Scenes of Judgment

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
07/09/06 - Sunday Morning

Scenes of Judgment

“During the last week of His life, sitting atop the Mount of Olives, Jesus and His disciples watched the bustling city of Jerusalem, teeming with worshipers attending the Passover (Matthew 24:1-3). With that impressive panorama before them, Jesus painted for His disciples six scenes of judgment. In each scene, Jesus makes it clear that there will be two classes of people at the judgment” (Jason Moore, Focus Magazine, May 2006, p. 28).

Just another ordinary day

Matthew 24:37-41 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be”

On the very day that Noah entered the ark, weddings had been planned! Even though they had heard Noah’s preaching (1 Peter 3:18-20; 2 Peter 2:5), most people seemed oblivious to any danger. “Then there will be two men in the field” (24:40); “Two women will be grinding at the mill” (24:41). In like manner, when Jesus comes men will be going to work and women will be at their duties. “Judgment will come on an ordinary day, when people are about ordinary things, without any warning for the righteous or the wicked” (Moore p. 28). Paul taught a very similar truth in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’” When Jesus arrives weddings and funerals will be scheduled that day, some will be heading out on vacation, some will be going to work, others will have a list of errands to run, some will be planning for dinner quests, and so on. Jesus will arrive even though our schedules are full and we have made many future commitments. “As in Noah’s day, some will betaken in judgment, and some will be left, having escaped God’s wrath” (Moore p. 28).

The Watchful and the Oblivious

Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will”

When Jesus arrives some will be sleeping, resting and taking their ease. Others will be feeling very secure with no sense of danger or fear of something looming in the future (1 Thessalonians 5:3 “Peace and safety”), they will think they are on top of the world and have plenty of time to enjoy the pleasures of this life (Luke 12:19 “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry”). “They have taken precautions to lock their doors, to turn on the alarm, to install smoke detectors, to buy insurance, but they have made no effort to secure their souls” (Moore p. 28).

Remember, initially these teachings were addressed to His disciples (24:2). Jesus here warns believers, “For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (24:44). Even mature and knowledgeable Christians cannot predict the Jesus’ return, in fact, not even inspired men could predict the end (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Yet a good number of religious people attempt to make predictions, and even Christians can fall into the trap of “sensing” that Jesus might be near. We might hear someone say, “The Lord must be coming soon because I don’t know how much worse things in the world can get”. But the warning here is that there will be no outward signs or indicators of the Lord’s return. One cannot look at the culture and find the answer, neither is the answer found in nature, the alignments in the solar system or the condition of the church. In addition, we tend to think that the Lord would never return on our birthday, anniversary, the day of our son’s wedding, the funeral of a family member or during the vacation that we have been planning for a long time.

The Prepared and the Procrastinator

Matthew 24:45-51 “Who then in is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time’, and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

· There will be the temptation to abuse not only the time that God gives us to prepare (2 Peter 3:9), but second chances, His mercy, His blessings and our prosperity.

· Here is the person who plans on partying today and cleaning up the house and repenting right before the Lord arrives.

· “Some folks live such a life. They know Jesus is coming—just not today. They’ll repent tomorrow” (Moore p. 28).

· Notice that there are no second chances at the Second Coming in the story, and no last minute opportunities to repent. Jesus’ description of what happens to those who abuse God’s blessings and mercy, like the unfaithful member of the church, is the most violent in these scenes, “cut him in pieces”.

The Obedient and the Minimalist: Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew chapter 25 contains three parables that stress the need for readiness, preparation, and service among God's people in light of the fact that the Lord is coming to judge. The talents (25:14-30) emphasize that we all have something to offer. The parable of the sheep and the goats (25:31-46), teaches that specific opportunities exist where we can use our talents. In all three parables, those who failed did not because they were guilty of not doing something. Sins of omission will condemn as well as sins of commission (James 4:17).

· “But the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps” (25:4). The wise virgins are people who are prepared for every eventuality.

· “While the bridegroom was delaying” (25:5). Jesus will come on His terms, not on our terms.

· “The foolish brought just enough, or what they thought was just enough. There is a class of people who expect Jesus to arrive on their terms; they have made minimal preparations, just enough to get by. Getting by is not the policy of the wise; they have prepared to meet Jesus on His terms” (Moore p. 28).

· Some people are ready for the Lord to come again right after they are baptized, but as the years pass they become unprepared. The Christian needs to be prepared for an entire lifetime of faithful service (2 Timothy 4:6-8). A spurt of faithfulness now and then is not enough.

· “No, there will not be enough for us and you too” (25:9). “It warns us that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. A man cannot borrow character” (Barclay p. 354). Good works are non-transferable. Each will be judged for what he or she did (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The Worker and the Rationalizer: Matthew 25:14-30

· Every human being that is waiting judgment is gifted in some area that can be used for God (25:14-15).

· There are those who are waiting for the return of the Lord who have not be “bad”, that is, involved in adultery, murder and so on, they’ve just been idle, and very content in their idleness. “They have many, many reasons for being idle all of which are answered by the industry of their peers. Preparing for eternity by doing nothing and inventing reasons to justify the nothing you do is sure way to secure a place in outer darkness” (Moore p. 29).

· Notice that the excuse of the one talent man is prepared (25:24-25). It is easy to waste one’s life in planning and rehearsing excuses, rather than being busy for the Lord. This man considered God to be hard, unfair, and expecting too much.

· Do we have any prepared excuses for why we failed to comply with a biblical mandate?

Excuses?

· “God if you had blessed me more then I would not have had to spend so much time trying to make a living”

· “I could never find a congregation that really appreciated me”

· “My mate and or my kids discouraged me”

· “I would have been more faithful if you only have given me a better..”

· “In view of how I was made I think it would be unreasonable for you to condemn of the following sin”

· “I didn’t teach people because nobody wanted the gospel”

Servant and Selfish: Matthew 25:31-46

· Everyone is busy, but have we been busy serving ourselves or busy in the “small kindnesses—feeding the hungry, refreshing the thirsty, housing the stranger, clothing the naked, nursing the sick, visiting the prisoner. None of these actions demand much time, talent, or money. The only requirement is a heart” (Moore p. 29).

· None of this is glamorous, rather it is done by people who do not need to be seen at the place to be seen.

· “Character, formed by habitual selfless service, is the possession of people prepared for judgment” (Moore p. 29).

· It is easy to think that one has been unselfish and is a servant, the unfaithful often think that they have done much.

Conclusion

Matthew 24:37-41: Be certain: judgment is coming

Matthew 24:42-44: Be alert

Matthew 24:45-51: Straighten up today

Matthew 25:1-11: Do all you can while you can

Matthew 25:14-30: Do all you can with what you’ve been given

Matthew 25:31-46 Serve all you can for the least in the kingdom as if for the Lord

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017