The Kingdom Of Small Things Matthew 25

“And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13).

The Kingdom Of Small Things Examples of Others “…if the prophet had told you to do something great…”

Examples of Others 1) Mary – anointing Jesus’ head. “But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14:6-9).

Examples of Others 1) Mary – anointing Jesus’ head. “But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14:6-9).

Examples of Others 2) Zacchaeus – wanting to see Jesus. “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house… And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:5,9,10).

Examples of Others 2) Zacchaeus – wanting to see Jesus. “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house… And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:5,9,10).

Examples of Others 3) Thief – his faith in Christ. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).

Examples of Others 3) Thief – his faith in Christ. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).

The Kingdom Of Small Things Examples of Others Matthew 25:1-13 The Ten Virgins “…if the prophet had told you to do something great…”

The Ten Virgins 1) Each were a part of the kingdom. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom” (v. 1).

The Ten Virgins 2) Five were wise – five were foolish. “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (vv. 2-4).

The Ten Virgins 3) Bridegroom delays his coming. “But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (vv. 5,6).

The Ten Virgins 4) He does come however. “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut” (vv. 7-10).

The Ten Virgins 5) Door shut and will not be opened. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (vv. 11-13).

The Ten Virgins 6) Just a small thing – no oil! (a) Some preparation but not enough. (b) Attend but not all the services. (c) Give but not in proportion as I receive. (d) Worship but not with my whole heart. (e) Love the brethren just not all of them. (f) I’m a Christian on Sunday but what about the rest of the week?

The Kingdom Of Small Things Examples of Others Matthew 25:14-30 The Ten Virgins The Talents “…if the prophet had told you to do something great…”

The Talents 1) Each had talents “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (vv. 14,15).

The Talents 2) Each had to use their talents. “Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them” (vv. 16-19).

The Talents 3) A day of reckoning. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents… He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them… Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours (vv. 20,22,24,25).

The Talents 4) Lord’s view of his servants. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Well done, good and faithful servant… But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant… And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (vv. 21,23,26,30).

The Talents 5) A lesson on negative goodness. (a) Was this man an adulterer or fornicator? (b) Was he a homosexual or sodomite? (c) Was he guilty of drunkenness or murder? (d) Was he liar or cheat? (e) One can be innocent of any of these type sins and still be considered wicked and lazy! (f) There must be positive action on our part.

The Kingdom Of Small Things Examples of Others Matthew 25:31-46 The Ten Virgins The Talents The Nations “…if the prophet had told you to do something great…”

The Nations 1) All nations of people gathered. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy 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, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats (vv. 31,32).

The Nations 2) Why the separation? “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. (vv. 33-36).

The Nations 3) The destiny of each. “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (v. 46).

The Nations 4) We must do good to others. (a) Are we hospitable? (b) Will we sacrifice some of our time, money, and energy to help? (c) Are we selfless in our service? (d) Do we have an attitude of willingness or do we think that others should do it?

The Kingdom Of Small Things Examples of Others The Ten Virgins The Talents The Nations “…if the prophet had told you to do something great…”

Three Things To Learn From Matthew 25 To be ready (vv. 1-13). To be faithful (vv. 14-30. To be loving (vv. 31-46). It is all about small things!