The Parables of Jesus - Part 6 [Notes]

Jesus was a master storyteller, and He constantly used short stories or parables to communicate spiritual truths to the crowds that gathered to hear Him. When Jesus' disciples asked why He spoke in parables so often, His answer was profound. He said that the same stories that served to open the eyes of the spiritually hungry would have the effect of blinding the eyes of those who refused to believe. By telling parables, the secrets of the kingdom would be revealed to Jesus' disciples, but they would be hidden from His opponents.

Join us this week as we dive into some of Jesus's most memorable stories through our new summer series, "The Parables of Jesus."

Today's Takeaway // One thing matters on Judgment Day: Jesus.

When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
– John 16:8 (HCSB)

For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
– Ecclesiastes 12:14 (HCSB)

For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.
– Matthew 16:27 (HCSB)

Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid or what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless. Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people.
– 2 Corinthians 5:9-11a (HCSB)

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
– Matthew 25:46 (HCSB)

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some toeternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt.
– Daniel 12:2 (HCSB)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
– Matthew 25:31-34 (HCSB)

He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
– Daniel 7:14 (HCSB)

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
– Matthew 25:32 (HCSB)

This is not the same as the great white throne judgment, which involves only the wicked and which follows the Millennium. The judgment of the Gentiles will occur 1,000 years earlier in order to determine who will and will not enter the kingdom.
– L.A. Barbieri

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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 took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’
– Matthew 25:34-36 (HCSB)

“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 take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
– Matthew 25:37-40 (HCSB)

Matthew is not telling us that people who do good things will go to heaven; rather, he is telling us that good things are an evidence of true discipleship and genuine faith.
– I.D. Campbell

The works of mercy and compassion of these Gentiles toward Christ will demonstrate that they are believers.
– H.M. Haller (HCSB)

The expression “these brothers” must refer to a third group that is neither sheep nor goats. The only possible group would be Jews, physical brothers of the Lord. In view of the distress in the Tribulation period, it is clear that any believing Jew will have a difficult time surviving. The forces of the world dictator will be doing everything possible to exterminate all Jews. A Gentile going out of his way to assist a Jew in the Tribulation will mean that Gentile has become a believer in Jesus Christ...
-Barbieri

Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!
– Matthew 25:41 (HCSB)

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 didn’t take Me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of Me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
– Matthew 25:42-46 (HCSB)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?...
– 2 Corinthians 13:5a (HCSB)

1. Why do you think people don’t like to talk about hell or about judgment day? Why is it important we stop to reflect on these realities?
2. Read Matthew 25:31-40.What are some things we learn about Jesus from these verses? How do we know that Jesus wasn’t saying that we can earn eternal life by doing good deeds for others?
3. What are some ways our faith in Christ is revealed through the things we do? Read 2 Corinthians 13:5 and 1 John 1:6-9. What are some other ways we can know that we are indeed children of God?
4. Read Matthew 25:41-46. How would answer someone who said a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell?
5. Read 2 Corinthians 5:9-11. How should we live and what should we do in response to these verses?

O What a Miracle // Miracle in Me // There is a King // Life Defined

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