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: Tuesday, November 07, 2023
Chapters: MATTHEW 25
Message: How Many Birthday’s Do You Have?
Hello My Friend,
It is my birthday today and it got me thinking about our Happy Birthday song that we sing at church for everyone, the second verse goes like this, [Happy Birthday to you, only one will not do, born again means salvation, how many have you?] So, how many birthday’s do you have? I can honestly say that I do have two, [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.]
We will never truly understand just what Jesus did for us on the cross until we see Him face to face. To imagine Him hanging there is something that we may be able to picture, but never fully comprehend or realize the significance of until our body goes to sleep and it is our soul that meets up with Jesus. He is going to tell us one of two things, “Well done my child, come in.” or “Depart from me, I never knew you!” before we are taken to our temporary dwelling until He calls for us at the resurrection. And yes, those whom have never accepted Christ will resurrect also for their second judgment, [Revelation 20:13-14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.]
As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Jesus, continues to give the disciples and others who were there with them warnings concerning the tribulation as well as the final judgment that will take place when He is KING of the world. Matthew, records several parables that Jesus spoke regarding the kingdom of heaven, of which the Pharisees and Jews believed that it would just appear. First, we come to the parable of the ten virgins.
[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.]
[And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.] The five wise brides prepared for their groom to arrive at any time to pick them up, they filled their lamps with oil, trimmed the wicks so they could be lit quickly and at a moments notice. Now, the bridegroom is Jesus and those whom have received Him as their Saviour are His bride. In order to get a mental picture of this we need to understand what Jesus spoke about regarding marriage and the resurrection, [Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.]
[While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.] Jesus, is preparing a place for us to dwell with Him forever, not just in heaven, but on earth, but it will not be this earth that we are on right now, it will be a new earth, the way God intended this one to be, no sin, no sickness, no pain, no death, and will come directly down from heaven, [Revelation 21:1-2 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.]
[Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.] This is when Jesus will come for all of us who were wise enough to accept Him as our Saviour before our bodies either went to sleep or are raptured out of here. As for the foolish, well, Jesus, tells us what will happen to those.
[Matthew 25:8-13 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. 11 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. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.]
[Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.] Is that not like the fools who trusted in their religion to save them? How about the fools who trusted in their own righteousness to save them? And what about the fools who refused to accept that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Perhaps the biggest fools of all are the ones who pretended to know Him as their Saviour, but never received Him. You can give every waking hour and every possession you own to God, but unless you know His Son, He does not know you, [Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.]
[and the door was shut.] The fools in this world who reject Christ are not given just one opportunity to come to Him, they were given several. At any time, they could have opened the door of their heart and let Him in, but they rejected Him and therefore they have forfeited their place in the kingdom of heaven. Once He closes that door, it will be shut for good, [Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.]
[for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.] This is why we only have today to accept Christ as our Saviour for there is no guarantee for tomorrow. Jesus, goes on to explain this with another parable, this time He is talking about a man traveling to a distant land, leaving his talents (goods or money) for his servants to take care while he is gone.
[Matthew 25:14-19 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. 16 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. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.]
[to every man according to his several ability;] In order to get a mental picture of this, I think of talents as being in the form of skills or spiritual gifts. Each and every one of us has been given skills that God has given us to be used for His purpose. For instance, I have skills in computers, cooking, and organizing, but I also have spiritual skills in teaching, discernment, and prophecy (knowledge of the Scriptures), [1 Corinthians 12:4-6,11 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.]
In other words, God, uses my talents for the purpose of reaching people with the Gospel, if all I do is get saved, that would actually be one talent that I can use to reach people. All we really need to reach anyone is to tell them how we got saved. However, by my using the several talents that He has given me according to my ability, that is what enhances my spiritual talents so that I am able to reach more people with the Gospel. Jesus, goes on to explain what happens when we use our talents for His purpose.
[Matthew 25:20-23 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. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou 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. 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,] It does not matter if we have one talent or twenty, God, will bless and expand them and after all our work is done, we will receive the greatest gift of all, eternal life with Christ, [1 Corinthians 15:10-11 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.]
However, for the ones who not only refuse to accept the talent, but bury it, there is only one place for them when Jesus returns. 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.]
[I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:] 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 one chance, 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.
[Matthew 25:28-30 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 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.]
[there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.] 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.]
The resurrection of the dead are the lost, those whom never saw fit to believe in the Gospel of Christ and accept Him as their Saviour. 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 25:31-36 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: 35 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.]
[and he shall separate them one from another,] 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.]
[For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat:] 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 25:37-40 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 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.]
[For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:] The not so humbled servant, the one who dwelt among Christ’s saints, may have done the very same things that the humble servant has done, but since they never received Him as their Saviour nothing they did will get recognized. Christ, is the great Shepherd He knows who His sheep are and they know Him, in fact, they know His voice, [John 10:1-3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for the skills and spiritual gifts that You freely give to all Your saints. While I know I am not worthy as John the Baptist said, to loosen the tie on one 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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