King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, November 07, 2024
Chapters: Matthew Chapter 25
Message: Use Your Talents Wisely
Hello My Friend,
Today is my birthday, and every year since I dedicated my life to Christ I thank Him not only for me being born, but being born again when I accepted Him as my Saviour. We will never truly understand just what Jesus did for us on the cross until we see Him face to face. Saved or not, the second Jesus sees us He is going to tell us one of two things, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom!” or “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!” If we live to be a hundred here on earth, we need to make sure that we know Christ as our Saviour before we take our last breath.
[Matthew 25:29-30 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. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.]
Sometimes when we are reading even the words of Jesus they can be a little confusing, if we did not know that salvation was given to us solely by the grace of God through our faith in Him, we would like many other false religions think that you need to be saved then maintain your salvation through your works. This is incorrect and will be explained as we read the chapter for today. As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Matthew, picks up where Jesus was teaching them about the tribulation and when He will return. While Jesus did not give a specific time, He does give several clues as to what to look out for and to always be prepared. I am including the end of Chapter 24 so that we can get a better understanding.
[Matthew 24:45-51 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 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, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.]
[shall begin to smite his fellowservants,] I am not going to lie, the worse things get even in my own city the more I wonder if Jesus will be coming soon, but there is not one doubt in my mind that He is not coming nor do I for one second want to go back into the world, from which He took me out of. I man not be the best Christian, but I am no fool. To better explain this, Jesus, spoke a parable about ten virgins awaiting their groom, who happens to be Him.
[Matthew 25:1-6 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.]
[foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:] The oil is the Holy Spirit, and in order to be anointed with the Holy Spirit one needs to accept Christ as their Saviour before He knocks on that door. It does not matter if one was born in Christian home, unless they are born again and have personally received Christ as their Saviour they are not saved and will not be among those saved from the tribulation, [John 3:16-18 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.]
Those who delay or get distracted from receiving Christ have no one, but themselves to blame when Jesus shows up and shuts the door on them. As the parable continues the foolish virgins tried to get the wise to give them some of their oil, [Matthew 25:7-10 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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.]
[Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.] This is an example of someone who did grow up in a Christian home, but never received Christ as their Saviour. They knew of Christ and how to get saved, and enjoyed the blessings that came with playing the part of a Christian for a while, but delayed in receiving Him, then when death came unexpectedly the door was shut. There is absolutely nothing that those who have the Holy Spirit in them can do to give those who do not the Holy Spirit, only Jesus can do that, which He concludes in the parable, [Matthew 25:11-12 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.]
[for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh] Since we do not know the hour in which Jesus will return and our soul will probably leave our body before He does, it is imperative that we know Him as our Saviour while we still have our breath in us. Just like ignorance does not save anyone, neither does putting off getting saved, knowing that Christ is the only way, [James 4:14-17 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
Now, Jesus, continues with another parable, the one of the talents, [Matthew 25:14-15 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. 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.]
[to every man according to his several ability;] In this case, the talent represents the spiritual gifts that one who is saved is given to be able to minister the Gospel to the lost. All who are saved are given at least one spiritual gift, [Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.]
So, all the three men took their talents and while two of them used them wisely, the one who only received one did not, [Matthew 25:16-18 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.]
[he that had received two, he also gained other two.] Notice that the work we do for God after we are saved is twofold, meaning it keeps us faithful and increases our talents to be able to mister to more people, [Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.]
[received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.] If we only have one talent given to us that will lead us to eternal life with Christ it is the gift of humility. Those who humble themselves will not only accept that they are sinners, they need Jesus. Remember what Jesus said about being humble, [Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.]
Just as I had said that the talents we receive become twofold, when the Lord returned he commended the men who increased their talents, but regardless of how much they had, it all led to receiving one thing, the joy of the Lord.
[Matthew 25:20,22-23 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. 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. 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.]
[thou hast been faithful over a few things,] Do you see how God blesses us with what we are faithful with? This is the same as what Jesus spoke about in regards to receiving true riches, [Luke 16:10-11 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?]
God, gives us all talents to be used for His purpose in not only reaching people with the Gospel, but to grow our faith as well. Those who hide their talent not only lose out on the blessings that come from using it, they lose the favor and protections that only God can give them. Jesus, goes on to tell the fate of the one who buried his talent.
[Matthew 25:24-27 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: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 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: 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.]
[lo, there thou hast that is thine.] Do you see what the problem was? He handed it back to him. If the man would have just accepted the talent, then he would have accepted him. This is why Jesus said that many are called, but few a chosen, [Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.]
[at my coming I should have received mine own] We are given, but one life and one soul, there is no such thing as reincarnation so we cannot die today then our soul move on to another body in the future for another chance. There is no multiverse where we come back in another era for another chance. We only have today, when our flesh gives out and we die our soul will go to one of two places until the resurrection, heaven or hell. Jesus, ends the parable with the reality of where all who never received Him end up. Not only did this man lose his opportunity to get saved, he was cast into hell where he will await the resurrection of the dead, [Revelation 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.]
And speaking of works, the resurrection of the dead are those whom never saw fit to believe in the Gospel of Christ and accept Him as their Saviour while they had their breath in them. This also includes those who knew of Christ, never accepted Him, and yet lived as though they did. Jesus, goes on to tell of this judgment and this time it was not a parable.
[Matthew 25:31-34 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: 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: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 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:]
[as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:] In other words, those whom have received Christ as their Saviour will be separated from those whom have not. It does not matter if they even lied their way into becoming a member, Jesus, knows exactly believed Him, [2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.]
We need to be careful that we do not confuse this with salvation by grace. You see, the humble servant who receives Christ will go on in His Spirit to do things as they are moved to do, things that they would never do on their own, like hug a total stranger. That is when our works will be recognized and we will be given the honor of an inheritance into His kingdom, which Jesus confirms here.
[Matthew 25:35-37,40 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: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 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.]
[Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?] The humble servant is also modest in that they just do these things without thought, not to be recognized, just to be a help to those the Holy Spirit lays upon their heart. We may not be taking count of all the things we do for Christ, but He sure is, and He is also taking count of those who never received Him, but appeared as though they did.
[Matthew 25:41-46 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: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 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. 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? 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. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.]
[Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,] We need to understand that this is not referring to those who are saved, our salvation is not based on our works even after we have received Christ as our Saviour, [Titus 3:5-8 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.]
[when saw we thee an hungred…and did not minister unto thee?] Jesus, is referring to all those religious organizations who pride themselves on all their “good works” of charity, glorifying themselves and not Him, [2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.]
True charity, or love comes from the little deeds of kindness which naturally flow out of a heart filled with faith and love toward Christ, backed up by the Holy Spirit, [1 Corinthians 13:3-7 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Matthew 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:]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for the talents that You freely give to all Your saints. While I know I am not as worthy as John the Baptist said, to loosen the tie on one of Jesus’ shoes, I am here to do whatever it is that You call me to do. The life we live once we accept Your Son as our Saviour is not one that will keep us sitting on the sidelines, it is one of great usage as You send us out into the world with the Gospel. Lord, lead us and guide us, keep us humble, and give us Your mercy and grace to fulfill Your calling. If there are any among us who are not sure or have not fully accepted Your Son as their Saviour I pray that we will be able to reach them before the door is shut and Jesus has come for His bride. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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