Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the Virgins: Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re ready when you’re not.
V1 “Kingdom of heaven” is confusing for us, but rather than thinking of a triple-decker afterlife geography, think of a three-part timeline
“Kingdom of heaven” occurs 32 times (only in the Gospel of Matthew)
“Kingdom of heaven” = “kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24)
Prophecies about God’s Kingdom: Isaiah 35:1-2; Amos 9:13; Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:6-7; Zephaniah 3:17-19
Matthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents: Don’t sit on your salvation, but use your talents for God.
– 1 talent = 6,000 drachmas = 16.44 years of labor
– median* USA salary in 2016 was $30,533.31
– 1 talent = $500,000 ($501,967.62)
– 2 talents = $1 million ($1,003,935.23)
– 5 talents = $2.5 million ($2,509,838.08)
*According to the Social Security Administration (Average and Median Amounts of Net Compensation) ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/central.html
Whatever your ability, are you using it to serve the Lord?
Matthew 25:31-46 Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats: Jesus takes it personally how people treat his followers, especially the poor.
This is not so much a parable as it is a prophecy about the end. (See also Matthew 7:21-23; 24:29-31.)
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