Fort Logan Church of Christ Podcast

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Evening Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Alex Johnson

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Morning Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jonathan Alford

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Evening Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Wayne Galloway

Coping With the Difficulties of Life

Heb. 10:32b-34a

Introduction:

1.  Life is difficult and challenging.

2.  What we haven’t experienced personally we have through others.

3.  This passage speaks of “a great conflict of sufferings,” “reproaches and tribulations” and about “becoming sharers with those so treated.”  We might define this in our vernacular as “bullying.”  These were being bullied by those in more powerful positions.  Abuse is not pretty.

4.  Yet there are other things that make life difficult.  Loneliness.  Sickness.  Pain.  Emotional loss.  Mental illness.  Tragedies of every sort.  I read recently of a man and his family hit by a drunk driver.  He lost his wife, his mother and his 3-year-old daughter.  His 3 sons were painfully injured.  You have heard about the man in Germany who deliberately drove his car into a crowed shopping area.  People are disabled, divorced, lose their jobs, and lose those who are dear to them.

5.  We ask questions from our sorrows.  “What am I doing wrong?”  “How could God let this happen?”  “Will the pain ever go away?”  “Will I ever overcome the bitterness, the anger, the guilt, I feel?”  “Why is life so hard?”

6.  I read the Scriptures longing for answers.  I find the cries of others who are asking similar questions.  

7.  How are we to respond?  How are we to cope?

Discussion:

I.  The frustrations.

   A.  Psa. 13:1-4.  How long?

   B.  Psa. 39:1-3.  I restrained myself.  My sorrow (pain) grew worse.  My heart was 

        hot within me.

  C.  Psa. 69:1-4.  Weary from crying.  Flooded.  Parched.  Looking for deliverance but 

       nothing seen.  He waits for God.  Injustice.  Did not steal but must pay back.

  D.  Psa. 79:1-9.

  E.  Psa. 88:1-9, 13-18.  Cries to the Lord, but there is no evidence of help.

  F.  Psa. 94:1-7.  How long?  People are crushed.  Afflicted.  Widow and stranger 

       slain.  Orphan murdered.

  G.  Psa. 102:1-11.  Personal suffering.  Social isolation.  Enemies reproach me.

  H.  Psa. 109:1-5.  Done good for them, but they have repaid me evil.  I am in prayer.  

         Do not be silent.  Is he expecting silence?  Has he already experienced silence?

         Is he saying, “Don’t be silent any longer?”

     I.  Cf. Jer. 20:7-10, 14-18.

II.  The temptations.

    A.  The difficulties and frustrations make us want to escape.  Suicide becomes 

         attractive (cf. Jer. 20:14-18).

    B.  We want to deflect the pain and use various avoidance mechanisms.

          1.  Many form addictions after they experience loss(death, relationships, job, 

               etc.).  Our sense of orderliness and familiarity is turned upside down.  Our 

               desperation and disorientation cause us to go berserk on binges.  We 

               saturate our senses with anything that will satisfy for the moment.

          2.  We watch TV every moment.  We work 60 hours a week.  We drink alcohol.  

               We use drugs.  We eat.  We go on sexual rampages.  We spend money.  We 

               pursue relationships (Jn. 4:18).  We pursue pleasure (1 Pet. 4:3).

          3.  We are trying to avoid the pain.  Or maybe we are feeling numb and we hurt 

               ourselves just to feel anything or we may feel guilty and think we deserve to 

               hurt and so we punish ourselves.

    C.  We become angry.  Ex.  The Psalmists.  Jeremiah.  Job.  

          1.  At ourselves.  We feel guilty.  We blame ourselves.

          2.  At God.  “How could you?”  “Why don’t you . . .?”  

          3.  At our enemy.  “I hope God punishes him/her/them.”  “I will punish them.  I 

               am going to give them what they deserve.  I want them to hurt the way they 

               have hurt me.”

          4.  Just angry.  Cursing reflects anger at God, at another, at oneself.

    D.  We bargain.  

          1.  With ourselves.  “I deserve to hurt.”  “I don’t deserve this; I deserve 

               pleasure.”

          2.  With God.  “If you will rescue me . . . I will . . ..”

    E.  Like the Psalmists, like Jeremiah, like Job we think God is just silent in response 

         to all our frustrations.  We ask “Why?”  We ask, “How long?”  There seems to be 

         no answer.  Maybe we are not able to understand, comprehend or appreciate 

         the answer.  Maybe no answer will be satisfactory to us.

III.  The faith.

     A.  Psa. 93:1-5.  The Lord reigns.

     B.  Psa. 91:1-4, 11-16.  The call to faith.

            1.  Faith does not know all the answers.

            2.  Faith may ask questions for which there are no answers.

            3.  Faith endures (Heb. 10:35-39).

Conclusion:

1.  I hope that you understand that your frustrations are O.K.  The people of God throughout the ages have been frustrated, perplexed, and questioning.

2.  Be careful that you don’t allow those frustrations to lead you into sinful and unhealthy ways of responding.  The devil is adept at using our attempts to avoid and deflect painful experiences to destroy us.  

3.  Sometimes we must walk together through the valley of the shadow of death (Psa. 23:4).

4.  “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:37-38; Cf. Hab. 2:3-4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11).

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Evening Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Wayne Galloway

Great Expectations 3

The Coming Day of the Lord

Joel 2:28-32a

Introduction:

1.  This passage is quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17ff as explanation of the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

2.  Without a doubt, he sees the passage as predicting what was then happening.  Since the apostles were speaking in languages they had not learned the Holy Spirit was validating the message and giving indication that He was the one behind it.  In other words, the Holy Spirit was behind the message of Joel and behind Peter’s interpretation of it.

3.  Usually when we think of the day of Pentecost we think of the preaching of forgiveness, and that is certainly Peter’s emphasis, but there is another side to the “day of the Lord.”

4.  “The day of the Lord” is also a day of judgment and this is a sense in which it is used in Scripture.  It is used of various judgments that God will bring.

5.  How are we to understand “the day of the Lord”?  Is it a day of gloom or of rejoicing?  How should it be interpreted, considering its reference to various judgments brought about by God?

Discussion:

I.  The nature of prophetic language.

   A.  1 Pet. 1:10-12 indicates that the O.T. prophets were “seeking to know what they 

        were predicting as the predicted the suffering of Christ and the glories to follow.

        1.  I understand that to mean that they did not understand everything the Spirit 

            was communicating through them.

        2.  God is not limited by time and so can predict what to us is future events.

        3.  This is what He has done through the prophets.

        4.  Imagine that you are standing on a vantage point where you can see multiple 

             mountains in front of you.  Your friend is standing at the foot of the first 

             mountain.  You are attempting to describe the multiple mountains that you 

             see, but he can only see what is directly in front of him.  So it is with God.  It is 

             as if He looks through time and sees things that we cannot.  He can describe 

             for us mountains that we cannot yet see.  He can tell us what the future of our

               journey holds as we move through time.

         B.  Some illustrations of this.

              1.  Deut. 18:15-22.

                   a.  Applies immediately to Moses.

                   b.  Looks forward to the prophet(s) that will come from among their

                        countrymen, a reference to the prophets after Moses that arose in 

                        Israel.

                   c.  But it also looks forward to the prophet par excellence—Jesus (Acts 

                        3:19-24; 7:37; Heb. 1:1-2a).

               2.  2 Sam. 7:12-16.

                    a.  Applies immediately to Solomon.

                    b.  Looks forward to the Solomonic dynasty—all the kings after Solomon.

                    c.  Looks further forward to Jesus (Acts 2:29-36).

II.  Joel 2:28-32a and other references to “the day of the Lord” do this same thing.

    A.  Joel 2:28-32a Peter refers to the events of Pentecost, yet “the day of the Lord” 

         also refers to other events in O.T. history.

   B.  In Obadiah (15-16) “the day of the Lord” refers to the doom of Edom (and all 

        nations).  But it also may refer to the final day of judgment and redemption.

   C.  In Isaiah 13:6-8, 17-22 “the day of the Lord” refers to when Babylon will be 

        destroyed.  Yet in verses 9-11 it seems that there is a reference to a final day.  

        Rev. 17-18 sees the destruction of Babylon (the world of evil) in this sense.  In 

        Isa. 2:12, 17 he sees it as a day of judgment on Judah, but mixed in is further 

        information about a future kingdom (Isa. 2:2-4).

   D.  Amos sees “the day of the Lord” as a time of judgment on Israel (5:18-20).

   E.  Zephaniah speaks of “the day of the Lord” as a day of wrath (1:14-15).

   F.  “The day of the Lord” refers to times when the Lord comes in wrath against evil 

        doers and rescues the righteous.

        1.  It is a day of salvation for those who call on the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32).

        2.  Healing, and joy is promised for those who fear God (Mal. 4:1-6).

III.  The concept of “the day of the Lord” includes “the new heavens and new earth.”

     A.  Isa. 65:17-25 predicted “new heavens and a new earth.”

     B.  2 Pet. 3:3ff speaks of “the day of the Lord” in association with “new heavens 

          and a new earth.”

     C.  Rev. 21:1ff, after the judgment (20:11ff) sees “a new heaven and new earth.”

Conclusion:

1.  Prophecy creates great expectations, sometimes for the immediate future, but it creates even greater expectations for the more distant future.

2.  Immediate events often have corresponding more distant events that are foreseen.

3.  God’s revelation to us about “the coming day of the Lord” allows us to be prepared so that we can live together with Him (1 Thess. 5:1-10).

4.  It recognizes His control, and it evidences God’s plan to make things right.  There will be judgment against evil, but those who call on the name of the Lord will be delivered into “a new heaven and new earth.”

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Morning Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Wayne Galloway

Great Expectations 2

Introduction:

1.  In a previous lesson we considered “The Great Expectations” created by O.T. prophecies.

2.  Among these texts were Gen. 3:15 referring to an enmity between the descendants of the serpent (devil) and those of the woman.  

3.  Gen. 12:1-3 narrows this descendancy through Abraham.  It was promised that he would become a great nation, receive a land, and bless all the families of the earth.

4.  2 Sam. 7:12ff focused attention on the Davidic king whose kingdom would last forever.

5.  We observed that Zacharias, Simeon, and Anna in Luke 1 and 2 were expecting God to act to bring redemption and consolation in the fulfillment of such passages.

6.  In Acts 2 Peter proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies, crucified, but raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.

7.  This study will consider additional O.T. texts and concepts that flesh out “The Great Expectations” that the descendants of the woman (the people of God) had in the first century.

Discussion:

I.  O.T. prophecies anticipated a coming redeemer who would fulfill three roles:  prophet, priest, and king.

   A.  Our previous study focused on his role as king.

        1.  A scepter would not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his 

            feet.  The obedience of the nations would belong to him (Gen. 49:10).

        2.  David’s throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13).

        3.  Other O.T. texts add to this kingly expectation.

             a.  Zech. 9:9 (quoted in Matt. 21:5) refers to the king coming riding on a 

                  donkey.

             b.  Isa. 9:6-7 says the government will rest on His shoulders and identifies Him 

                  as the Prince of Peace.

             c.  Dan. 7:13-14 identifies the king as “the son of man.”  Cf. Acts 7:54-57.

        4.  All the kings before Jesus were shadows corresponding to Him.

   B.  The coming redeemer would also be a priest.

         1.  Psa. 110:4 indicates that he would be a priest forever after the order of 

              Melchizedek.

        2.  This passage is quoted in Heb. 5:6; 7:17, 21 and applied to Jesus.

        3.  In Melchizedek and Jesus, the roles of king and priest come together (Heb. 

             7:1-3).  The perpetuity of Jesus’ priesthood is anticipated in the 

             correspondence with Melchizedek.  He is to be a priest forever.  This has 

             implication regarding His resurrection and ongoing service as priest.

        4.  Melchizedek (and the Levitical priesthood) were shadows corresponding to 

            Jesus.

   C.  The coming redeemer was a prophet.

         1.  Deut. 18:15-22 speaks of a prophet like Moses.

         2.  Moses and the prophets after him were shadows corresponding to Jesus the 

              Prophet par excellence.

         3.  Jesus is presented in the N.T. as the Word of God (Jn. 1:1, 14).

         4.  He claimed to speak the word of truth from God, His Father (Jn. 8:31, 38, 42-

              43).  Cf. Jn. 4:19, 25-26.

         5.  Peter quotes Deut. 18:15, 18 in Acts 3:19-24 of Jesus.

         6.  Stephen does the same in Acts 7:37.

         7.  Hebrews presents Jesus as God’s Son through whom God has spoken (Heb. 

              1:1-2a; 2:1-4).

    D.  You may not believe in God.  You may not believe the Bible is a revelation from 

         God.  You may not believe in Jesus.  But it cannot be denied that the Bible 

         teaches all these things.  It presents Jesus as predicted Prophet, Priest, and 

         King.  To deny Jesus denies the Bible.  To deny Jesus denies prophecy.  To 

         deny Jesus denies the intervention of God in the history of man.  It all stands or 

         falls together.

II.  There is additional evidence . . . 

    A.  Isaiah speaks of the coming redeemer as the coming of God to His people.

         1.  Isa. 7:14:  He is “Immanuel” meaning “God with us.”

         2.  Isa. 9:6 describes Him as “Mighty God.”

         3.  The Jews recognized that Jesus was claiming to be deity (Jn. 5:18).  The 

              Father and the Son are distinguishable, but both are God (deity).

         4.  The Son acts as agent of the Father, but also is deity, equal with God.

   B.  There was the prediction of the coming of the kingdom of God.

         1.  Dan. 2:44-45 is one such prediction.  We have already noted Dan. 7:13-14.

         2.  We have already seen such predictions in Gen. 49:9-10.

         3.  John preached the kingdom at hand (Matt. 3:2).

         4.  Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come.  Your will be done 

              on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

    C.  There was the prediction of the coming of a new covenant.

          1.  The covenant idea permeates the O.T.  It represents God as the sovereign 

               King over Israel and over all nations.

          2.  Israel had broken her covenant with God.

          3.  Jer. 31:31ff says, “Days are coming when I will make a new covenant . . ..”

          4.  When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “This is the blood of the 

               covenant poured out for forgiveness” (Matt. 26:28).  1 Cor. 11:25 says, “This 

               cup is the new covenant in My blood.”

          5.  Heb. 8:8ff quotes Jer. 31 and indicates a transition from the old to the new.

     D.  Because Israel had been unfaithful to her covenant relationship with God, there 

          was the need for restoration.  This restoration would involve an outpouring of 

          the Spirit, new life, unity and changed behavior.

          1.  Only a remnant would be recovered (Jer. 23:3; Isa. 11:11).

          2.  Ezekiel 36:24-28 and Isa. 24-27 make it clear that this would involve ethical 

               changes.

          3.  Included within this vision is new life and a reunion of Judah and Israel (Ezek. 

               27:11-28).

          4.  Peter uses Joel 2 on the day of Pentecost which reflects on the pouring forth 

               of the Spirit in the last days.  It is the time when “everyone who calls on the 

               name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:17-21).

          5.  It was a glorious expectation for those willing to submit to the King.

     E.  But for those unwilling to submit to the King the day of the Lord means

          judgment and wrath.

          1.  Amos said, “Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what 

               purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?  It will be darkness and not light. 

              . . . even gloom with no brightness in it” (5:18-20).

          2.  Isaiah said, “For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning against 

              everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased.  . . . The pride of man will 

              be humbled and the loftiness of men will be abased; and the Lord alone will 

              be exalted in that day” (2:12, 17).

         3.  Zephaniah said, “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very 

             quickly; listen, the day of the Lord!  In it the warrior cries out bitterly.  A day of 

             wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and 

             desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 

             a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and the high corner 

             towers.  I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind, 

             because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood will be poured out 

             like dust and their flesh like dung” (1:14-17).

        4.  This is what John preached.  Repent for the kingdom is at hand (Matt. 3:2).  

             He spoke of the wrath of God, and the burning of the chaff with unquenchable 

             fire (Matt 3:7-12).

Conclusion:

1.  There is a decision to be made; a response to be given to The Great Expectations created by the promises of God.

2.  The coming of the King, the Prophet, the Priestdemands that we accept Him and His work.

3.  The coming of God, the coming of the Kingdom, the coming of a new covenant, demands our submission.  It demands our repentance. 

4.  If there is no repentance the day of the Lord is a day of judgment, darkness and death in the execution of the wrath of God against sinners!

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Morning Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Wayne Galloway

Great Expectations

Introduction:

1.  The Bible is a book that describes God’s activity in human history.

    a.  Usually when we think of history we think of things in the past, and the Bible 

         certainly describes God’s activity in the past.

    b.  But it is more.  As we noted last week, as we studied God’s providence, He is 

         active in our lives in the here and now making provision for us in so many ways.

    c.  But there is even more.  The biblical text is future oriented.  While beginning with 

         the creation and the introduction of sin into history it proceeds to speak of the 

         coming redeemer.

2.  Like putting together, the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle a big picture is slowly revealed.

    a.  It becomes more and more amazing as it unfolds.

    b.  It involves predictions of a coming King, a coming kingdom, of God actually 

         coming to His people, delivering them from death, going away like the ancient 

         bridegroom did and then returning to take His bride to a magnificent weeding 

         feast in His father’s house.

    c.  It is described in various ways as a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth, 

        and the second coming.

3.  Theologians have a big word for it.  

    a.  They call it eschatology.  

    b.  The word is formed from two Greek words, “eschatos” and “logos” meaning “the 

         word of last things.”

Discussion:

I.  In Gen. 3:15, in what might be called “the mother of all promises,” God said to the serpent, later associated with Satan (Rev. 12:9; 20:2):  “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

   A.  When you first read that you might say, “What does that even mean?”  It is quite 

        ambiguous when considered by itself.

   B.  But there is a picture developing.  

        1.  Gen. 3:15 is only a piece of the puzzle.

        2.  Kind of mysterious by itself.

II.  Another piece of the puzzle is Gen. 9:26-27.

    A.  Shem, the son of Noah is blessed.

    B.  In Gen. 10 and following we notice we are following a line of descendants from 

         woman (Eve) to Shem.

III.  Gen. 12:1-3 follows the family of Abraham.

     A.  It is a promise that includes land, nation, and seed (blessing on all the families of 

          the earth).

     B.  The biblical text begins to follow the family of Abraham.

           1.  The record narrows from the seed of woman.

           2.  To the race of Shem.

           3.  To the family of Abraham.

IV.  Gen. 49:8-12 focuses on the tribe of Judah.

     A.  It mentions the “sceptor.”

     B.  “The ruler’s staff.’

     C.  And “Shiloh,” the one to whom “the obedience of the nations” belongs.

V.  The next passage (Num 24) comes from an unlikely source.

    A.  Balaam was a false prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites 

         (Num. 23).  

    B.  But God took control of his mouth and instead of cursing Israel Balaam blessed 

         Israel and cursed Moab (Num. 24:3ff; 24:15ff).

         1.  He said that a star and scepter would come from Israel that would crush the 

             forehead of Moab.

         2.  These prophecies stress that there is a King coming that will be victorious over 

              the enemies of God’s people.

VI.  When Israel appoints Saul as king, we think maybe he is the one, but then he is rejected.  David is next and God makes an interesting promise to him.  2 Sam. 7:12-15 narrows the line of the previous promises.  

     A.  God will build a house for David.

     B.  One of his descendants (seed of woman) will sit on his throne forever.

      C.  Solomon sat on David’s throne (1 Kings 7:12; 8:20).

      D.  But in Lk. 1:32 the angel, Gabriel interpreted this to have reference to Jesus.

           1.  Lk. 3:23ff traces Jesus’ lineage back through David.

           2.  Through Abraham, Shem (the son of Noah).

           3.  It ties all these passages together as critical pieces in this big puzzle that is 

                coming together in one picture.

VII.  It is clear, as you come into the N.T., that people were looking for God to make good on His promises about a King.

      A.  Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was expecting God to act (Lk. 1:68-

           79).

      B.  Simeon was expecting it (Lk. 2:25-32).

      C.  Anna was expecting it (Lk. 2:36-38).

      D.  Magi from the east were expecting it (Matt. 2:1-2).

      E.  The chief priests and scribes were expecting it (Matt. 2:4-6; cf. Micah 5:2).

VIII.  Now read Acts 2:22-36.  

       A.  Do you hear what Peter is saying?

       B.  Jesus is the King.  He was sent by God.

       C.  You crucified Him, but God raised Him from the dead.

       D.  He exalted Him to His own right hand.

       E.  And not only that but He is the means for your forgiveness (2:38-39).

Conclusion:

1.  What are you going to do with this?

2.  Some people deny the very existence of God.  Some deny the Bible as a revelation from God.  Some deny the resurrection.  

3.  But one thing that cannot be denied, the Bible presents Jesus as God’s King and offers forgiveness of sins for those who accept Him and make Him the King in their lives.

4.  The Bible promises that He is coming again, and when He does, He will take those who are His to be with Him in His Father’s house.  Those who reject Him will go into eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).

5.  What will you do with Jesus?

Series: N/A

Service: Sunday Evening Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Wayne Galloway

Notes for Study with Perdomo in Bogotá

Julio César Télléz

November 30, 2024

Matthew 25

The Context—

In chapter 21 Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  He was acknowledged by the people as a prophet and as the king prophesied to sit on the throne of David.

He was healing the sick, cleansing the temple and finding Himself opposed by the chief priests and the elders of the people.  See 21:12-17.

He was speaking to them in parables that reflected His being the king and yet He was being rejected by the leaders.  He was rejected by both the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  Chapter 23 is the chapter of woes on the Pharisees and scribes.  Chapter 24 speaks about being prepared for His coming.  Chapter 25 continues this theme with the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents.  A section follows about the judgment.

All of this takes place in Jerusalem.  It is in the days leading up to the crucifixion in the final week of Jesus’ life.

Soon Jesus will be crucified, but He will return in judgment.  Chapter 25 focuses on the necessity of being prepared when He does.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1-13)—

Sometimes the text of Scripture assumes our understanding of some elements of ancient culture.  Such is the case here.  Jewish wedding tradition is part of the background.  In the traditional Jewish wedding, the bride and the bridegroom made promises of betrothal.  The bridegroom left for an indefinite period to prepare a place in his father’s house for his bride (cf. John 14:1ff).  Then he returned to take his bride into his father’s house.

The wedding party did not know when he would return so they had to be prepared (24:42).  So, this parable of the ten virgins is about being prepared when Jesus, the bridegroom returns.

The people of Jesus’ day need to hear the message to be prepared.  The message is the same for us.  There is a need to be on the alert, prepared and ready!

The Parable of the Talents (25:14-30)—

A talent in the first century was a weight of gold or silver.  There are three individuals who are given different amounts:  one five talents, one two, and on one.

The one with the five talents gained five more.  The one with the two gained two more.  Each of them is described as acting faithfully.  And so, was put in charge of many things.

The one with the one talent was afraid and hid his talent in the ground.  He is described as “wicked” and “lazy.”  His talent is given to the one who had ten.  He was thrown into outer darkness and described as a “worthless slave.”

The parable teaches the necessity of respond to the King of God’s kingdom with faithfulness.  Fear tends to paralyze us.  Faithfulness produces.  It acts for the benefit of the kingdom, and we are benefitted as a result.

The two parables teach slightly different lessons.  The talents teaches faithfulness.  The ten virgins teaches us to be prepared.  Both teach us to recognize the coming judgment and call on us to prepare by living faithfully.

The Coming Judgment (25:31-46)—

This section of chapter 25 is a picture of the coming judgment.

The King will separate the sheep from the goats.  In the ancient world, and even among shepherds of the Mediterranean region today, both sheep and goats are part of the same flock.

It is the King of God’s kingdom that makes the separation.  The sheep are put on the right, the goats on the left.  The sheep inherit the kingdom, the goats are cursed and go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

The reason for the classifications . . . 

    The sheep fed the hungry and gave drink to the thirsty.  The goats did not.

      The sheep clothed the naked.  The goats did not.

      The sheep visited (cared for) the sick, imprisoned, and the strangers.  The goats 

       did not.

Jesus said, “To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them you did it to Me” (v. 40, 45).

Judgment is coming.  We do not know when.  We need to be prepared.  We need to act faithfully.  We need to respond to our fellowman with gracious kindness.  There is no place in the kingdom of God for ignoring the vulnerable, for allowing fear to paralyze us, nor for our not making the necessary preparations.  Judgment is coming.  Will we be like the scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees and the rulers of the people or will we listen and obey the voice of Jesus, recognizing Him as the King and committing ourselves to Him???

Wayne Galloway

[email protected]