Matthew 25 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Matthew 25:1-6

A. Find Out:

1. What is Jesus now illustrating? v.1a

“At that time the kingdom of heaven 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

2. Who, in the story, did what? v.1b

will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

3. What did the 5 foolish ones do? v.3

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4. How did the 5 wise ones differ from them? v.4

The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5. What then happened? v.5

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6. What happened when? v.6

“At midnight the cry rang out: `Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

B. Think:

1. What had Jesus just been speaking about in chapter 24?
2. Who then will be the bridegroom of verse 6?
3. Who then are the ten virgins?

C. Comment:

This is a good story to start a new chapter for it is all about being prepared. Yet we must see it in context and realize that it is part of Jesus teaching that started in chapter 24 and continues on here, which is all about being ready when he returns again.

Because of that we can say without hesitation that the bridegroom in verse 6 is Jesus himself when he returns. Thereafter the details may not be quite so easy to assume. The story is about a group of girls who are expecting to the bridegroom at a wedding to arrive (at what stage of a Jewish wedding isn’t made clear and there we must assume it is not of importance). Yet they know he is going to come so they go to wait for him. The problem is that he doesn’t come immediately and so they all fall asleep. There seems to be no problem about that and halfway through the story no problem is revealed.

However, we are given clues about an impending difficulty. 5 are called foolish because they took means of providing light in the dark but no oil to keep their lights going through the night, contrasted by the 5 wise girls who took oil to keep their lamps going. So, not only is Jesus saying, “be prepared for me to return” but “make sure you are in a state to be accepted by me when I return”!

D. Application:

1. It’s not enough simply to expect Jesus to return.
2. We must be in a fit state to receive him when he comes.

Passage: Matthew 25:7-13

A. Find Out:    

1. What first took place? v.7

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

2. What did the foolish ask the wise and with what answer? v. 8,9

The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’” `No,’ they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

3. So what did they do and what happened? v.10

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

4. What then happened? v.11,12

“Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!’ they said. `Open the door for us!”But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

5. So what again does Jesus tell his followers to do? v.13

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

B. Think:

1. Why did the foolish girls have to leave?
2. What took place after they left?
3. What followed? What is the message of this parable?

C. Comment:

First let’s recap the story to be clear. The call has come that the bridegroom is coming. The girls all wake up and prepare to meet him. It’s dark so they adjust their lamps to give as much light as possible. Some of the girls realize their lamps are virtually out of oil, ask the others for oil, are refused and go to find some more. While they are away, the bridegroom comes, the wise girls go into the banquet with him and when the others come, they are shut out.

In its simplicity it is obvious: ensure your spiritual resources are sufficient for the day when Jesus returns otherwise you may not be in the right place doing what you should be doing when he comes, and therefore you will not be taken to heaven with him. The crucial point was that the foolish girls were not where they should be because they did not have the resources to be there. When Jesus returns, he expects each of us to be in a specific place doing what he’s given us to do (the previous parable – 24:45-51 – shows that).

If we do not have a living relationship with Jesus, we will not have a proper supply of the Holy Spirit who is supposed to live within us, and we will fall away (24:10) and thus we will not be in the will of God. Jesus constant teaching seems to be that it is only those who do the will of his Father who will be saved (see also Mt 7:24 -27).

D. Application:

1. A living relationship with Jesus is our only guarantee.
2. Jesus wants to find us doing his will when he comes.

Passage: Matthew 25:14-18

A. Find Out:

1. What is the next story Jesus told about? v.14

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

2. How much did the master apportion to his servants? v.15a

To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent,

3. On what basis did he apportion it? v.15b

each according to his ability.

4. What did the first man do? v.16

The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more

5. What did the second man do? v.17

So also, the one with the two talents gained two more

6. What did the third man do? v.18

But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

B. Think:

1. What is the man I the story doing?
2. How do you think this follows on what Jesus has been saying?
3. What can we learn from the way the master acts?

C. Comment:

Jesus, you will remember, has been speaking about being ready when he returns, so now he tells another short story to illustrate his teaching. In this one he portrays an owner going away for a time. In this he must be conveying the thought of himself going away – but he will be back! As he goes, he entrusts money to three of his servants. Now in Roman Law it was quite common for the master to entrust money to his slaves for them to use. Both the money and whatever they did with it, still remained the property of the master – an important point to remember! So, in the story, we see the master giving 5 coins to one, two to another and one to the other.

Now the interesting thing to note is that he gave to “each according to his ability”. In Rom 12:3,6 we find Paul speaking of faith as a gift from God and our gifting being according to the grace given us. The clear teaching is that the talents and abilities we have are gifts from God, and they are different for each person. There is, in one sense, no such thing as “natural” abilities, everything we have is a gift from God. The other point here is that God expects us to USE what He has given us.

D. Application:

1. The abilities I have are God given. No room for pride!
2. God expects me to use what he has given me.

Passage: Matthew 25:19-30

A. Find Out:

1. What happened with the man with 5 talents? v.19-21

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,’ he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

2. What happened to the man with 2 talents? v.22,23

“The man with the two talents also came. `Master,’ he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’  “His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

3. What did the last man feel about his master? v.24

“Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,’ he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

4. So what had he done? v.25

So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

5. What did he master expect he should have done & why? v.26,27

“His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

6. What was to be done to him? v.28,30

`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

7. Why? What principle does Jesus operate on? v.29

For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him

B. Think:

1. Why were the first two servants praised?
2. What 3 courses of action were open to the last servant?
3. Why had he taken the course he had taken?

C. Comment:

We said in the previous study that the master obviously expected his servants to USE the money entrusted to them. The first two had done and they were rewarded for the use they had made of it.

The last man held onto the talent. he could have invested it or he could have used it like the others, but he was locked up in fear, he saw his master as a fearful man. Perhaps because he is a slave there is also a sense of resentfulness in what he says – you harvest when you’ve contributed nothing towards it. He is unable to see that that the very act of entrusting him with something was an act of grace. The master didn’t have to do that, but he wanted to bless the servant. The man shows he has no sort of relationship with his master and for this he is severely dealt with. The spiritual implications are obvious!

God gives us abilities and possessions. He expects us to use them. In the affluent West we hang on to them for our own pleasure, caring little for what the master thinks or for the needs of others. For this we are being judged. The lack of action indicates a wrong perception of the Master, and a lack of relationship with the Master. The result is inactivity and judgement. May we be forgiven.

D. Application:

1. God gives by grace and mercy. We must understand that.
2. He gives to bless and expects us to multiply His blessings.

Passage: Matthew 25:31-33

A. Find Out:

1. How will Jesus come? v.31a

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him

2. What will he do afterwards? v.31b

he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

3. Who will be gathered before him? v.32a

All the nations will be gathered before him,

4. What will he then do? v.32b

he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

5. Who will he put where? v.33

He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

B. Think:

1. How does Jesus describe his coming here?
2. What function does he then describe here?
3. What is made clear in respect of the human race?

C. Comment:

Yet again we must emphasize that Jesus is still speaking about his return. We note first, in these few information packed verses, that he will come “in his glory”. Previously we’ve seen that when he comes everyone will see him (24:27,30). In this passage he indicates that he will not come in the quiet humble way that he came before, but that he will come in great splendor with all his angels in attendance. This time there will be absolutely no mistaking who he is!

Second, we note his function when he comes. Previously it was to convey the good news of the love of God and the coming of the kingdom of God on earth. This time it will be to judge. Within this we see in these verses that he will sit upon a throne, as a ruler! In this place of supreme authority, he will call every human being to stand before him. He comes therefore, as a ruler who is also judge.

In the following verses we’ll see shortly what he says to the two groups before him but for now let’s simply observe the important fact that there is going to be a dividing out, there is going to be a separating. Jesus who sees all things and knows all men, will separate out good from bad, righteous from unrighteous, godly from ungodly. These verses totally shatter the argument of those who would say that God would accept all men. He won’t! He will judge and separate!

D. Application:

1. When Jesus comes again, you’ll know it! Prepare to worship!
2. When Jesus comes it will be to judge. Ensure you’re ready!

Passage: Matthew 25:34-40

A. Find Out:

1. What will the King say to whom? v.34

“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

2. What 6 things will they have done? v.35,36

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

3. What will they reply to the King? v.37-39

“Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

4. What will be the King’s answer? v.40

“The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

B. Think:

1. What will the righteous have been doing?
2. What is the surprising thing about what they do?
3. What will be their reward?

C. Comment:

Jesus now moves on to speak about the two groups of people; first of all, the “sheep” on his right, those who are obviously the righteous. Let’s observe first, what they have done, what it is that marks them out. Jesus says that, very simply, they have ministered to him. That is what has blessed him. They will be surprised at this for they will not have been aware that they are doing that, so he explains.

Every time they ministered to a person in need, it was as if they were doing it to Jesus. Jesus identifies with the needy, for he has come to restore people who are suffering as a result of sin in the world. Therefore, when we minister to the needy, we minister to Jesus. Who were the needy? Those who hungered, those who were thirsty, those who were lonely, those who were poor and needed clothes, those who were sick, those who were in prison. Those, in other words, who are living lives less than the quality God wanted when He made the world, who are simply described as “the needy”.

The righteous are therefore, people who have responded to Jesus, who have a relationship with him and who therefore respond to the prompting of his Holy Spirit within them to go and touch the lives of those less well off, with his love. James said that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:14 -17). Here Jesus illustrates a “faith that works”, a faith that blesses the world and in turn will be blessed (rewarded).

D. Application:

1. Our faith is to have a practical outworking.
2. Our faith is to ensure that others are blessed in real ways.

Passage: Matthew 25:41-46

A. Find Out:

1. What is the end for those on the left? v.41

“Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

2. What 6 things had they not done? v.42,43

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

3. What will be their question? v.44

“They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

4. What will be Jesus’ answer? v.45

“He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

5. So who will go where? v.46

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

B. Think:

1. How would you summarize the guilt of the unrighteous?
2. What is their end?

C. Comment:

Now comes the second half of what will happen after Jesus returns. We saw (v.32,33) that he will gather every human being and divide them into two groups. One group he’ll put on his right (and we saw in the previous study that they are the righteous and will be rewarded for responding to him in the way they lived) and the other group he’ll put on his left. It is the left group he now speaks about.

He first of all describes them as being “cursed” and says he wants to know nothing about them. Their end is to be cast into an eternal fire (v.41) which is described as “eternal punishment” (v.46) which seems to speak of possibility of an ever-available destruction.

So what is the cause of this awful punishment? Put in its simplest form it is for rejecting Jesus in practical works. They have not acted as Christ to the needy world. Does this mean that salvation is by good works? No, but it does mean that good works will follow a genuine repentance and a genuine being born again.

Where there is a genuine relationship with Jesus it WILL result in a care and compassion for other people. Does this mean that we should be going out constantly looking for the needy? Not necessarily. The crucial issue is do we have a living relationship with Jesus whereby he can speak to us, lead and guide us and send us out on his works? These people rejected Jesus and so did nothing. Rejection of Jesus is the key point.

D. Application:

1. Do we have a living relationship with Jesus where he guides us?
2. Is he able to guide us to those about us in need?