Matthew 24-25

Book: Matthew

Jul 31

In the Book of Matthew Jesus recorded five discourses. The first, and most famous, is the Sermon on the Mount (5—7). This Sermon revealed that Jesus was the long-awaited Christ, who would bring God’s righteousness to earth and impute it to those who believed in Him. Thus these would be able to enter the kingdom, having the same righteousness as the King Himself. All others would be judged and rejected.

It is in this Olivet Discourse that Jesus explains that He is going to return to the Mount of Olives to judge the world for their unbelief. The discourse will detail how God brings back His nation, Israel, to Him in the last of the seven-year tribulation period. That period will end with His Second Coming as He will arrive in time to save Israel from the antichrist, whose sole object is to destroy Israel and rule the world for Satan.

Jesus will then discuss two primary judgments, those of living Jews and those of living Gentiles. Those who have His righteousness will enter the Kingdom. Those who do not will enter the eternal fire. Israel will be judgments will be described in “The Parable of the Evil Slave” (24:45-51) where evil Israelites will be judged because they reject those Israelites who are believers. The Parable of the Virgins (25:1-13) points out that one Israel will be divided between those who have enough righteousness (that of the King symbolized by the oil) and those who do not have enough (self-righteousness, symbolized by not enough oil). The Parable of the Talents continues the judgment of Israel by showing that those who understand the value of the Word of the Sermon on the Mount and believe in His imputed righteousness are rewarded. Those who do not value it, but fear judgment on their self-righteousness, will end up in the eternal punishment.

Finally, the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats will explain the judgment basis of the living Gentiles. It will be that they will either enter the kingdom or be rejected based on their response to the apostolic doctrine, likely delivered by Israel in the last period of the Great Tribulation. That response will indicate their faith in the Messiah of the message.