34: The King’s Return (2) (Mt 25:1-46)
I.
The Basics
A.
Setting
The second half
of the Olivet Discourse continues the theme of preparing for the Lord’s coming.
The three sections in this passage all teach us how to be ready for the
return of the king. The wise, faithful, and righteous will inherit the kingdom
whereas the foolish, lazy, and wicked will be shut out.
B.
Key Verse
“Watch therefore, for you know
neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (25:13).
“His lord said to him, ‘Well
done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I
will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’”
(25:23).
“And the King will answer and
say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the
least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’”
(25:40).
C.
Did You Know…?
1.
Ten Virgins (25:1): The
bridesmaids, who were responsible for preparing the bride to meet the
bridegroom. 8/1476
2.
Talent (25:15): The talent was
first a measure according to weight, between fifty-eight and eighty pounds
(twenty-six to thirty-six kg), and then a unit of coinage, one common value
assigned it being six thousand denarii…It may be more
sensible to compare the talent with modern currency in terms of earning power.
If a talent was worth six thousand denarii, then it
would take a day laborer twenty years to earn so much—perhaps three hundred-thousand
dollars. 6/516
3.
Bankers/bank (25:27): In
Scripture the term bank does not designate a financial institution for the
custody of money but rather a “table” or “counter” (Gk. trapeza)
at which money changer stood or sat, exchanging coins (Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15;
John 2:15). In Luke 19:23, however, the word apparently approximates “bank” in
the modern sense of the word. 10/141
II.
Observation
A.
Outline
(25:1-13)
(25:14-30)
(25:31-46)
B.
Key Words/Phrases
III.
Segment Analysis
A.
25:1-13
1. How is this parable related to the teachings in
24:36-51?
2. Why is Christ compared to the bridegroom?
3a. How were all ten virgins alike in what they did?
3b. What made the wise different from the foolish?
4a. What does taking enough oil represent?
4b. What does the fact that oil could not be shared tell us?
5. Why did not being watchful lead to such serious
consequences (12)?
B.
25:14-30
6. What must we do with the talents we have
received?
7a. On what basis were the servants rewarded or punished? What
does this teach us?
7b. Was the master a hard man as the servant claimed in 24? Why
did the master himself concede to this claim in 26?
8. What can we learn from 29 in our service?
9. How does this parable show the fairness and
grace of God?
C.
25:31-46
10. Observe the
beginnings of each section in this lesson and explain the reason for the
difference between this and the previous two.
11. On what
basis will the final separation be?
12. Who are the
least of the King’s brethren (40)?
13. Apply the
following to today’s context and write down what you can do in these areas.
13a. Feeding the
hungry and quenching the thirsty.
13b. Taking in
strangers.
13c. Clothing
the naked.
13d. Visiting
the sick.
13e. Going to
those in prison.
14. What can we
learn from the fact that neither the righteous nor the wicked were aware of
what they had done?
