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Sermon for December 30, 2012 - This Weeks sermon - Back To The Basics |
Sermon for December 23, 2012 - This Weeks sermon - The Visit Of The Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12 |
Sermon for December 16, 2012 - This Weeks sermon - Jesus And Immanuel Matthew - 1:18-25 |
Sermon For December 9, 2012 - Mary, Mother Of Jesus - Luke 1:26-28 |
Sermon for December 2, 2012 - Life After Death |
Sermon for November 25, 2012 - The Problem Of Suffering |
Sermon for November 18, 2012 - Making Much Of Sin |
Sermon for November 11, 2012 - Preach The Word! - 2nd Timothy 4:1-4 |
Sermon for November 4, 2012 - Those that Cherry-Pick Christian Morals |
Sermon for October 28, 2012 - How Would Jesus Vote? Matters of Life and Death - Exodus 20:13 |
Sermon for October 21, 2012 - Finding A Way In The Will Of God - Romans 1:10 |
Sermon for October 14, 2012 - Called To Be Saints - Romans 1:7 |
Sermon for October 7, 2012 - Basics For Living In Christ - Colossians 3:1-11 |
Sermon for September 30, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Second Coming |
Sermon for September 23, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Resurrection Of Jesus |
Sermon for September 16, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth |
Sermon for September 9, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Lords Supper |
Sermon for September 2, 2012 - Why I Believe In Baptism |
Sermon for August 26, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Gospel Of Christ |
Sermon for August 19, 2012 - Why I Believe In Undenominational Christianity |
Sermon for August 12, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Church |
Sermon for August 5, 2012 - Why I Believe In Jesus Christ |
Sermon for July 29, 2012 - Why I Believe In The Bible |
Sermon for July 22, 2012 - Why I Believe In God |
Sermon for July 15, 2012 - The Flesh And The Spirit: Which Shall We Serve? |
Sermon for July 8, 2012 - Building To Withstand The Storms - Matthew 7:24-27 |
Sermon for July 1, 2012 - Who Will Enter The Kingdom Of Heaven? - Matthew 7:21-23 |
Sermon for June 24, 2012 - Watch Out For Wolves! - Matthew 7:15-20 |
Sermon for June 17, 2012 - Are You On The Right Way? - Matthew 7:13-14 |
Sermon for June 10, 2012 - The Golden Rule - Matthew 7:12 |
Sermon for June 3, 2012 - To Judge Or Not To Judge - Matthew 7:1-6 |
Sermon for May 27, 2012 - Gaining Mastery Over Mammon - Matthew 6:19-24 |
Sermon for May 20, 2012 - Prayer That Pleases God - Matthew 6:5-15 |
Sermon for May 13, 2012 - Charity That Pleases God - Matthew 6:1-4 |
Sermon for May 6, 2012 - Responding To Evil - Matthew 5:38-42 |
Sermon for April 29, 2012 - The Great Commission - Matthew 28:16-20 |
Sermon for April 22, 2012 - Alternatives To The Resurrection - Matthew 28:11-15 |
Sermon for April 15, 2012 - The Witnesses Of The Resurrection - Matthew 28:1-10 |
Sermon for April 8, 2012 - Three Parts - Matthew 27:22 - 28:10 |
Sermon for April 1, 2012 - Two Parts - Matthew 26:69 - 27:2 |
Sermon for March 25, 2012 - Three Parts - Matthew 26:26 - 50 |
Sermon for March 18, 2012 - The Judgment Of The Nations - Matthew 25:31-46 |
Sermon for March 11, 2012 - 2 Parts - Matthew 5:20 & 5:21-26 |
Sermon for March 4, 2012 - The Influence Of The Kingdom - Matthew 5:13-16 |
Sermon for February 26, 2012 - The Beatitudes - II - Matthew 5:3-12 |
Sermon for February 19, 2012 - The Beatitudes - I - Matthew 5:3-12 |
Sermon for February 12, 2012 - Introduction To The Sermon On The Mount - Matthew 5:1-2 |
Sermon for February 5, 2012 - The Itinerant Ministry Of Jesus - Matthew 4:23-25 |
Sermon for January 29, 2012 - The Discipling Ministry Of Jesus - Matthew 4:18-22 |
Sermon for January 22, 2012 - The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus - Matthew 4:12-17 |
Sermon for January 15, 2012 - The Temptation Of Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11 |
Sermon for January 8, 2012 - The Baptism Of Jesus - Matthew 3:13-17 |
Sermon for January 1, 2012 - Preparing The Way Of The Lord - Matthew 3:1-12 |
Sermon for December 25, 2011 - The Early Years Of Jesus - Matthew 2:13-23 |
Sermon for December 18, 2011 - The Visit Of The Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12 |
Sermon for December 11, 2011 - This Weeks sermon - Jesus And Immanuel Matthew 1:18-25 |
Sermon for December 4, 2011 - This Weeks sermon - Matthew 1:1-17 |
Sermon for November 27, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 18:37-38 |
Sermon for November 20, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:20-23 |
Sermon for November 13, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:20-26 |
Sermon for November 6, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:6-19 |
Sermon for October 30, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:2-3 |
Sermon for October 23, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:1-5 |
Sermon for October 16, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 17:1-26 |
Sermon for October 9, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 15:8 |
Sermon for October 2, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 13:34-35 |
Sermon for September 25, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 8:42 |
Sermon for September 18, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 8:12 - 36 |
Sermon for September 11, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 7:17 - 39 |
Sermon for September 4, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 6:67 7:9 |
Sermon for August 28, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 5:37 6:27 |
Sermon for August 21, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 4:35-5:30 |
Sermon for August 14, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 4:10-14 |
Sermon for August 7, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 3:1-4:26 |
Sermon for July 31, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 2:1-25 |
Sermon for July 24, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 1:19-51 |
Sermon for July 17, 2011 - The Sermon for This Week is - John 1:9-18 |
Sermon for July 10, 2011 - This weeks Sermon is Book of John Verses - John 1:1-8 |
Sermon for July 3, 2011 - This weeks Sermon is Christian Apologetics Three Parts |
Sermon for June 26, 2011 - Sermon is - Our Dependence Upon The New Testament |
Sermon for June 19, 2011 - Sermon is - The Historical Jesus |
Sermon for June 12, 2011 - Sermon is - Introduction To Christian Apologetics |
Sermon for June 5, 2011 - Universalism Part - Four of Four |
Sermon for May 29, 2011 - Universalism Part - Three of Four |
Sermon for May 22, 2011 - Universalism Part - Two of Four |
Sermon for May 15, 2011 - Universalism Part - One of Four |
Sermon for May 8, 2011 - This weeks Sermon is in Two Parts |
Sermon for May 1, 2011 - God's Great Book |
Easter Sermons For April 24, 2011 - Part 4 of 4, The Celebration Of Easter |
Easter Sermons For April 23, 2011 - Part 3 of 4 The Significance Of The Resurrection Of Christ |
Easter Sermons For April 22, 2011 - Part 2 of 4, The Passion Of The Christ |
Easter Sermons For April 21, 2011 - Part 1 of 4 The Lord's Supper |
Sermon for April 17, 2011 - Are You Ready For Your Journey Into Eternity? |
Sermon for April 10, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 - Hearts Wide Open |
Sermon for April 3, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - The Ministry Of Reconciliation |
Sermon for March 27, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 4:1 - We Do Not Become Discouraged (Faint Not) |
Sermon for March 20, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed By Beholding |
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Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for This Week is: The Judgment Of The Nations - Matthew 25:31-46
- 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: 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: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand,
but the goats on the left. 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: 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: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee
in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 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. 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: For I was an hungred, and ye
gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 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. 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? 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. And these
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
INTRODUCTION
1. Included in “The Olivet Discourse” are two parables, followed by a judgment scene...
a. The parables are directed toward Jesus’ disciples
1) The first to encourage them to be watchful - Matthew 25:1-13 - Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to
meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were
foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took
oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and
slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet
him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And
the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the
day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
2) The second to admonish them to be productive - Matthew 25:14-30 - 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. 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. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them
other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that
had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time
the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo,
there thou hast that is
thine. 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: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with
usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it
unto him which hath ten talents. 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. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
b. The judgment scene depicts the nations brought before Jesus - Matthew 25:31-46 - 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: 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: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 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: 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: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick,
and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or
thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked,
and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee? 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. 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: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink: 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. 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? 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. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but
the righteous into life eternal.
1) Note that it is the “nations” being judged, not disciples
2) The nations are judged based upon their treatment of Jesus’ disciples
a) Those that showed mercy and kindness to His disciples are blessed
b) Those that did not are condemned
2. Questions abound regarding “The Judgment Of The Nations”...
a. Who are the “nations” in this passage? All of mankind, or only the non-elect?
b. Is this “judgment” scene depicting the Day of Judgment, or might it refer to a judgment
that foreshadowed the Final Judgment?
c. As part of “The Olivet Discourse”, could Jesus still be talking about events related
to the destruction of Jerusalem?
[However one may answer such questions, there are important lessons to be gleaned from these words of
Jesus. But let’s first consider how it may be that Jesus is still referring to events related to the destruction of
Jerusalem described in Mt 24...]
I. THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS THEME
A. AS FOUND IN THE BOOK OF JOEL...
1. The coming day of the Lord is depicted
a. Following the outpouring of God’s Spirit - Joel 2:28-29 - And it shall come to pass
afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
b. A great and terrible day is coming - Joel 2:30-31 - And I will shew wonders in the
heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
c. Yet salvation is available to those who accept it - Joel 2:32 - And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and
in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. - cf. Acts 2:16-21 - But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire,
and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of
the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
2. A “judgment of the nations” is then described
a. The nations gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat - Joel 3:1-2a - For, behold, in
those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations,
and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, - Joel 3:12-16 - Let the heathen be wakened, and come
up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the
harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is
great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also
shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
b. The nations judged on the basis of their treatment of God’s people - Joel 3:2b-8 - and
will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered
among the nations, and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold
a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine?
will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return
your recompence upon your own head; Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly
pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove
them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence
upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell
them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
B. AS FOUND IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE...
1. Jesus foretold the coming day of the Lord - Matthew 24:1-51 - And
Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him
the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say
unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the
mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not
troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the
end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there
shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall
they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the
end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall
see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him
which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him
which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child,
and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter,
neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the
beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ,
or there; believe it not. For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is
in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret
chambers; believe it not. For
as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then
shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven
to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth
forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even
at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not
pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days
of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving
in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came,
and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in
the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women
shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if
the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered
his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler
over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is
that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily
I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant
shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him,
and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder,
and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
a. Coming in destruction upon Jerusalem
b. With warnings to escape when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies
2. A judgment of the nations is then described - Matthew 25:31-46 - 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:
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: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 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: 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: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited
me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord,
when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and
gave thee drink? When saw
we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed
thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
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. 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:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 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. 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? 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.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
a. The nations gathered before Son of Man
b. The nations judged on the basis of their treatment of God’s people (“inasmuch as you did
it to one of the least of these My brethren”)
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C. THIS IS A COMMON THEME IN THE SCRIPTURES...
1. God describes judgment to come, using other nations as instruments of His wrath
2. But He also holds the nations accountable for how His people are treated
a. E.g., Assyria, the rod of God’s anger - Isaiah 10:5-7 - O Assyrian, the rod of mine
anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people
of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the
streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart
to destroy and cut off nations not a few. - Isaiah 10:12-14 - Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of
the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done
it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and
have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And
my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are
left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. - Isaiah
10:24-26 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian:
he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little
while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge
for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
b. E.g., Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon - Amos 1:3 - Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions
of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have
threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: - Amos 1:6 - Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions
of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried
away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: - Amos 1:9 - Thus
saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment
thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: - Amos 1:11
- Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the
punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did
tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: - Amos 1:13 - Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions
of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because
they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
3. Nations that went too far (e.g., abusing the innocent) were held accountable
D. JESUS MAY BE USING THE SAME THEME...
1. Describing a judgment upon the nations...
a. Employing figures reminiscent of the Judgment at the Last Day
1) E.g., the Son of Man coming in glory, sitting on His throne
2) E.g., the nations divided like sheep and goats
3) E.g., judgment rendered, followed by reward or punishment
b. For such judgments foreshadowed and typified the Final Judgment
2. Describing a judgment of the nations...
a. Which followed the Lord’s judgment upon Jerusalem - cf. Mt 24
b. Regarding their treatment of His brethren (the disciples of Jesus)
c. Nations who treated them kindly would be blessed, otherwise they would be condemned
[This may be what Jesus is doing at this point in “The Olivet Discourse”. It would
certainly serve to comfort His disciples, knowing that nations which failed to show mercy to them would not go unpunished.
Even if this is point of the text, we can still glean important...]
II. LESSONS FROM THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
A. THERE WILL BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT...
1. Just as the Lord has judged nations throughout history
2. So He will judge the world at the end of time, at the Last Day
a. Jesus often spoke of the Judgment - e.g., Matthew 12:36-37 - But
I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by
thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. - Matthew
12:41-42 - The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn
it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is
here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn
it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon
is here. - John 12:47-48 - And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge
him in the last day.
b. Paul also - e.g., Acts 17:30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but
now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness
by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. - Acts 17:24:25
- God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and
breath, and all things; - Romans 2:3-6 - And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things,
and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance
and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent
heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will
render to every man according to his deeds: - Romans 14:10 - But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost
thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad. - 2 Timothy 4:1 - I charge thee therefore before God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
c. Others as well - e.g., Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment: - 1 Peter 4:5 - Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
- 2 Peter 2:9 - The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto
the day of judgment to be punished: - 2 Peter 3:7 - But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same
word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. - 1 John 4:17
- Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in
this world. - Jude 1:6 - And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,
he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
-- Are we preparing for the Day of Judgment?
B. ONE ISSUE WILL BE HOW WE TREATED JESUS’ BRETHREN...
1. Of course, every deed, word, and thought will be judged (see above verses)
2. But our text reminds us how Jesus takes the treatment of His brethren - Matthew 25:40 - 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. - Matthew 25:45 - 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.
a. “as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”
b. “as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me”
3. Jesus made the same point to Saul on the road to Damascus - Acts 9:1-5
- And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high
priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men
or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks.
a. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
b. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
-- By persecuting the church, Saul was guilty of persecuting Christ!
4. Jesus is the head, and His disciples (the church) is His body - Ephesians 1:22-23 - And hath
put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head
over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in
all.
a. What we do or not do for His disciples, we do or not do for Christ!
b. How is our treatment of our brethren? Are we guilty of:
1) Abusing them?
2) Ignoring them?
3) Failing to love them?
-- What is our relationship with other Christians, especially in the context of the local church?
C. THERE ARE PLACES PREPARED FOR AFTER THE JUDGMENT...
1. One is for prepared people - Matthew 25:34 - 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:
a. Described as “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” - cf2 Timothy
4:18 - And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto
his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. - 2 Peter 1:11 - For
so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
b. Described as “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” - cf. 2 Peter
3:13 - Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
- Revelation 21:1 - 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.
c. Described as “the holy city, New Jerusalem” - cf. Hebrews 13:14 - For here have
we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. - Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh
will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and
the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. - Revelation 21:2-7 - And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great
voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that
overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
-- This place
is for those whose names are in the Lamb’s book of Life - Revelation 20:11-15 - And I saw a great white throne,
and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2. One is for unprepared people - Matthew 25:41 - 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:
a. Described as “the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” - cf.
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast
and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
b. Described as “the like of fire and brimstone” - Revelation 20:10 - And the devil
that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. - Revelation 20:14 - And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. - Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters,
and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
c. Described as “the second death” - Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. - Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have
their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
-- This place is for those whose names are not in the book of life - Revelation 20:15 - And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
3. Both places are prepared to last for eternity - Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
a. The one offering everlasting punishment
b. The other offering eternal life
CONCLUSION
1. God’s judgment upon nations in the past were written for our admonition - 1 Corinthians 10:11
- Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
a. Such judgments reveal that God is a Righteous Judge
b. Such judgments portend the Judgment to come at the Last Day
2. Whether or not Jesus uses the setting of the Final Judgment to describe judgment upon the nations following
the destruction of Jerusalem, His words should cause us to consider...
a. Are we preparing for the Day of Judgment?
b. Involved in that preparation, is our relationship with our brethren what it ought to be?
c. What will Jesus say to us on that Day?
May we all walk in the grace and mercy of the Lord with an obedient faith and love, so that we may hear
Him say:
Matthew 25:34 - 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:
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Prayer:
Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will
give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen
Ephesians
6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement:
That it never be used for profit.
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