In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus teaches His disciples that living alertly results in faithful stewardship of God’s grace by telling a parable in three acts.

1. Act I: “The Master’s Gift”
   The master entrusts his wealth to his slaves according to their own ability (vv. 14, 15).
2. Act II: “The Slaves’ Stewardship”
   The slaves work as stewards of their master’s wealth.
   1. The five-talent slave increases his portion to ten talents (v. 16).
   2. The two-talent slave increases his portion to four talents (v. 17).
   3. The one-talent slave keeps his portion at one talent (v. 18).
3. Act III: “The Master’s Return”
   The master returns to settle accounts with his slaves.
   1. The five-talent slave joyfully presents his ten talents and is commended and rewarded by his master (vv. 19-21).
   2. The two-talent slave joyfully presents his four talents and is commended and rewarded by his master (vv. 22, 23).
   3. The one-talent slave fearfully presents his one talent (with excuses!) and is rebuked, condemned and punished by his master (vv. 24-30).

In Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus speaks a parable in which He compares and contrasts two groups of bridesmaids as He teaches His disciples that another way of waiting alertly for His return (v. 13) is to be prepared.

1. All the bridesmaids are alike in many ways.
   1. They all were virgins attending to the bride and awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom (v. 1).
   2. They all slept while the bridegroom delayed (v. 5).
   3. They all trimmed their lamps when the bridegroom was announced (vv. 6, 7).
   4. They all desired entrance to the feast (vv. 10, 11).
2. Some bridesmaids were foolish (v. 2a).
   1. They brought torches but no oil (v. 3).
   2. They tried to borrow the oil of others when they recognized their mistake (v. 8).
   3. They were trying to buy oil when the bridegroom arrived (v. 10a).
   4. They were denied entrance to the feast by the bridegroom (v. 12).
3. Some bridesmaids were prudent (v. 2b).
   1. They brought both torches and oil (v. 4).
   2. They made sure they had the oil needed to join the bridegroom’s processional (v. 9).
   3. They entered the feast with the bridegroom because they were prepared (v. 10b).

In Matthew 24:42-51 Jesus speaks two parables that illustrate two characteristics that should mark our lives as we wait for His return.

1. The parable of the thief teaches us we must be on constant alert for Jesus’ coming (vv. 42-44).
2. The parable of the faithful and evil slaves teaches us we must be found faithfully working when Jesus comes.
   1. The faithful slave:
      1. Given a specific responsibility by his master (v. 45).
      2. Blessed because his master returned and found him faithful (v. 46).
      3. Rewarded with greater responsibility because his master returned and found him faithful (v. 47).
   2. The evil slave:
      1. Given a specific responsibility by his master (vv. 45, 48a).
      2. Proves himself to be unfaithful (vv. 48, 49).
      3. Rewarded with judgment because his master returned unexpectedly and found him to be an unfaithful hypocrite (vv. 50, 51).

In Matthew 24:29-41 Jesus continues His Olivet Discourse by revealing two broad facets of His Second Coming.

1. The second coming of Christ is marked by certain events that reveal God’s glory.
   1. The darkening of the skies (v. 29).
   2. The appearance of the Son of Man (v. 30a).
   3. The mourning from all the tribes (v. 30b).
   4. The coming of the Son of Man (v. 30c).
   5. The gathering of the elect (v. 31).
2. The second coming of Christ is marked by certain characteristics that reveal our need for readiness.
   1. It is near (vv. 32-34).
   2. It is certain (v. 35).
   3. It’s date and time are unknown (v. 36).
   4. It will surprise most people (vv. 37-39).
   5. It will separate the elect from God’s enemies (vv. 40, 41).

As Matthew 24 opens we find Jesus turning His back on the temple and everything for which it stands (v. 1), confirming its destruction (v. 2), and responding to two questions asked by the disciples (v. 3). In 24:4-28 Jesus answers the disciples 2nd question by describing the events (“birth pangs”) that will occur between His first and second coming and revealing 6 activities in which believers should by involved during that time.

While waiting for Jesus’ second coming believers should:

1. Be on guard for deceivers (vv. 4-5; 22-26).
2. Be fearless in the face of cataclysmic events (vv. 6-8).
3. Be ready to suffer because of your devotion to Christ (v. 9).
4. Be strong & endure to the end to be saved (vv. 10-13).
5. Be faithful to preach the gospel (v. 14).
   The destruction of Jerusalem: A particularly difficult birth pang (vv. 15-21).
6. Be ready for Christ’s inevitable and visible return (vv. 27-28).

In Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus closes His final public address with three statements that reveal God’s intentions for the rebellious nation of Israel and give us instruction concerning how we should act toward those who are rebellious against Christ.

1. Jesus laments over Israel’s rebellion (v. 37).
2. Jesus prophesies of Israel’s judgment (v. 38).
3. Jesus promises God’s faithful grace (v. 39).

In Matthew 23:13-36 Jesus pronounces seven woes on the scribes and Pharisees that reveal to us four characteristics of the life and ministry of false teachers.

1. False teachers live and teach a false gospel.
   1. By shutting the door to the kingdom (the first woe, v. 13).
   2. By teaching disciples their own religion (the second woe, v. 15).
2. False teachers live and teach legalism.
   1. By providing loopholes in the law to allow for sin (the third woe, vv. 16-22).
   2. By majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors (the fourth woe, vv. 23, 24).
3. False teachers live and teach moralism.
   1. By pretending that external character equals internal character (the fifth woe, vv. 25, 26).
   2. By striving for external righteousness while lacking internal righteousness (the sixth woe, vv. 27, 28).
4. False teachers live and teach the same as enemies of God throughout the ages by rejecting the prophets of God (the seventh woe, vv. 29-36).

Note: lost the first minute due to an audio problem, sorry.

In Matthew 23:1-12 we see Jesus contrasting two types of spiritual leaders.

1. False spiritual leaders will:
   1. Claim their own authority (vv. 1, 2).
   2. Ignore their own teaching (v. 3).
   3. Lack compassion for those they teach (v. 4).
   4. Seek praise from men (vv. 5-7).
2. True spiritual leaders will:
   1. Humbly point to Christ in their work, not to themselves (vv. 8-10).
   2. Humbly serve others, waiting for God’s exaltation (vv. 11, 12).

In Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus lovingly challenges the Pharisees’ notion of the Messiah by asking them four questions.

1. What do you think about the Messiah (vv. 41, 42a)?
2. Whose son is He (v. 42b)?
3. How does David (the father who should be greater than his son), inspired by the Spirit, call his son “Lord” (which makes his son greater than him) (vv. 43, 44)?
4. Since David does indeed call the Messiah “Lord,” how could He possibly be only David’s son (vv. 45, 46)?

In Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus responds to the lawyer’s question concerning the greatest commandment (vv. 34, 35) with a three-part answer.

1. The greatest commandment is to love your God with all your being (vv. 37, 38).
2. The second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself (v. 39).
3. All of Scripture hangs on these two love commandments (v. 40).

In Matthew 22:23-34 we are shown another challenge to Jesus’ authority and we find three components of the interchange between the Sadducees and Jesus.

1. The interchange includes a question by the Sadducees.
   1. An unbelievable situation (vv. 22-27).
   2. An unbelieving question (v. 28).
2. The interchange includes an answer by Jesus.
   1. You have led yourselves astray:
      1. By not understanding the Scriptures (v. 29a).
      2. By not understanding the power of God (v. 29b).
   2. There will be no marriage in heaven (v. 30).
   3. The resurrection you deny is true and you should know it (v. 31):
      1. God spoke to you through His word (v. 31).
      2. God is the God of the living (v. 32)!
3. The interchange includes responses to Jesus’ answer.
   1. The crowds were astonished (v. 33).
   2. The Sadducees were silenced (v. 34).

In Romans 13:1-7 Paul gives two commands concerning our responsibilities toward governing authorities.

1. Everyone must submit to the governing authorities.
   1. Because all authority is established by God (v. 1).
      1. To resist authority is to oppose God’s law (v. 2a).
      2. Those who oppose God’s authority will receive condemnation (v. 2b).
   2. Because rulers are ministers of God.
      1. They praise good behavior, so do not fear them if you do good (vv. 3, 4a).
      2. They bear God’s wrath against evil, so fear them if you do evil (v. 4b).
   3. Because your conscience reveals what is good (v. 5).
2. Everyone must pay taxes and give honor to governing authorities.
   1. Because they are servants of God (v. 6).
   2. Because we are commanded by God to give the authorities their due (v. 7).

Sorry, lost the first couple of minutes due to an audio problem.

In Matthew 22:15-22 we are shown three acts of a plot to trap Jesus into condemning Himself.

1. The plot is conceived by the Pharisees (v. 15).
2. The plot is carried out by the Pharisees’ disciples and some Herodians.
   1. False flattery is bestowed (v. 16).
   2. A trick question is asked (v. 17).
3. The plot is commandeered by Jesus.
   1. Hypocrisy is exposed (v. 18).
   2. An answer is given (vv. 19-21).
   3. Amazement is displayed (v. 22).

In Matthew 22:1-14 we find the parable of the marriage feast and we are shown four acts of rejection as God repeatedly offers His grace in His Kingdom.

1. Israel rejected the Kingdom because they were unwilling to repent and believe (vv. 1-3).
2. Israel rejected the Kingdom and killed the prophets because they were rebellious.
   1. Even though God showed grace by sending more messengers Israel was apathetic toward His grace (vv. 4, 5).
   2. They killed the messengers (v. 6).
3. God rejected Israel.
   1. He declared judgment on the nation for their rejection of His Kingdom (v. 7).
   2. He declared the nation unworthy of His Kingdom (v. 8).
4. God rejects the unrighteous.
   1. God extends grace (an invitation to His Kingdom) to everyone (v. 9, 10).
   2. God examines everyone for righteousness (vv. 11, 12).
   3. God executes judgment on the unrighteous (vv. 13, 14).

In Matthew 21:33-46 we hear Jesus teach the parable of the wicked tenants and gracious land owner and we learn 8 truths about the kingdom of God.

1. God cares for and provides everything needed for the Kingdom to produce fruit (v. 33).
2. God is long-suffering with the inhabitants of His Kingdom (vv. 34, 36a, 37).
3. Inhabitants of the Kingdom can be exceedingly sinful (vv. 35, 36b, 38, 39, 45, 46).
4. God is full of grace and mercy in the sending of His Son, the King and central figure of the Kingdom (v. 37).
5. God will judge those who claim to be members of His Kingdom but who bear no fruit (vv. 40, 41).
6. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, the sure Foundation, of His Kingdom (v. 42).
7. True members of the Kingdom are known because they produce the fruit of the Kingdom: Righteousness because of faith in Christ (v. 43).
8. False members of the Kingdom will be judged for their lack of fruit: rejection of Christ (v. 44).