The Return Of The King

July 25, 2011 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Text: Matthew Chapters 24, 25

As we move forward in our study of the Book of Matthew we come to some of most important and most enlightening words of Our Lord. These words can be called prophecy because they tell us the future. Jesus tells us of the signs and days before He returns to set up the Kingdom that these men thought would happen while Jesus was on this earth the first time.

These are not signs for the Church, the Bride of Christ. The Rapture of the Church will take place before the Millennial reign of Christ. The full truth about the Rapture of the Church had not been revealed at this time for it was still a mystery to these soon to be Apostles.

Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 [How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery]; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

The questions asked by these disciples of Jesus were concerning the Jews and the fulfilling of the Old Testament prophesies.

When Peter wrote later in life he stated that The New Testament scriptures were a more sure word of prophecy than was already known.

2Pe 1:19 [We have also a more sure word of prophecy]; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

By this Peter meant we now also had the words of Jesus:

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 [Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son], whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Peter also wrote that there is to be no self interpretation of Bible prophecy!

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

When we study this Olivet Discourse given to us in these chapters of Matthew, in order for the interpretation to be an accurate there must be harmony between Old Testament prophecy, these chapters in Matthew and the Book of Revelation. The Bible itself is always it’s own best commentary.

These words of Jesus grew out of questions asked by His disciples.

1.) They wanted to know when the Temple would be destroyed?

Matthew did not record this answer to this question but Luke did:

Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

This of course happened in 70 AD at the hands of Titus!

2.) They next wanted to know would there be any signs before Jesus would return?

Matthew writes of these.

3.) They wanted to know would there be signs of the end of the age we still live in.

Matthew writes of these.

What we will see is that Jesus does not discuss the Church at all here, He does discuss these things for the Jews and for Israel.

Jesus will also discuss things that will happen on earth during the time of the Tribulation.

After the Church is suddenly taken out of this world there will be a short period of peace and safety that last for three and one half years.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

That sudden destruction of course is the last half of the seven years of tribulation called the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24:21.

It is this period that Jesus tells us the most about because at the end of this period is when He states His return.

Our Text:

Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

1.) THE BEGINNING OF TRIBULATION:

We know that the Mount of Olives, a place that Jesus loved, was just over a half mile from Jerusalem.

Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

A Sabbath day’s journey was considered 2000 paces, as far as one could walk on the Sabbath Day without breaking the law.

The view of the Temple from this location was spectacular when the Temple was standing. As the disciples were pointing out different buildings and structures which had been built over a fifty year period Jesus told of the coming judgment to Jerusalem and to the Temple.

Remember Jesus had wept as He had entered Jerusalem for this last time. It was this view and the knowledge to what was coming that brought some of those tears.

Herod was a builder that took great pride in trying to design his buildings to out last the pyramids.

Christ said “not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down”

We know that of the Temple and it’s buildings that prophecy came true. All that can be observed in our day is one wall called the wailing wall which was not part of any building but a retaining wall to hold the soil of the Temple mount. It is a very religious place for the Jews as they “wail” for their place of worship to return to this location.

The prophet Zechariah had described the coming to the Messiah to institute His Kingdom:

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

The religion of Islam has more faith in this prophecy than most Christians, they created burial grounds in this path of prophecy saying that Jesus would not defile Himself walking through the dead but we can see there will be an earthquake that will move all this out of the way.

This coming was to be preceded by an invasion of Jerusalem:

Zec 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Jerusalem would be totally destroyed and most of the Jews:

Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

These men, the Apostles, knew these words.

There are but two ages to the Jews.

1.) The now present age in which Israel is waiting on the coming of the Messiah.

2.) The second, is the age that is to come when all the covenants of God will be fulfilled and Israel could have the promised blessings.

The Messiah had to come before the second age could take place!

These disciples then asked their question “When”.

These things are not tied to the Rapture of the Church which is a separate event!

The Jews had often been led astray by false prophets and false christ’s(messiah’s). The first thing they will face in the tribulation period is the Anti-Christ. (The exact opposite of Christ)

Some say this man has a bow but no arrows. The Strong Dictionary describes this bow as a bow in a child’s hair. Either way the meaning is a “total deception”.

He will again lead Israel astray but not only Israel but all the governments of the world at that time.

We can see if this Anti-Christ is also the Mahdi of Islam then all the world could be deceived. It is a very real thing that the populations of the world are growing in the Muslim religion at a faster pace than any other.

He will begin his career as a peacemaker sign a covenant with Israel. Remember at the heart of any peace agreement, the Nation of Israel seeks to be recognized as a nation by the Arab world. They have up to our time not done this insisting that Israel be destroyed.

Dan 9:27 [And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Israel will welcome this man:

Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: [if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive].

*****Our text:

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We next see what Jeremiah describes as the time of Jacob’s trouble:

Jer 30:5 For thus saith the LORD; [We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace].
Jer 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: [it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble]; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Verse 8 says: “All these are the beginning of sorrows”

These are the birth pains that precede the birth of a new age to come.

1.) While this Anti-Christ is making peace with all nations there will be others claiming to be the Messiah. (Matthew 24:5) Notice this Anti-Christ has not claimed to be anything but a peacemaker.

2.) There will many reports of wars that are hidden by this false messiah.

Matthew 24:6

3.) There will be many natural catastrophes and diseases.

Matthew 24:7

John writes in the Book of Revelation that these things are revealed by the hidden seals under the scroll:

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 6:1-8

Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

1.) We have seen the first rider was the Anti-Christ bringing peace. (a false messiah)

Matthew24:5

2.) The second rider(still the Anti-Christ) will take away any peace that existed and terrible war will begin.

Matthew 24:6

3.) The third rider(still the Anti-Christ) will bring the results of this war, a worldwide famine.

Matthew 24:7

4.) The fourth rider(still the Anti-Christ) will bring death to any one that is of God. This is not the Church as the Church is already in Heaven.

Matthew 24:8

Jesus Christ reveals that these things are only the beginning!

This fourth rider will usher in the second half of the tribulation period known as The Great Tribulation.

There will be widespread persecution and death. Many will turn to worship this political dictator.

John called him “the beast”.

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Though there will be false prophets John tells us a particular one:

Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

This prophet works under the eyes of Satan’s power.

Christ makes a promise here:

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”

This means that all who resist the power of the beast will be saved from this persecution. This does not mean there is a way to Heaven beyond Jesus Christ.

No where in the Bible is there another means of “salvation” than that of Christ Jesus.

No one will ever be able to work their way to Heaven!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

When can it be said to be true that the Gospel has been preached in all the world?

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

At this time it can be said that “all” the world has heard the Gospel. The Gospel is the “good news of Jesus Christ”.

This Gospel at this time will announce that the second coming of the true Messiah, The King of Israel, The Savior of this world, is about to come.

We must remember that the 144,000 have already been preaching the message of salvation by “Grace”.

Many have been saved through their preaching but are under going persecution at this time!

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

*****Our text:

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

The most surest sign to Israel of the imminent coming of The Lord is listed in verse 15.

Daniel said:

Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, [behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things].
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Rev 17:11 [ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition].
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, [a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up].

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of [the prince that shall come] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan 11:36 And[ the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished]: for that that is determined shall be done.

Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and [the abomination that maketh desolate set up], there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Paul wrote to the Church:

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; [so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God].
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time

Jesus said:

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)”

Then to Israel this is the sign of the imminent coming of the Lord.

We of the Church know this as King Jesus coming to fulfill His promises to Israel.

My Pastor has said many times. ‘The Jews may not know who the Messiah is but they certainly know who the Messiah is not.

When this Anti-Christ attempts to sit on the throne prepared for the coming Messiah, the Nation of Israel will see the light of Jesus and repent and call on the name of the Lord. That trip from Heaven to Earth will be quick and to the point.

Who is this man that is Satan in the flesh?

We know he will not show his face until the Church is in Heaven:

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way”

The work of the Holy Spirit will change when the Church is raptured out of this world.

Jesus had these words:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, [that he may abide with you for ever]; Even the Spirit of truth; whom [the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him]: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you”

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: [for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you]”

It stands to reason that when Jesus returns then he will have recalled His Spirit, His Comforter to the position He held while Jesus was on this Earth.

1.) He is most likely a Gentile!

Under the original interpretation of Gentile, he could not be a Jew. He came out of the sea which means the nations.

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, [and saw a beast rise up out of the sea], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

The “sea” most always refers to the nations of this world.

Proof:

Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

2.) He will most likely rise from the Roman Empire!

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and [the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

He rules these people which are the Gentiles.

3.) He is the head of the last form of Gentile world dominance!

Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Dan 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We can see that he is a political leader!

4.) His influence is worldwide!

He rules all nations and is worshipped as god by most.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

5.) His rise to power comes through a peace program for the entire world. This also means that the world is at war or about to go into world war.

Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

6.) He will rule without council of any kind.

Dan 11:36 And [the king shall do according to his will]; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, [and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished]: for that that is determined shall be done.

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, [and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand] until a time and times and the dividing of time.

7.) For all those Atheist that do not believe in anything, he will introduce his own religion!

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The World is about ready to receive such a man because he will also be a monetary genius to a world that is going broke:

What does Jesus say for the children of Israel to do when this man sits in on the Throne of the rebuilt Temple?

a.) To flee from the approaching armies of this dictator.

The need will be so great to flee that it will cause great difficulty for many.

b.) There will be great distress, unequaled from anything that has been seen in the world since the beginning of time.

This would include, the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah and all world wars and what we have not yet seen.

c.) There will be some Gentiles that are still friends with Israel.

Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

d.) Jesus Christ will step in just before the world destroys itself!

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”

This elect is not the Church [but it is that remnant of Israel that will be saved]. Not one of these will be lost ever again.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

God has determined to preserve a remnant in Israel even though Satan will seek to destroy every single descendant of Jacob, of Abraham.

So great will desperation be that many that remain will turn to false Christs and false prophets.

The beast will extend his power at this time:

*****Our text:

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

All that want to know the true Messiah when He returns will see Him come this way:

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”

Matthew uses the phrase “Son of Man” because there will be no doubt that the true Messiah was the same one that had come already and had been to the Cross.

“Son of Man” It denotes the true humanity of our Lord. He had a true body and a rational soul. He was perfect man.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Just before the Heavens are rolled back revealing Our Lord’s return, there will be darkness that will envelope the Earth.

How dark will it be?

Exo 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, [even darkness which may be felt].

This darkness will be erased by the “Glory” that can only belong to Jesus Christ.

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The Prophet told Israel and the world that this day would come:

Zep 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Zep 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Zep 1:17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

This darkness can be felt because the Church is already in Heaven. Earth will not only have physical darkness but also spiritual darkness.

Yes, Christ’s return will be bodily and visible and He will return to the same exact place from where He had ascended!

Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Prophet also foretold of this coming day:

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

As we can see the prophets, Matthew, and the Book of Revelation are still in complete harmony of this dreadful day.

*****Our Text:

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

An event that some think started on May 14, 1948 will then take place:

Moses the Prophet speaks:

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
Deu 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
Deu 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, [and will return and gather thee from all the nations], whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
Deu 30:4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
Deu 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Deu 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Deu 30:8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

*****Our text:

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The fig tree has always represented Israel in the Bible:

1.) In Matthew chapter 21 we saw as Jesus told us of an Israel that was producing no fruit.

Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.

In Luke chapter 13 we see that the fig tree will be given a second chance.

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Luk 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

In our verse 32 we see that the fig tree been revitalized.

In Luke we see that not only Israel but of all nations.

The fig tree will bud again. When the leaves appear then the fruit should also appear.

We know that through the preaching of the 144,000, which are all Jews sealed of God, that many will be saved from all nations.

What we know of a fig tree is that as soon as the “branch” becomes tender then also is the fruit found. It is a rapid development.

Israel’s blessing of a new life, fruit and glory will quickly be realized in those days which will be very near the end of the “Great Tribulation”.

All those that are left on Earth at that time will be witnessing the end of Satan’s reign of terror.

We must use that word generation in the right way. Jesus was teaching the 12 disciples at this time but He did not mean that generation.

We know that some of them witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple!

The children of Israel have always been God’s chosen people. God has had a purpose for them since the time of Abraham.

We can see from the Book of Luke the word generation means a “race” of people:

Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Notice God only separates by two. The children of the world and the children of the light in this verse.

Once the children of Israel become aware of the “light of Jesus” then all these things will be fulfilled.

To all that would destroy Israel this means they are going to be around till the end. After this Church age and also the tribulation period and they will sit with God in the Millennial Kingdom. This is the guarantee of Jesus with these words.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”

Jesus was on this Earth as a servant of God. (God in the flesh) No servant will ever know all the plans of His Master.

In Mark we find these words:

Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, [neither the Son], but the Father.

Though no one will ever know the time of Christ return, Jesus gives us these words so we know the signs and know that this day is approaching at a fast pace.

One of the most sure signs was May 14, 1948 when Israel was again recognized as a nation.

From the time they announced the Nation of Israel until the time Israel was recognized by enough nations was a period of less than a day:

Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Isa 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
Isa 66:10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

I don’t know about the rest of you but I am going to rejoice with Israel and be glad with her and love her!

*****Our text:

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

God will never leave us hanging. He gives us examples through out the Bible and he gives us an example of what he is saying here.

Noah and his family are a picture in “type” of God’s preservation of Israel!

So we are clear we have our example of the “rapture” of the Church in the story of Enoch.

Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
Gen 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Noah preached to the people of the Earth for 120 years and not one believed outside his own family!

We could ask why, but we know why because the same thing is happening today. The common interest in this life eating, drinking, marrying and being so absorbed in this life that we forget that the real truth is “that Jesus is returning again to this Earth”.

They will loose the best and the everlasting life by choosing what they call the good life here on Earth. What a tragedy!

Verse 24 does not refer to the rapture of the church. What it does show is that there is the beginning of a separation during the tribulation period and some people will perish in judgment and some will enter into the Millennial Kingdom.

Mat 24:39 And knew not until [the flood came, and took them all away]; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

As the children of darkness were swept away by the flood, they will be swept away by the judgment!

*****Our text:

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Christ Jesus used the example of Noah to warn us that mankind will not know the day of His coming. He will now use the picture of the burglar to show that mankind will never know the exact hour when that day arrives.

After the rapture of the church there will be a short time of peace on earth as the world ushers in the rule of the Anti-Christ.

Then just as suddenly God’s judgment will fall:

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

God’s word will not pass away after the Church is taken out. Those new converts of the 144,000 will have God’s Word to teach them of these coming judgments!

The number of these days will be shortened for the benefit of the suffering nation of Israel.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”

Rev 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

The world that knows God on that day will also know that He is near!

EVEN AT THE DOOR!

To our own benefit, we of the Church also do not when the Lord is returning. We have these same signs. Therefore, we must be alert, watchful, and faithful.

We will have tribulation in our lives but we will not go through these seven years of Tribulation! God promises this to the Church.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

HOW GRATEFUL WE SHOULD ALL BE!

*****Our text:

Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is believed by most Bible scholars that up to the forty-fourth verse in this chapter of Matthew, we have learned that the Lord tells us of things relating to the end of the Jewish Age and the End that is still to come.

What we now see is an emphasis on why the Lord will delay Hie return.

1.) In general. the teaching of Jesus in chapters 24 and 25 relate to the Jews Matthew 24:4-44.

2.) To the professing Church Matthew 24:45-25:30.

3.) To the Gentile nations Matthew 25:31-46.

We know that God divides His Word in three divisions:

Paul wrote:

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, (1.)neither to the Jews, nor (2.) to the Gentiles, nor (3.) to the church of God:

The second division begins here with verse 24:45.

We should not be surprised that Our Lord changed from telling of His return as King and how He relates to the Church. The nation of Israel and the Church are both caught in the time period between the rejection of Christ at Jerusalem and His return to Jerusalem.

If we read from Isaiah:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is [given: and] the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

We know that the entire Church Age is exists between the word “given” and the word “and” in this verse.

Isaiah also writes:

Isa 61:2 To proclaim [the acceptable year of the LORD], and [the day of vengeance of our God]; to comfort all that mourn;

We know that the entire Church Age takes place between “acceptable year of the LORD” and “the day of vengeance of our God”

Christ now will give a message on faithfulness:

We as believers do not know the day Our Lord will return so we also need to keep a close eye on the signs of His second coming to be King of the Jew. We know that the Church will be taken out before this time.

A disciple is a prepared servant of the Lord! The servant’s responsibility is to administer His Master’s goods for the benefit of His Master’s servants!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

This requires that the servant be faithful even though the Master is is not present to supervise His servant!

Christ is teaching that at His return, those that call themselves servants will be tested and those that are faithless will be rejected in spite of what they confess.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Christ said to watch the signs, be prepared, and to be faithful until His coming.

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

When Christ Jesus comes to take His Church out of this Earth, He “will” sit on His Judgment seat!

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? [for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ].
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

He will not judge us for our sins!

Rom 8:1 [There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus], who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

BUT He will judge our “works” done after we are saved!

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The purpose of spiritual servitude is that servants feed the people:

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The servant will lead as he is taught the truth:

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

“But” we must be aware of what is happening as a sign given to the Church by the Apostle Peter:

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 {For this they willingly are ignorant} of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

We as the Church see this sign fulfilled every day now as our time grows short here on Earth!

The servants task is NOT to be popular but IT IS TO BE OBEDIENT!

All spiritual teachings are found in God’s Word:

Mat 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, [which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old].

There will never be another Bible (God’s Word) nor any additions to what God has already said!

We already have God’s Truth and it is that truth that makes us free!

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

When we look forward to the coming of the Lord to get His Church, it should motivate us to be faithful and loving toward all others including the Lost of this World!

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

*****Our Text:

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 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.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Does this parable refer to the Jewish remnant or to the Church. Does this parable refer to some superspiritual people and some that are just pew warmers? Many people have different thoughts on these 10 virgins.

1.) If these 10 virgins represent the remnant of the Jews then we would have to question the fact of their going to sleep. There can be no such thing as sleeping in this manner during the tribulation period.

2.) There are those that say these foolish virgins are Christians also. Not only is this teaching confusing but it goes against the teaching of God’s “GRACE”! To believe that these foolish virgins lack a higher life from that of the others takes away from the blessed work of the Lord. These foolish virgins can not represent real Christians for the Lord says “I know you not”.

Their name was not written in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.

3.) If the parable in Matthew 24: 45-51 is making reference to the Church “then” Matthew 25:1-13 is doing the same if for no other reason because of the word “THEN”.

That word “then” connects these two passages:

This parable is actually more about the return of the Bridegroom than it is about the bride which is not mentioned.

To be a Christian is to be separate from the world!

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

That word “virgin” gives us this same thought!

Going forth with lamps, to give light and shine for the Lord is the Christian calling:

Jesus said while He was on this planet called Earth that He was the light of the world:

Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

But He also said after He was back in Heaven that the believer is now the light of the world:

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

When we see these foolish virgins or self professing to be Christians, they are foolish because they took no oil.

These five foolish virgins only profess to have accepted the Lord and the five wise are true believers!

There are those that say “did not these foolish virgins go forth to meet the Bridegroom?”
They certainly did but we read they had no oil. They had no power to go forth as lights!

They have a form of godliness but not the power of godliness!

To the Church God teaches:

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 [ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof]: from such turn away.

The fact is that five foolish virgins never had the oil and had no means for their lamps to shine.

The “oil” represents the Holy Spirit and His power was lacking in the lives of these foolish virgins. They had separated them selves but they had tried to reach Heaven on their own works as many today are trying to do!

When the work of the Apostles began the New Testament church, they all expected the imminent return of the Lord, but as years went by they gave up the blessed Hope and ceased looking for the Lord. Thus the “sleeping Virgins”.

We can see that Jesus reveals these things in His messages to the Church Revelation 2-3.

When is the midnight cry?

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We are right now living in the very time of the fulfillment of this scripture!

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

These foolish virgins are now in a quest for the oil:

1.) They deck out elaborate buildings.

2.) They search for a version of the Bible that meet their own standards.

3.) Their clergy wear fantastic costumes.

4.) They have a modern taste for different music.

5.) They have to have it their own humanistic way.

6.) They are “NOT” looking to the Lord for the free gift of the “OIL” and still think it can be purchased.

Peter wrote:

Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20 [But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money].

The Church is still the Church that has been bought by the Blood of Jesus:

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

It is to the New Testament Church, The Bride of Christ that will go through the door of Jesus when He returns! To the Church it is called “The Rapture”.

The saddest part of this parable is the outcome. Those with the oil enter in and those without the oil cannot enter.

The door was shut! Soon the Lord will come and all those that are saved by His amazing “grace” will be called up into Heaven but all others that know Him but will not surrender themselves to Him will be shut out from Heaven with no more opportunities!

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

*****Our text:

Mat 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Mat 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As the last parable speaks of those that are true believers and some that just profess to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, so does this one.

This parable is not identical with the one in the Gospel of Luke. This parable following that of the ten virgins, shows the same time period in which He is not present and is soon to return.

We can see it is man that is responsible for the gifts God gives to us. If the Lord calls us out to be in His will He will provide the means to do so.

If we believe this man that was given one talent is a Christian then we take away God’s act of “Grace”.

When it is taught that when we do not use our talents we will be cast into outer darkness then we reject the saving power of the Lord. According to that teaching final salvation would not depend on the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross but on the faithfulness of the believer and of the use of what he has received.

We cannot save ourselves and we cannot keep ourselves saved and there is no amount of work that can change that fact.

There is no doubt God will provide true believers with His blessings:

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think], according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

We should also remember the fruits of the Spirit given to every saved person:

This man that received the one talent does not represent a true believer! Listen to what he says.

Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 [And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth]: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His own words tells us of his true condition.

1.) He had no confidence.

2.) He had no love.

3.) He did not trust on the Lord.

4.) He even accuses the Lord of being a hard Master.

5.) He did not use his talent for the Lord at all.

6.) He had refused the Lord.

We must not be confused into thinking that these talents represent earthly possessions. God gives talents to each one of us according to our own abilities. There is no true servant of Christ who is left without a gift.

That that has the gift of prayer is just as important to God as that one that is called to preach, or that one that is called to teach, or even to that one that is called to give.

We can also see that God’s gifts can be enlarged or increased. A prayer warrior would become more effective and a preacher would become more powerful.

We can also see that each servant will receive a reward for making use of the things God gives us. We can see that the reward was treated on equal terms:

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

So we can see it is not a question of how much we receive of the Lord but how we use what He has given us!

This unfaithful servant never knew these things because he had never trusted the lord.

James writes:

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

To be saved is to be a slave of our Lord. he bought and paid for us with His Blood. He owns us.

To reject the things of the Lord and bury what we know to be the truth can never bring any reward and that servant will be cast into a sinner’s Hell.

Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

*****Our text:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

As we now reach our third division of what Christ Jesus had to say, we come the “judgment on Gentiles”.

The nations of this earth will be gathered together before Christ at the end of the tribulation period. God will judge the individuals of each nation.

THIS IS NOT THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT!

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The White Throne Judgment will not take place until the end of the Millennial Kingdom!

This passage of scripture also does not teach a salvation by works.

1.) The Old Testament saints were saved by faith:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

2.) The New Testament saints are saved by faith:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The gospel of “do good” is not in the Bible and nobody in the history of the world will ever be saved by good works.

It is right for the Christian to do good!

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

But these things will not get you saved!

Remember it is Christ that rightly divided these passages for us.

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

We have the sheep the goats and the brethren:

It seems likely that the “brethren” are the believing Jews that heard the message of the 144,000.

Since they have refused to receive the mark of the beast:

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

They will not be able to buy or sell and could not survive if not for some of these Gentiles who have trusted Christ by this same preaching of the 144,000 who have cared for Israel which are Christ ‘blood’ brethren. Christ Jesus will be the sitting King of Israel at this time and forever.

These sheep had not even realized that what they had done would be so recognized by Our Lord. They had risked sacrificial love to save God’s people:

Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Those goats were judged because they had not trusted in Jesus but had been given the Mark of the beast.

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Those “sheep” are the ones that will live through the Millennial Kingdom with the Nation of Israel as God fulfills His promises for 1000 years.

We can see that the goats are sentenced to everlasting fire, [but it was by the choice they had made] because Our Lord inserts that this everlasting fire was not prepared for them but for the devil and his angels. God never prepared Hell for people.

IT’S THE CHOICES WE MAKE WHILE WE ARE LIVING OR THE LACK OF MAKING A CHOICE THAT WILL SEND US THERE!

The sheep will be ushered into the Kingdom to share the glory of Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Jesus Christ will now sit and rule on David’s throne in Jerusalem!

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

This reign will be for 1000 years!

The Old Testament promises to the Jews will be fulfilled!

God is going to judge this world!

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Remember the Church is not looking for signs. The Church is just waiting on the “Blessed Hope”.

It is the Jew that require a sign and they are looking for the signs now of the coming Messiah and the King of Glory.

The Prince of Peace:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Let’s Pray!

The Enemies of Jesus

July 18, 2011 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Adversaries Of The King

Text: Matthew 22, 23

Focus on 22: 15-39

As we know Satan’s followers will always try to discredit the Lord Jesus in His teaching. In our day the followers of Jesus Christ are treated the same way. The truth must be heard because everyone has the freedom to choose. If you have not ever heard the truth you will not choose. To not choose is still to be lost in a dyeing world.

Ever since the time of Daniel, God’s clock had been ticking off the moments that will lead to the Cross on Calvary’s mountain. Jesus still had to be dealt with until that time one way or another.

We all have to deal with Jesus in our lives because we all will face Him in our death.

When we study God’s Word we know that after being saved we should become a walking living Bible ourselves. This does not mean we have to quote the entire Bible though we should know some of it by heart.

This does mean we need to be obedient to God’s Word!

2Co 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

1.) The Bible is a book with a back, some call it a spine:

I should ask myself if I have some backbone about Jesus Christ and God’s Word of truth?

2.) The Bible has many pages that are bound together. The Bible has a "binding".

I should ask myself, am I bound together with my brothers and sisters in Christ or is my life like a loose leaf notebook?

3.) The Bible has a purpose which is to teach us how to live a spiritual life.

I should ask myself, do I live a spiritual life?

4.) The Bible has in it many blessings.

I should ask myself am I a judge or am I a blessing to those I meet or do I always have a bad attitude?

5.) The Bible is a book of balance. Christ Jesus not only preached but He also fellowshipped.

I must ask myself do I have balance in my Christian life?

6.) The Bible is a book of biography. It is all about Jesus.

I must ask myself, do I promote the life of Christ in my life and not myself. Is God glorified in my life?

7.) The Bible is a book of benevolence. God cares about His people.

I must ask myself do I truly care about others enough to tell them how to avoid Hell? Do I have compassion on the lost of this world? Do I truly have concern for others?

As this Book takes us to the Cross we need to get our attitude straight and walk the talk of our Lord.

*****Our Text:

Mat 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mat 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

First, just because those who divided the Bible into verses and chapters did so at this time does not mean some time has passed from the last parable. These evil men knew Jesus was speaking of them in these parables and he did not stop but continued. He continued in prophetic parables.

This first parable of chapter 22 will show us the contempt of Israel at God’s feast. This parable can be broken down into three parts for they absolutely refused to come at the calling of God.

I.) The first "calling" to the marriage feast was given to the Jews by the prophets of the Old Testament. They foretold of the feast of of the exceeding great and precious promises, the peace, and the salvation of the Messiah.

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Jews refused to come!

God sent other servants in His chosen Apostles and even His own Son. These brought even a more urgent and explicit invitation. They "preached" a complete Gospel.

Act 4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Act 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Act 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, [It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life], lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

The result of the preaching to the Jew is that they became more antagonistic to the point of violence.

The Apostles were bitterly persecuted unto death except for the Apostle John.

This parable tells us of a very graphic manner of punishment at the hands of an angry God.

Jerusalem was devastated in 70 AD.

II.) We now see the King "commanding" the slaves.

"The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy."

To the Jews that were present when Jesus told this parable it was apparent that Jesus would invite the Gentiles to His marriage feast.

This was a true prophecy of what would happen soon.

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

III.) Thirdly we see the "conditions" which must be met by the wedding guest.

All the wedding guest must be clothed in the wedding garment!

Rejection of the wedding garment showed a complete disregard and disloyalty toward the King who prepared this feast.

This wedding garment represents the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 [But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ], and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 [For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ].
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Kingdom of God demands not only a profession of faith but also a moral character.

Those that do not will be cast into the darkness away from the light of Jesus.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1.) Jesus Christ showed in this parable that this nation had been prepared beforehand for the kingdom He was offering.

2.) They had been told this kingdom was near.

3.) They had refused to enter into His Kingdom.

4.) They were excluded from His Kingdom.

5.) Christ taught the requirements to enter in to His Kingdom.

All those that refused then could not be accepted because they had not prepared themselves.

Salvation takes an action on our part. Salvation is absolutely the free gift of God but to refuse the gift is to refuse the giver of the gift.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

These parables taught all that listened that those that followed the teaching of the Pharisees were not sons of the Kingdom.

There is only one Gospel!

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

"Many are called but few are chosen"

*****Our Text:

Our Theme for this chapter "The Adversaries of the King"

Mat 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Mat 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Mat 22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

After the parables the enemies of Christ Jesus joined forces to destroy Him. He had exposed their evil intentions using some parables and the written Word of God they had in their own possesion. They had not enjoyed being humiliated in front of those that came to the Temple. The only weapon these evil men had left was to convict Him of a crime against their religious teachings that required death or convict Him of being against the government of Rome or both.

There are three main groups involved here who at more normal times were enemies of each other.

1.) The Pharisees
2.) The Sadducees
3.) The Herodians

Before we get into this questioning we need to remember something about the Lamb of God. The enemies of Jesus did not realize they were fulfilling scripture because it was necessary for the Lamb to be examined for blemishes before He died.

Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exo 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

Jesus was to be examined publicly. We will see that He had no faults in Him!

When they should have believed they still rejected Him.

The "adversaries" of Christ approached courteously. They knew Christ did not speak to please people but Jesus taught the truth because He was the truth. They clearly ask, "Was it alright to pay taxes to a foreign government?"

The Pharisees opposed the Roman tax for many reasons:

1.) They would not submit to a Gentile power.
2.) The Romans looked at Caesar as a god.
3.) They would rather spend their money on anything than give it to Rome.

Many of us would have these same thoughts if we were in their shoes.

The Herodians on the other hand supported the tax. They knew that Herod’s authority came from Caesar and they would not be in power without this relationship. We can also see that we have many that feel the same way that are running our governments.

Palestine was occupied and dominated by Rome at this time. Paying taxes to this cruel government just reminded them that were not free.

This is why this question was chosen to present to Christ Jesus.

It was believed by these two groups that Jesus could have no acceptable answer to this question and therefore it was a "trap".

a.) If Jesus opposed the tax, he would be an enemy of Rome

b.) If Jesus approved the tax He would be an enemy of the poor Jews.

Because of this deception these men were hypocrites.

There was a great multitude of people in Jerusalem at this time as we have already discussed in the last chapter and many here now at the Temple.

Christ Jesus did not miss opportunities like this to teach His doctrine very often.

Jesus asked for that coin.

Each ruler minted his own coins and put his own image on it. This coin a "denarius", [a
penny], had the image of Caesar on it.

Jesus said:

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s"

What do we learn from this answer?

1.) Christians must honor and obey rulers.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

2.) As Christians we must honor and obey God!

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

The Christian knows to worship God and Caesar was not God and no ruler should stop the Christian from the worship of Jehovah God.

3.) The Christian bears the image of God and owes all to God.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Though sin has distorted that image, it is restored through a righteous Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

We seem to forget that the writers of the Constitution of the United States of America had the time of Joseph and Daniel in mind when they wrote the the laws of religion in politics.

"It is right for the people of God to serve in government, but it is wrong for the government to try to control the Church of the living God."

The evil men of our country and some women too have twisted this around to change the intended meaning and we have allowed them to get away with it.

Needless to say:

"When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way"

*****Our Text:

Mat 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Mat 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Mat 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
Mat 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
Mat 22:27 And last of all the woman died also.
Mat 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Mat 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Mat 22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

The next attack came from the Sadducees.

History tells us that these super religious men relied only on the five books of Moses, The Pentateuch. They had no regard for the Prophets nor the oral laws designed by the Pharisees. They did not believe in angels, The Holy Spirit, nor in the resurrection of the body. They said these doctrine were without authority in the written law.

When these men presented their question to Jesus they referred to the writings of Moses:

Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
Deu 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

There was a purpose for this custom. The family inheritance was a major thing in Israel and it was important for each home to have an heir. The Book of Ruth is written proof of how important this was to them and there are many more places in the written Word of God.

These Sadducees also had a purpose. They wanted to discredit the doctrine of resurrection and therefore discredit the authority of Jesus as a teacher.

Christ had revealed the power. He had raised the dead more than one time. He had even promised men a resurrected life.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Jesus had even claimed to be the resurrection and the life!

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

These men wanted to discredit all these teachings of Christ and they felt this was their opportunity before a large crowd. They intended to prove Jesus had no authority in their Temple.

Jesus had these words:

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God"

Jesus said to them that they were "ignorant".

Ignorant means: Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened.

To err means: To miss the right way, in morals or religion; to deviate from the path or line of duty; to stray by design or mistake. To mistake; to commit error; [to do wrong from ignorance or inattention]. [Men err in judgment from ignorance], from want of attention to facts, or from previous bias of mind.

To all those that are reading this, there can be no clearer message from Jesus than this statement. We need to know the scriptures. Not just the laws of Moses as these. Not just the New Testament as some teach to the church but the entire Word of God that He has given us.

Again, I believe the King James Bible is that Word God has given to the English speaking people, rightly divided.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We can see here that though these men said they knew the Word Of God Jesus said that they were ignorant of it’s truth.

Notice how Jesus quotes the Bible:

"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"

Notice how the Lord states the words "I Am". Jesus did not say "I Was".

"God is not the God of the dead, but of the living"

"I Am" can only be interpreted as these men, Abraham, Isaac, And Jacob are still alive as is everyone that puts their faith in The Lord God, The Living God. There is no doubt that the physical lives of these men were over at this time but Jesus said they were alive.

This can be said of every saint of God that has gone on before us. They are alive and well and in the arms of Jesus.

There will still be a resurrection of their bodies to join that living soul just as the Bible states!

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

God’s Word will hold to be true just as Jesus states to these Sadducees on this day before He is taken to be crucified.

Christ Jesus not only established to these men that there would indeed be a resurrection but He also gives us a view of life after that resurrection.

Marriage was a means for the earth to be replenished:

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

These words tell us that God knew that mankind would die a physical death.

There will be no need of marriage nor of replenishing in Heaven as there will be No Death.

We know that the Bible teaches that the angels have no sex as we know it and in the Bible they all have male names. Jesus says every one that is in Heaven will be as the angels in this sense.

Jesus Christ does NOT say everyone in Heaven will be an angel.

God created the angels when He created Heaven. None have died. God created man on a separate day, knowing there would be physical death.

God had everything in place by the end of the sixth day.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Bible goes on to say that creation was finished on that day:

Gen 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

These Sadducees had been refuted!

Jesus says there will be spiritual beings in the future life. The angels will be there but these are not the saints of God. The Lord also did not mean that there would be no personal recognition in Heaven, or spiritual relationships as he has already proven at the transfiguration. (Moses was still Moses and Elijah was still Elijah).

In Heaven we will be known as we were after salvation but much happier:

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

What was the response to these words of Jesus:

1.) The crowd was astonished at this teaching. They had never heard it taught this way.

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

2.) There were some that saw the light in these words of Jesus.

Luk 20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
Luk 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

3.) These Sadducees were silenced with no response.

*****Our Text:

Mat 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Mat 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Christ Jesus had used the scriptures that the Sadducees had held so dear to rebuke them, the Law of Moses itself.

We have already studied that a lawyer would probably be a scribe who had gained influence because of his knowledge of the scriptures. This one was probably a Pharisee as well:

Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

Jesus had answered well to these that had no regard to the teaching of the Sadducee.

The Pharisee had coded the law into 248 commandments and 365 prohibitions. They had 613 laws to be obeyed by the Jewish people. Not just the ten moral laws as we sometimes think. They had made it impossible to keep the law as they observed.

They had missed the point of God’s Laws!

Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

When a Jew tried to be obedient to all 613 laws what he found was that one law would be in conflict with another one. There were then many arguments among the religious leaders as to which law then would supercede the other one.

James wrote:

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This lawyer then gave Christ Jesus the ultimate test.

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"

Jesus again quotes from the Law of Moses:

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deu 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Jesus added:

"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

It is obvious that our love for each other should be equal to the love God has for us!

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

The teaching to the church is the same:

1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, [neither he that loveth not his brother].

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Love is our basis for obedience. All the law is summed up in love:

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

If these men truly believed these words of Jesus then they would accept Him for His Word but we find instead they were plotting to kill Him.

Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

At least this one Lawyer agreed publicly with Jesus:

Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Guess what? THE LAMB OF GOD WAS WITHOUT BLEMISH!

*****Our text:

Mat 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Mat 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Mat 22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Mat 22:45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Mat 22:46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

A question we all need to ask ourselves is was Jesus the Jewish Messiah?

You see God wants to know in whom and it what we believe. God wants us to know the truth!

Why?

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Why is it important that God used the word "make" rather than the word "set" as some interpretations say?

"Make" means to: To form of materials; to fashion; to mold into shape; to cause to exist in a different form, or as a distinct thing.

"Set" means to: To put, place or fix in any situation.

In other words to "make" would be more like the term to be "Born Again". Born into the freedom of God.

Christ paid a great price to give us this freedom!

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Notice when Christ ask this question there was an immediate answer. "The Son of David".

This means the Messiah had to be a descendant of King David!

We know that there was a written record kept of the descendants of King David.

2Sa 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and [I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever].
2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Isa 11:1 And [there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse], and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isaiah even tells us this Messiah will not live in royalty at first but be poor, as was Jesse.

Jesus then quoted from scripture as He did always:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool"

It was King David who was honored by these men who wrote these words.

The entire Jewish nation observed this passage as being prophecy of the coming Messiah!

The Almighty God "LORD" invited the Messiah "my Lord" to sit at the right hand at the throne.

We know that the Temple still stood at the time of Matthew and Luke who listed the family line of David through his sons Solomon and and Nathan. These men knew this to be true!

The fact that the Messiah was David’s son testified to the Messiah’s true humanity but the fact that David called Him Lord (my Lord) testified to His true deity. Lord means God.

The claim that David the psalmist foretold of the Messiah was claimed by Jesus this very day. If these men, (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Lawyers, the Scribes) believed what they had claimed of the Messiah, then THEY COULD NOT OBJECT TO A LIVING BREATHING DESCENDANT OF KING DAVID WHO MET THESE QUALIFICATIONS.

Not a one could refute the words of Jesus and they would not respond to His question. They from that on did ask Him any more foolish questions.

We also should not ask any more foolish questions about Jesus and just trust in Him as our Lord and as our God. There is no other!

We will try to high light Chapter 23 as Jesus pronounced judgment on these men.

Matthew Chapter 23: 1-39

This was the last public appearance of our Lord until the day before Herod.

The Pharisee had assumed themselves to be in the position of Moses. Moses was not only the "Lawgiver" (given to Him by God Himself) but Moses was also the "Interpreter" of the laws given to the children of Israel.

We should also add that these laws were not given to any other nation or people but God does tell us that they are good laws to live by until we meet Jesus.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The Ten Commandments were the basis of moral laws for all nations for many years but it seems that the world is intermingling or making more manmade nonsense they call laws each and every day and abandoning the laws of God. We can see how the world becomes more evil as these things happen. This is exactly what was happening in Israel at this time.

The Pharisee had claimed this role for themselves. They sat as teachers and demanded that their teaching be observed. They demanded that Israel follow them as the religious leaders of that time.

It can still be said that religion will send you to hell. Only by faith in Christ Jesus can we be saved.

Christ agreed that the laws of Moses be followed but the law as practiced by these evil men was not to be followed. Jesus said they did not even follow their own laws themselves.

We can see this everyday in America when our own politicians who make the laws will not follow the laws they make and think they are above those laws.

The only witness of these Pharisee was how they tried to impress the people in hypocritical fashion.

God intends for His law to be impressed on the heart:

Pro 6:20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Pro 6:21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Pro 6:22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

The Pharisee were motivated by pride and self esteem and felt they deserved the place of honor. To call one of these men Rabbi was to place their authority above that of God and His Word.

Christ Jesus pronounced "woe" upon these people because they shut the door to Heaven for all people who would follow them.

They rejected Christ who is the only access to His Kingdom, therefore closing the door to all that listened to them.

Christ condemned the Pharisee because they circumvented the clear teaching of God’s Word.

How often does this happen in our day?

Christ condemned the Pharisee because of the way they tithed. The law clearly demands the tithe. The same law demands justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The Pharisee ignored the laws of righteousness and showed the people that they satisfied the law by tithing only herbs from their own gardens.

Jesus said they were "blind guides" leading those they would make spiritually blind. Jesus said they had no concern for the greater demands of the law.

These Pharisee concerned themselves with washing the hands but not the heart. Christ Jesus teaches us that the only way the outside can be clean is to first clean the inside.

Jesus Christ said that these men were as whitewashed tombs. You know our places of burial are kept to a certain beauty but it is certain that those graves are filled with the bones of the dead. These Pharisee were also the same. They may have dressed royally but they were the walking dead with no chance for life.

Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ condemned the Pharisee because He said they were just like their forefathers who killed the prophets of God rather than listen to what God had to say. They had rejected them as they also rejected God’s last Prophet, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

They were plotting His death this very day as they stood with Christ Jesus and He knew that also!

Jesus Christ said they were just like the snake that deceived Eve. That snake was beautiful to look upon but it was still the means by which Eve was deceived.

Jesus now turned His attention to the City of Jerusalem, which of course meant the people then and the people now. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem".

This city had repeatedly rejected God’s message. We can know that God has a special love for Jerusalem, after all the name of the city in the New Heaven will be New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

On that day Jerusalem will be dressed just like a New Bride. She will show the righteousness of the Church, the bride of Christ.

Jesus had come to this city to gather them into His protection and His home:

Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

They would not come.

Do any of you have that problem today?

Are there any that just simply refuse to come to Jesus?

These Jews saw Jesus as God the day they died! We have the privilege through faith in Him to only see Him in Heaven.

There will never even be the hint of the smoke from Hell on my person. Can you say that?

Heaven is a real place.

Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!

Let’s pray!

The King’s Instructions

June 26, 2011 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Instructions Of The King

Our Text: Matthew 18

It is fair to say the biggest hindrance to the Church has been the Church itself. When Christian people bicker and fight amongst themselves then the Church does not set much of an example to that lost soul looking in. When the Church sides with the immorality of the world it has not followed the truth of the Word of God and to that lost soul that is looking in he sees no difference from that of his own life.

The Church needs to be busy about the Masters work and leave off the ways of the world that have been seeping into God’s House for a long time now. We need to be ashamed and humble our selves before God.

I am a Christian who attends a Baptist church, not because it is Baptist but because I believe the doctrine is the closest thing to the New Testament church as taught by the Apostles.

Like Oliver Green said, when someone comes along with a doctrine that follows the doctrine of the New Testament church in the time of the Apostles in a better way then, I may go to a different church.

The main thing is to be in a Bible believing Church and that means the entire Word of God. I find the most accurate version to be the King James Bible.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy these words:

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know [how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth].

In this chapter we will continue to see what Jesus taught His disciples about principles and relationships, especially involving the kingdom of Heaven. We must remember that this is not the church but these lessons are needed by today’s believers as well.

What we will see is that after the transfiguration of chapter 17 is that these disciples showed more concern for their own status in that soon coming Millennial Kingdom than in the actual building of it.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

This very first verse connects these events with the events of chapter seventeen:

Luk 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
Luk 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
Luk 9:39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
Luk 9:40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
Luk 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Luk 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Luk 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
Luk 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Luk 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Luk 9:46 [Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest].

The questions of the kingdom stayed so much in the mind of the disciples that they were loosing track of their purpose.

As the church, we also have a place reserved in Heaven but if God did not have a purpose for us here while we yet live, then He would have taken us on to Heaven when he saved us.

There is not single child of God that has more influence with Him than another. We all have a job in the army of God and it is that one thing that we will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

We receive the Holy Spirit upon being washed in the blood of Jesus. It is that very Spirit that will then give us a gift with a meaning and a purpose in the body of Christ.

Excluding Judas (the betrayer) and adding Matthias those 12 disciples will judge the nation of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom as it written, all on the same standing.

To emphasize Jesus Christ sat a small child in the midst of them. With this child in plain site Jesus began to teach some valuable lessons.

1.) A child at that time was dependant totally upon it’s father. A child knows nothing of itself but must be taught by it’s father. A child must depend on it’s father.

a.) In order to enter into the kingdom of heaven then that person must have a childlike dependence on the "One"(God) who offers up the kingdom.

2.) A child had no rights at home, all rights belonged to the parent. The child could not exert his will against his father but was subject to his father’s will.

a.) The position in the kingdom of heaven depends on taking that position as a child.

3.) Only those that subject themselves to the will of the Father who is in Heaven can enter into that Heaven.

4.) To receive the Father one has to also receive His Children.

Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire [to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all].

Nothing like this had ever been taught in the history of the world.

This brings to the importance of these words:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We must humble our selves before God as a child. True humility means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, and being yourself, to the Glory of God.

There are two extremes we have to avoid:

1.) Thinking less of ourselves than we ought to:

As Moses:

Exo 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

We know Moses as one of the great men of the Bible and probably one of the two witnesses in the Book of the Revelation of Christ.

2.) We can also think too much of ourselves:

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

3.) The servant of God will not deny the gifts God has given to them but will use them to the Glory of God.

An unspoiled child of God will:

1.) Trust in Him for everything.

2.) Depend on Him for all things.

3.) Desire to make others happy through knowledge of Jesus Christ.

4.) There will not be a selfish desire to be greater than others.

5.) He will not boast of his accomplishments.

None of us want to be servants but God requires us to have the mind of a servant.

Jesus points out four attitudes about children:

1.) "become as little children"

2.) "humble himself as this little child"

3.) "receive one such little child"

4.) "despise not one of these little ones"

We must be careful that we do not become a stumblingblock to any child of God.

Like the good Shepherd, God seeks the lost and God saves them. As His servants WE MUST NOT CAUSE THEM TO PERISH.

We would be foolish to also think that these things did not apply to the way we raise our own children. I’m sure child neglect is a serious matter to Our Father in Heaven.

Humility is a much desired trait of the redeemed of the Lord:

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus was not telling us to maim our own bodies but He was telling us instructing us to perform "spiritual surgery" on ourselves, removing anything that could cause us or others to stumble.

A truly humble person lives for Jesus first and others next. In fact a good rule of thumb still is the word JOY:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

*****Our text:

Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The goals of Jesus should be the goals of every Christian. We should want what God wants! God wants every living breathing human being to be saved. It’s up to God if that takes place. It is in the hands of God and not in our hands but we should have the attitude that all are in need of salvation and be open witnesses to all that will hear God’s message. He does the calling and He does the saving.

OUR JOB IS TO BE THE WITNESS. Not only in theWord of God but in our daily lives. There are always those that are looking at those who claim to be Christian.

There is no greater words about the shepherd than that in John 10:

Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

*****Our Text:

Christ Jesus has already announced His intention to build His Church. We also know that the building of the Church is still future, after the cross. He has said that no Church exists at this time of His life on this Earth.

And so the words He spoke now to the disciples are in anticipation to the gathering out of the assembly of God. (The Church)

The "Church" is not the same thing as the "Synagogue"!

Jesus had already answered their question about who will be the greatest. He had said that true believers must be as little children and Born of God.

Jesus had spoke of His "mission" to save all that are lost.

Jesus spoke of His "grace" in seeking those that stray.

Now His teaching falls on those that have sinned. He speaks directly of the brother who has sinned!

Jesus will now address how a brother who is in sin is to be treated:

If a brother is in sin, whether it be intentional or unintentional another brother is to go to that brother and point out that sin to him.

The object is to restore and regain this brother. This should only be done after earnest prayer, in meekness and only after self judgment.

God gave these words to the Church:

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

1.) We can see that the first step is to treat our brother in a personal manner and not over expose the committed sin to others.

2.) If he will not listen as it would be your understanding against his own understanding then another witness or two should be taken both having the same manner of preparation. (Prayer, in meekness, and self judgment)

3.) After this fails then it should be presented to the entire Body of Christ all in the same manner, in prayer, in meekness, and self examination. And if everyone in one accord and there is no repentance then step four will be taken.

4.) Let him be as a heathen and a publican:

Heathen means today:

In modern usage the word denotes all nations that are strangers to the revealed Word Of God.

Publican means:

The class designated by this word, in the New Testament, were employed as collectors of the Roman revenue. A collector of toll or tribute. Among the Romans, a publican was a farmer of the taxes and public revenues,and the inferior officers of this class were deemed oppressive.

Both were hated by the Jews!

We must also understand that this is the function of the Church to the brothers in Christ. These same rules are not to be used on the "lost". We may judge our brother to a degree but we are witnesses only to the lost of this world. It is God and His Word that will judge the "Lost"!

*****Our text:

Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

*****VERILY: In truth, in fact, certainly.

What we see is that the Lord has given authority not to the Apostles but to the assembly, The Church to act on Earth for Himself. The authority of the Church is absolute. The Apostles are to teach but this cannot take place till after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ. It will begin at Pentecost. The proof being in the first sermon of the Apostle Peter.

It is the Church that has executive power! The Church is to act according to the rules laid down by Jesus in harmony with His Word.

It is necessary to maintain unity among believers because this has been required by the Lord for answered prayer. Corporate prayer is simply not effective unless it is done in unity and in agreement.

God said that where two or three that gather together in agreement with Him that He also would be there with them to pray.

We must stay focused on the goal, which is to save this brother.

Church discipline is not the Church acting as policemen but exercising the authority of God through a local Body of Christ to restore and erring child of God.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Unless the lessons of the Word of God result in forgiveness, relationships cannot be mended and strengthened. Peter recognized this but, we cannot just assume that it is our brother that will sin against us. We then have exalted ourselves above our brother and lack humility. We all make mistakes!

When Christ died on that cross he unleashed limitless forgiveness. Where there is "agape" love, there can be no limits in forgiveness.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Again Christ teach teaches the Church:

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In order to teach the principle of forgiveness Jesus uses a parable.

Let’s put this in perspective. At the time of Jesus the entire levy of taxes for all of Palestine was only about 800 talents a year. This man was stealing funds from the king and actually thought he could get out of debt.

800 talents in our day would be about 10 million dollars. This man owed 10 thousand talents. This man owed about 125 million dollars to this king. This man could never repay this debt.

That sounds a whole lot like my debt I owed when the Lord paid my debt. I had a debt I could not pay.

This man’s belongings and all his family would never be enough to pay this debt. We can see the "typology" in these statements. You cannot accumulate enough in this world to get you into Heaven. Only with God’s mercy and His Grace can we obtain eternal life!

This servant did just as we all have to do. We have to humble ourselves before a righteous God.

The Master was moved with this man’s plea and forgave him.

Oh what a Savior!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Why because I had a debt I could not pay. My blood would have meant my life.

What is propitiation?

The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men.

He is all that is needed for propitiation in behalf of our sins, the propitiatory sacrifice provided by the Father’s love removing the estrangement, appearing God’s righteous wrath against the sinner. A father may be offended with a son, yet all the while love him.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be [a propitiation] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1Jn 2:2 And he is [the propitiation] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be [the propitiation] for our sins.

Now the true test of the forgiven ones:

This servant did not deserve this forgiveness but did it change him?

Let’s not forget what a parable is all about:

A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction.

A parable is the placing side by side or comparing earthly truths, expressed, with heavenly truths to be understood.

This servant left the presence of this king. You if we are truly saved we will never want to leave from the presence of our King, Our Lord, Our God.

When he did he found a servant that had owed him some money. Now a pence at the time of Jesus was a day’s wages. This man owed 100 pence which could have been paid with 100 days of labor.

This unjust servant, who had left the presence of the Lord, had no forgiveness in his heart.

Now we could see this in two different ways but we must be careful. We could say that in "typology" that this man was saved and then lost his salvation and we would be in great error.

What we really should realize is this parable relates to the kingdom heaven, which is not the Church though a great principle can be observed here.

The truth is that he had not ask for forgiveness with a open heart. He had not truly invited the Lord Jesus into his heart.

James says:

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

This servant who had had the opportunity to avoid prison was now placed into prison. The king had these words:

Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In other words:

If you want to live by the justice of this world rather than the justice of God, then you can have it your way.

It was the actions of this servant that sent him to hell rather than the freedom offered by this king.

The world’s worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. When we refuse to forgive others we are imprisoning our selves in our own torment.