24 Faithful and Wise Servants

Parable of Wedding Banquet, Jesus continues to teach in the temple. Pharisees try to trap Him, Sadducees try to trap Him, Pharisees again, Love God and Love Neighbor,

Warnings to crowds and disciples to avoid hypocrisy, then seven “woes” to teachers of law and Pharisees. Woes = great shame, sorrow

coming out of the temple predicts its destruction.

Pastor predicting destruction of church facility

Matthew 24:1–3 NIV

1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Read Matthew 24:1-3

Then went to Mount of Olives and disciples asked about timing and events at the end.

Jesus teaches generally about the end and His return and warnings to heed leading up to that time. Not important to get into these at this point. Our parables are not about the timeline and events.

Then Jesus begins a series of parables that help prepare the disciples, and us.

See the Fig Tree

Read Matthew 24:32-35

See the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:32–35 NIV

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Matthew 24:32 NIV

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

Fig trees shed leaves – most other trees in that area evergreen

Fig tree shed leaves – most other trees in that area evergreen

Leaves coming back out is sign of summer

Fig tree often symbol for Israel – some believe this points to Israel becoming a nation again.

In any case, it says that you can watch the events unfold.

It doesn’t, however, indicate that we can measure the times and know when Jesus returns.

Matthew 24:36 NIV

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

No one knows except the Father

Matthew 24:42–44 NIV

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Like a thief at night – be ready

Who Is the Faithful and Wise Servant?

Read

Matthew 24:45 NIV

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

Servant examples – Good servant = diligent, doing the will of the master, receive more…

Wicked servant = takes advantage of position, does not do the will of the master, caught!

matthew 24:45, 50

Matthew 24:50 NIV

50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.

v.50 Master returns unexpectedly.

Matthew 24:45–51 NIV

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

v.50 Master returns unexpectedly.

Servant examples – Good servant = diligent, doing the will of the master, receive more…

Wicked servant = takes advantage of position, does not do the will of the master, caught!

v.50 Master returns unexpectedly.

v.51 cut to pieces, placed with hypocrites

Hypocrites = say one thing do something completely different

Weeping, gnashing of teeth = torment, deep sorrow

The wise servant is the one who does the master’s will at all times. Be the wise servant.

Stay Alert, Keep Watch

Continues with picture in

Read

Matthew 25:1 NIV

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

We can see the transition – from The Kingdom of Heaven is like…

To At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like…

10 virgins – maidens, maybe like bride’s maids

v.2 some wise some foolish.

v.3 why foolish? Unprepared.

v.4 why wise? Came prepared for a long wait.

Lamps, jars, oil = “let your light shine” oil can symbolize Holy Spirit, could represent righteousness.

Matthew 25:5 NIV

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

matthew v.5 long wait, maidens fall asleep. Apparently from story not a problem that they slept. Problem is not being prepared.

v.5 long wait, maidens fall asleep. Apparently from story not a problem that they slept. Problem is not being prepared.

v.6 midnight cry – Here comes the bridegroom!

v.7 all woke up and prepared their lamps.

v.8 foolish asking for the wise maidens’ oil.

v.9 “I can’t do your work for you”

Foolish had to go find oil late at night. Got back it was too late. The bridegroom had already come and the door was closed.

Picture again of wedding banquet

Matthew 25:10 NIV

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.

v.11-12 the foolish asked to be let in but bridegroom said “don’t know you”

heart break and let down – don’t know you.

Matthew 25:13 NIV

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

v.13 is the main point of these parables

Therefore… stay alert, keep watch

Why? You don’t know when Jesus the bridegroom will return for His people.

Conclusion

God the Father sent His son to walk the earth in human flesh, to be the man God intended Adam to be. Jesus had one main purpose – to begin the restoration of God’s Kingdom on earth in the hearts of His people.

The death of Jesus was part of that purpose – He received the punishment we deserved. Took our place. He bought us back from the enemy.

Through His burial Jesus conquered death, because He rose to new life – the firstborn as a promise that all those who faithfully follow Him will also rise with Him to new life.

The picture of baptism symbolizes our acceptance, our participation in the death, burial, resurrection

Jesus ascended back to heaven. He taught that He would return to claim His kingdom and gather His people.

We are now waiting for His return.

Big Idea: The faithful and wise servant is ready for the Master’s return

Next week we will finish with the final two parables in . Final Kingdom is Near teaching.

Jesus puts some meat to the “be ready” bones.

What is the faithful servant to be doing while he/she waits for the Master’s return?

What is the fruit produced?

Jesus modeled, but now He illustrates through parables what He means.

What About You?

In our own living out of these warnings/reminders, we have the hope that the Master will return while we are doing His will.

But, for over 2000 years that hasn't happened. Not, at least, with the Master returning to the earthly realm to gather all of His servants or all of His bride.

However, for each of us it does mean the Master returning for us individually. We each face the end of our time in this earthly life. We mostly do not know when that will be.

Each day must be a living tribute to our Master, carrying out His will over our own.