Garwood Presbyterian Church

You Better Watch Out!

Matthew 24:37-51
# 5 In "Your Future Foretold"

Introduction - As we continue to look at events which will take place in the future, we will center on Jesus' second coming today.

1. In Matthew 24:37-51 Jesus Speaks About His Second Coming and What We Are to Do
   1. In verses 42-44 He tells us to "keep watch" and "be ready."
   2. In verses 45-51 He tells us to be a "faithful and wise servant" who gives His other servants "their food at the proper time."
   3. The next chapter in Matthew, which is a continuation of the same talk that Jesus began in chapter 24, tells us how to do these two things through three parables Jesus tells.
2. Matthew 25
   1. We are told how to "keep watch" and "be ready" through the parable of the ten virgins in Mat-thew 25:1-13.
      1. We read that five people are ready, but another five are not ready when the bridegroom, who represents Jesus, arrives after a long time of waiting for his wedding.
      2. The five people who are ready "went in with him to the wedding banquet," which represents entering heaven. Then we read that "the door was shut."
      3. Later, the other five people come and ask him to let them in, but he won't do it.
      4. The reason he will not is because he says, "I don't know you." This is a very personal knowing.
      5. Therefore, we can "be ready" by knowing Jesus personally.
      6. We know Jesus personally be believing and receiving Him. John 1:12 says "To all who re-ceived Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
   2. The next parable, of the talents, in Matthew 25:14-30 tells us how to both "be ready" and be a "faithful and wise servant" who gives Jesus' other servants "their food at the proper time."
      1. It says that we do this by investing our life wisely.
      2. We invest our life wisely by loving people with the love of God.
   3. The third parable in Matthew 25, of the sheep and goats in verses 31-46, tells us how to do this.
      1. Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
      2. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
      3. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

Conclusion: James 2:14-26 points out that a true faith in God will produce actions that are obedient to what God wants. And what God wants most is for us to love other people in Jesus' name. So, "be ready" and be a "faithful and wise servant" by having a true saving faith that flows out of your life in loving actions for other people for Jesus' sake.