The Parables of Jesus #12
The Parables of Jesus
Life in the Mean Time, an exposition of Matthew 24:41-25:30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 28, 2015.
Intro:
“Jesus is coming again.” That is a safe comment among Bible-believing folks. You won’t get an argument there. You may even get a few “Amens”! If you throw in “visibly, physically to this earth” and emphasize the nearness of that return, no doubt many will whole-heartily agree. But if you want a fight – start getting into the details. We live in a time that is fascinated by “end times.” The success of the whole “Left Behind” phenomenon is evidence of that. Believers and nonbelievers alike devour the material. Conferences, books, tapes concerning end times events are always best sellers. Turn on Christian television and you will see program after program chronicling headline after headline as the latest fulfillment of the prophetic word. I believe the fact of the Second Coming is a cardinal doctrine of the church. I do not believe that you can be an orthodox Christian and deny the Second Coming. I also believe that John MacArthur is right when he says, “That many details of biblical prophecy are surrounded with mystery and that it is a serious mistake to speak dogmatically about matters that are no more than sheer conjecture.”
Why? Because Jesus said, “No man knows the day and hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32-33). That seems pretty clear to me. Dr. MacGorman used to tell us in seminary, “If Jesus didn’t know, I’m sure no Baptist preacher knows!” Am I suggesting that it is wrong to study prophecy? No, of course not. Am I suggesting that one should not “discern the times?” Absolutely not. My concern is that many impose modern headlines as an interpretive grid on the Scriptures. I’m suggesting that current events are no guideline for interpreting the Bible. And that such a practice proves disastrous for the individual and for our message.
Prior to WW I prophesy experts suggested that the events leading up to that war could only foreshadow the Apocalypse. Twenty-five years later another generation of experts saw in Hitler the “perfect” fit for the Antichrist. They all had one thing in common…they were wrong! In 1970 Hal Lindsey ushered in a new ear. In The Late Great Planet Earth, Lindsey broadly hinted that he believed Christ would return by 1988. This was based on Israel’s rebirth in 1948. The fig tree had put forth its first leaves and the prophecy clock began running again. He was more direct in his 1980 book, The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon. He predicted the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation would occur in the 80s. They did not. In 1988 Edgar Whisenant wrote, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988. It wasn’t so he revised it for 89! The problem is that such date-setting serves to undermine the credibility of the Gospel in the minds of unbelievers. 30 years ago – prophetic experts were certain the rise of the Soviet Union to superpower status was loaded with biblical importance. When communism fell and the Iron Curtain came down they simply adjusted their theory and found that the fall of communism was clearly foretold in Scripture as well.
Our preparedness for Christ’s return should not be affected one way or the other by world events. Our Lord taught us to live expectantly. He taught us to be faithful regardless of what is happening around us. Regardless of the “signs of the times” we are to live each day as if he was coming today. Because he just might!
What does that kind of a lifestyle involve? How should we live? That is the significance of the parables found in the middle section of the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24-25.
Text: Matthew 24:44-25:30
The disciples have asked an important question in response to Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the Temple. “When will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” While they considered that to be one question, Jesus treated it as two separate issues. The destruction of the temple and the end of the age. In 24:4-28 he talks of birth pains signaling the end (both of the temple and the age). He then spoke of His return and the need to be prepared. Now he takes that further in our text this morning.
This text could easily serve as a series of messages but I want us to note the flow of the passage. I’m convinced these parables were meant to be taken together. They present a balanced picture about life in the mean time. They serve as a lesson in how we are to live as we await the blessed appearing.
Thesis: A proper perspective of Christ’s return demands that we live expectantly, wait patiently and work diligently.
In the parable of the two servants we learn the principle of expectantly watching. (24:45-51)
- The parable of the ten virgins teaches us the principle of patiently waiting. (25:1-13
- The parable of the talents teaches us the principle of diligently working. (25:14-30)
Conclusion:
Our Lord is coming.
And a proper perspective of that fact demands that we live expectantly, wait patiently and work diligently.