Wilderness Lake Church » Bible Study Notes

The following are notes for our current Bible study:

Matt 25:1-13 – “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ⁹“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ¹¹“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹²“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew 24 ended with a parable meant to emphasize the idea of readiness for the coming of Jesus. Matthew 25 begins with another parable upon the same principle.
There were three stages to a Jewish wedding in that day. The first was engagement – a formal agreement made by the fathers. The second was betrothal – the ceremony where mutual promises are made. The third was marriage – approximately one year later when the bridegroom came at an unexpected time for his bride.

What stands out to you in this parable? What is the fundamental truth revealed here?
What would you say characterize the “foolish” virgins? The “wise” virgins?
How does this parable relate to us today? Who are these “virgins” today?
Discuss how the parable of the virgins and bridegroom relate to the “Kingdom of Heaven”?
It sounds like all 10 virgins were looking forward to the arrival of the bridegroom (all 10 went out to meet Him). The parable says He was a long time in coming and all became drowsy and fell asleep. What does this mean to us today? How do we remain ready?
Is there significance in His arriving at midnight?
Why did He say “I don’t know you” to the foolish 5? Compare this to Jesus words in Matt 7:23.
Were the wise right to deny oil to the foolish? Or were they being selfish?
When will the “door be shut”?
Some ask why Jesus described ten virgins and not another number. Reportedly, Talmudic authorities said there were usually ten lamps in a bridal procession. It was a common size of a wedding party.
“The point is not these girls’ virginity, which is assumed, but simply that they are ten (a favorite round number…) maidens invited to the wedding.” (Carson)
“To see the bridegroom as Jesus himself seems warranted in light of Matthew 9:15. This would be a bold figure for Him to use, as the Old Testament frequently describes God (not the Messiah) as the bridegroom, and Israel as the bride (Isaiah 54:4-5; 62:5; Jeremiah 2:2; Hosea 1-3, etc.).” (France)
“It is a warning addressed specifically to those inside the professing church who are not to assume that their future is unconditionally assured; all ten are expecting to be at the feast, and until the moment comes there is no apparent difference between them – it is the crisis which will divide the ready from the unready.” (France)
The foolish virgins were unprepared because they lacked oil for their lamps. In many Biblical passages oil, is an emblem of the Holy Spirit (such as Zechariah 4:1-7). Without oil the wedding party was not ready for the bridegroom. Without the Holy Spirit, no one is ready for the return of Jesus.
No one can be a true Christian without the indwelling Holy Spirit, as it says in Romans 8:9: Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. In this parable Jesus probably did not intend a separation between “Spirit-filled” and “Non-Spirit-filled” Christians; the distinction is likely between true Christians and false believers.
Nevertheless, a key to Christian readiness is to be constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Much of the weakness, defeat and lethargy in our spiritual lives can be explained if we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.
“When that door is once shut, it will never be opened. There are some who dote and dream about an opening of that door, after death, for those who have died impenitent; but there is nothing in the Scriptures to warrant such an expectation. Any ‘larger hope’ than that revealed in the Word of God is a delusion and a snare.” (Spurgeon)

Matt 25:14:-18 – “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Discuss “to each according to his (her) ability”. What is meant by “ability”? How does this relate to “Spiritual Gifts” we read about in 1 Corinthians?
Other translations of this parable use “talents” to describe what was entrusted to each servant. In the application of this parable, is it appropriate to see these talents as life resources – such as time, money, abilities, and authority?
Assuming the money given in this parable is abilities, gifts and talents, what is expected of us (servants)? How do we accomplish this?
Discuss the 3^rd servant. What do you think was behind his burying and hiding the money? What does this say to us?
“The English use of ‘talent’ for a natural (or supernatural) aptitude derives from this parable…But of course the Greek talanton is simply a sum of money…it was generally regarded as equal to 6,000 denarii.” (France) “If a talent were worth six thousand denarii, then it would take a day laborer twenty years to earn so much.” (Carson)
The servants were given different amounts of money according to their ability. One servant only received one talent, yet we should see that this was not an insignificant amount. Some received more; but everyone received something and everyone received a large amount.
“The talent which each man has suits his own state best; and it is only pride and insanity which lead him to desire and envy the graces and talents of another. Five talents would be too much for some men: one talent would be too little.” (Clarke)
Went and put his money to work implies direct action. “The point is that the good servants felt the responsibility of their assignment and went to work without delay.” (Carson)

Matt 25:19:-27 – ¹⁹“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ²²“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ ²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ²⁴“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ ²⁶“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

Discuss, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” . What does it mean “I will put you in charge of many things”? What might these be and when? Does this apply to us today?
What is the deep teaching in this parable?
What does it look like to “share in The Master’s happiness”? What makes The Master happy?
How did the 3^rd servant view his master? Do people today view the Lord in this light? Why might they? How do we view the Lord? Why?
How did the master view the 3^rd servant? He was clearly lazy, but why was he called “wicked”?
This shows that the master looked for goodness and faithfulness in His servants. Whatever financial success these servants enjoyed came because they were good and faithful. The master looked first for these character qualities, not for a specific amount of money.
“It is not ‘Well done, thou good and brilliant servant;’ for perhaps the man never shone at all in the eyes of those who appreciate glare and glitter. It is not, ‘Well done, thou great and distinguished servant;’ for it is possible that he was never known beyond his native village.” (Spurgeon)
“It is better to be faithful in the infant-school than to be unfaithful in a noble class of young men. Better to be faithful in a hamlet over two or three score of people, than to be unfaithful in a great-city parish, with thousands perishing in consequence. Better to be faithful in a cottage meeting, speaking of Christ crucified to half-a hundred villagers, than to be unfaithful in a great building where thousands congregate.” (Spurgeon)
Enter into the joy of your lord: This has the echo of heaven in it. The idea is that there is a place of joy belonging to the master of these servants, and they are invited to join the master in that place. There is a sense of heaven about this destiny for the two faithful servants.
The third servant seemed proud of himself. Because the master was so powerful and (in the mind of the servant) didn’t need his help, the third servant thought that the master would be pleased that he did nothing and could say, “Look, there you have what is yours.” He seemed to have no idea how much he had displeased his master.
Yet “albeit this man was doing nothing for his master, he did not think himself an unprofitable servant. He exhibited no self-depreciation, no humbling, no contrition. He was as bold as brass, and said unblushingly, ‘Lo, there thou hast that is thine.’” (Spurgeon)
We can say of the work of the third servant: He didn’t think; He didn’t work; He didn’t even try; He made excuses.
We might say that this servant did not have a proper fear of his master, but an unfitting fear of risk and failure.

Matt 25:28:-30 – ²⁸“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If the gold is the gifts and talents the Lord has given us, what does this parable teach about our responsibility re these talents? What happens if we “bury” them?
Discuss Spiritual Gifts. How do we recognize them? When and why does the Lord give us these gifts?
What are the gifts of the Spirit described in the Scriptures?
What did the master do with the “worthless servant”? Does this seem unfair or harsh? Why or why not?
A pastor once said, when we get to Heaven God will ask 2 questions… (1) What did you do with My Son?; (2) What did you do with the gifts I gave you? Discuss.
“If we cannot trade directly and personally on our Lord’s account, if we have not the skill nor the tact to manage a society or an enterprise for him, we may at least contribute to what others are doing, and join our capital to theirs, so that, by some means, our Master may have the interest to which he is entitled.” (Spurgeon)

In the larger context of Matthew 25, the main point of this parable is clear: our readiness for Jesus’ return is determined by our stewardship of the resources that He has given us.

Some think that readiness for Jesus’ return is a very spiritual and abstract thing. It really isn’t – it is a matter of being about our business for the Lord. In light of this parable, we must ask ourselves: What have we done with our knowledge? Our time? Our money? Our abilities? The sins of omission [what we don’t do] may ultimately be more dangerous than the sins of commission [what we do].

Ø Spiritual gifts: Leadership: encouraging and helping others to build the kingdom of God; Administration: helping with long term goals and remaining on task; Teaching: instructing in truths and doctrines of God’s Word; Knowledge: teaching and discipleship. The ability to learn, know and explain God’s Word; Wisdom: the ability to discern works of the Holy Spirit and apply teaching and actions; Prophecy: proclaiming the Word of God with boldness; Discernment: being able to recognize the truth about a situation; Exhortation: people with this gift are enthusiastic about the Lord and they can motivate others; Shepherding: looking out for the spiritual welfare of others; Faith: trusting God to fulfill His plan. People with this gift are encouragers; Evangelism: the building up of the church so others will be led to Christ; Apostleship: motivators, church planters, missionaries: people who look beyond the walls; Service/Helps: helping those in need of practical assistance; Mercy: The person with this gift shows acts of compassion; Giving: People with this gift will give freely and with joy to further His kingdom; Hospitality: Making people feel welcome, appreciated, and wanted; Tongues: Either a private prayer language or to be used with an interpreter, Least of the gifts.

Matt 25:31:-33 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, He will sit on his glorious throne. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

Discuss “Son of Man”. Jesus regularly referred to Himself this way. What do you think the scribes and pharisees thought? The crowds? The disciples?
Is this the start of a new parable? Or prophesy?
Matthew 24:30-31 – ³⁰“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. ³¹And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Jesus identifies 2 groups – sheep and goats. Could there be a third group? If not, what is the significance of only 2?
Why do you think Jesus chose sheep and goats? How do they differ?
What will determine if you are a sheep or a goat?
Could this be the “Great White Throne Judgement” of Revelation 20:11-15? Why or why not?
The Great White Throne judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 clearly happens after the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ and His saints. The Judgment of the Nations of Matthew 25 happens immediately after the glorious return of Jesus (Matthew 25:31-32).
The Great White Throne judgment of Revelation 20 happens in heaven; the Judgment of the Nations of Matthew 25 happens on earth.
“In the countryside sheep and goats mingled during the day. At night they were often separated: sheep tolerate the cool air, but goats have to be herded together for warmth.” (Carson)

Matt 25:34:-40 – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me somethingto eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and youclothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

How do you feel about this? What about the man/woman on the street corner asking for money? Is this a mandate to always give? If not, how do we decide?
Does giving money always meet a need and help? Or can it be harmful?
In Jesus days widows, orphans and the poor or those unable to work depended on the alms and generosity of others. What is different in our culture?
How do you feel when you don’t give? Discuss.
Do these actions apply only to individuals, or also the church?
How does Wilderness Lake Church serve “even the least of these”? Share stories.

Matt 25:41:-46 – “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Who did Jesus say the “everlasting fire” was prepared for? Why would the “goats” be included?
Verses 34-46 (the sheep and the goats) don’t talk about faith in Jesus. Would “born again” believers be included among the goats? Why or why not?
How would you describe the attitude of those called “goats” toward others?
Discuss Hell. Do you believe in it? If so, what will it be like to those sent there?
“They had joined the devil in refusing allegiance to the Lord; so it was but right that, imitating his rebellion, they should share his punishment.” (Spurgeon)
The charge against the lost ones did not concern any obvious moral violation, but their indifferent attitude toward Jesus (and His people). Their indifference sealed their doom. Throughout this chapter, the point has been emphasized: the price of indifference is too high to pay.
We cannot afford to be indifferent towards Jesus and His return. We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the Holy Spirit who makes us ready for the return of Jesus. We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the resources that God gives us. We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the needy people all around us. We can’t afford to be indifferent towards lost humanity that will stand in judgment.