, girls go up and meet the guests with torches which lit the pathway. When the bridegroom came, all the road would be lit up along the pathway carried by these girls.   In this parable ten girls are mentioned.  Jesus tells of the five ready virgins and then of the five unprepared ones.
The Foolish Ones
•	Took no _____________________with them, but did take their _____________________.  This shows that they apparently did not expect to light to their lamps.  In means that they had determined that he was not coming in the night.  The wise virgins were prepared in case the bridegroom did come at night.  They were prepared. 
All Ten Were Alike
•	Is some ways: they all had lamps and they all slept.  They all expected the groom to come at some time.  When the groom did come, they all _____________________.  Until the coming of the _____________________you could not tell any difference about them. But when he arrives, the differences are apparent.  Five neglected to get and put oil in their lamps.  They had shared in the preparing, but concluded: “not tonight”.  Sharing in the activity of believers and not expecting anything to happen is foolish.
The Kingdom of Heaven
•	Is not like the ten virgins, but is compared to the experience of the ten maidens.  It comes offering _____________________but also _____________________.  There is a time for preparation and a time when it is too late to prepare.  
I do not know you
•	Misses a part of the verbal meaning. The perfect tense of the verb (oida) may imply, “I have not known you and do not now know you.” It is not that they were once _____________________and then _____________________.  
A Lesson 
•	When it comes to personal obedience, buy for yourself.  The good members of family and friend cannot help you in this.  The believing members in the church can’t serve for you.  When the Lord returns, you cannot say “Wait! Let me get ready!”  Now is the time to get ready! A tragic story: while they went to buy, the groom came.  Those ready _____________________to the _____________________.  
Parable of Talents (25:14-30)
•	This parable emphasizes the responsibility we have for the opportunities each has.  God gives every believer _____________________opportunities for _____________________.  Not all opportunities are given to every one.  Each has unique ones.  The question is “What do you do with the opportunities you have?”
Verse 29
•	Embodies the parable’s principle, applied to different situations in the Gospels.  More can be given to every one who has, but from the one who has not will be taken away even what he has.  The misused or missed opportunity is lost.  The life given to God in trusting service is made richer. The truth here parallels that in the great principle that to _____________________one’s _____________________is to _____________________it, whereas to try to save it is to lose it (16:25).
Another Lesson
•	Is plainly taught that Christ is coming again.  This time when He comes, He will not be the _____________________in Bethlehem.  He will return as a mighty _____________________.  He will not come to _____________________, but to _____________________.  Note that servant with only two talents received the same commendation as the one with five. Apparently it is not a matter of how much, but a matter of how faithful the servant was.
A Jewish Parallel Parable
•	The Rabbi’s tell of a man who had a great _____________________. He buried it in a field and went daily to check on its safety. A thief watched this a few days and when the man left to go home, the thief stole the treasure.  Upon arrival at this treasure’s spot, he saw it was gone. He became very upset and began to mourn over his loss.  One friend, having discovered the cause of his weeping, said to him, “Dear friend, take a stone and bury it and visit it like you were. That is as much good as your treasure was doing you or anyone else.”
The Parable is Related to studying God’s Word
•	The Jew understands that _____________________is the _____________________of all _____________________things: especially the _____________________.  If is freely given by God. In like manner, it is to be freely taught.  The one who learns the most from the Word receives the more, while the one who neglects the Word will lose what he has. The more learning of the Word, the more life. Rabbi Judah said, “To enjoy anything of this world without saying a blessing is like making personal use of things consecrated to heaven as it is written in Psalm 24:1. 
Final Judgment (25:31-46)
•	This is the rather well known separation of the _____________________from the _____________________. Matthew 13 recorded the parable of the Tares and Wheat.  They both grew together until the time of harvest.  The servants wanted to separate them, but the owner of the field said to wait until harvest time.  This parable in Matthew 25 shows that time of harvest using the idea of sheep and goats.
The Gentile Nations
•	Must be judged to determine who from among the living Gentiles will be accepted into His kingdom and who will be rejected.  When Christ comes the second time, He will be enthroned in heavenly glory (v 31) and will sit on David’s throne (2 Sam 7:16, Luke 1:32-33).  On this throne of David, Christ will rule not only over Israel, but over the Gentiles as well.  This separation is necessary since no unsaved person can enter His millennial kingdom.  Israel will be judged and then all the Gentiles (25:32).  The separation into the two groups are those Gentiles who are alive.
The Actions of the People in The Parable
•	Refers to social actions, this does not mean that this is the only conduct God _____________________. He also judges _____________________to Him.  He judges _____________________toward those in authority; He judges _____________________toward other people; He judges _____________________to His laws.
The Sheep at His Right Hand
•	Will receive a word of commendation (25:34).  They are included because of the works done in His name. The _____________________, who are called “_____________________” will question that they had ever seen Christ, so how could they have ministered to him? Verse 40 is Christ’s answer to them.  
To those on the left hand
•	Will receive strong words from Christ (25:41-43).  Their works will be made evident as well.  Verse 26 shows the result of their unbelief in _____________________.  
This Parable, The Conduct
•	(visiting the sick, those in prison, etc) which made the difference between _____________________and _____________________was apparently quite ordinary and not at all spectacular.  It was an ordinary deed being done as unto the Lord. This is what Paul meant when he said, “Whatsover ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” It is possible to do each day’s work as unto the Lord. If you do, you are a sheep. But it is also possible to do it for yourself, then you are a goat.
The Kingdom the Sheep Enter
•	Was prepared for them before the foundation of the world. But the kingdom for the goats was prepared for the _____________________and his _____________________.  It was not prepared for people. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God created men to be lost. Some souls will certainly be lost, but they are lost in spite of God has done to prevent it.  It is a matter of their choice.  Sinners will be there because of they persisted in their sinful lifestyles and rejected God’s overtures of love.