Matthew 26:1–16

If you have your Bible, open it to Matthew 26. Today I want to wrestle with a simple but searching question:
Where does your devotion lie?

I titled the message that way on purpose, because this passage shows us a tale of two devotions. And as I mentioned last week—there is no middle ground with God.
You are either devoted to Christ, or you are not.

Jesus has just finished His final teachings, and the shadow of the cross now hangs fully over the Gospel narrative. Matthew begins the chapter by reminding us that Jesus is not caught off guard. He is not the victim of circumstance. He is not scrambling to respond to the threats around Him.
No—He is in full control.

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming,
and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
— Matthew 26:2

Jesus had predicted this moment repeatedly. Now the Passover approaches—a time when Jerusalem swelled to nearly five times its normal population. Yet even in the middle of the crowds, the religious leaders gather in secret, plotting Jesus’ death behind closed doors.

On one side of town, in the palace of Caiaphas, the religious elite are scheming.
On the other side, in the humble home of Simon the leper, a woman is worshiping.

And right there Matthew gives us the contrast that frames the whole passage.

---

A Tale of Two Devotions

Imagine the scene.
In Caiaphas’s palace, men who look clean on the outside are busy preparing for Passover. They are purifying themselves, making sure every ritual box is checked.

But inside those purified bodies sit polluted hearts—hearts plotting murder.

Meanwhile Jesus is reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper—a place every religious leader would have avoided. And in that humble setting, a woman comes forward with an alabaster flask of extremely expensive perfume and pours it over Jesus’ head.

While religious men sit in clean places with dirty hearts, this woman sits in an “unclean” place with a heart overflowing in worship.

Holiness is not found in the palace.
Holiness is found wherever Jesus is.

---

1. Love Serves. Hate Schemes.

This woman—John’s Gospel tells us she is Mary—demonstrates a devotion that stops heaven in its tracks. She pours out what was likely a year’s wage. To the disciples, it seems like a waste.
To Jesus, it is beautiful.

“She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
— Matthew 26:10

Her act is extravagant, costly, misunderstood, and yet Jesus says it will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached.
Why?
Because love serves.

She shows us something crucial:
Jesus must come first—above money, above reputation, above expectations, above the needs around us, above everything.

The disciples’ theology was off because they placed service to others on the same level as devotion to Christ. But you cannot love others well unless you first love Him most.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the story, we find Judas.
One of Jesus’ own.
One who walked with Him, watched Him, learned from Him.

And yet Judas slips into the darkness to strike a deal.

“What will you give me if I deliver him to you?”
— Matthew 26:15

Thirty pieces of silver.
Not even half of what Mary poured on Jesus’ head.

Her devotion is uncalculating generosity.
His devotion is cold calculation.

Mary serves.
Judas schemes.
But Christ redeems.

---

2. Despite Our Sin, Jesus Still Died for Sinners

Here is the beauty of the gospel in this passage:

Love serves. Hate schemes. But Christ redeems.

Mary prepares Jesus’ body for burial without even knowing it. Judas prepares to betray Him, and the religious elite prepare to arrest Him. And through it all—Jesus walks toward the cross on purpose.

He is not a victim of their schemes.
He is the Redeemer fulfilling His mission.

He goes to the cross knowing exactly how deeply humanity betrays Him—and He goes anyway.

He died for Judas-hearted sinners like us so He could give us hearts that love Him.

And then Matthew gives us a picture in Bethany of something that looks like waste—but is actually worship. The perfume poured out looks like a seed buried in the soil. To everyone watching, it seems lost, wasted, gone.

But burial isn’t the end.
Burial is the beginning.

What looked wasted at Bethany would bloom in the resurrection.
What looked like defeat on the cross became eternal victory.
What looked buried in the tomb was planted for glory.

---

3. What Do We Sell Jesus For?

Before we judge Judas too quickly, we need to ask an honest question:

How much would you sell Jesus for?

Most of us say, “I’d never betray Him!”
But we often betray Him for far less than thirty pieces of silver.

Some sell Christ for comfort—choosing ease over obedience.
Some for convenience—following Him only when it costs nothing.
Some for approval—wanting acceptance more than faithfulness.
Some for secret sin—clinging to what destroys us.
Some for busyness—filling every schedule except the one that includes Him.
Some for self-glory—choosing our reputation over His name.
Some for control—trusting our plan over God’s will.
Some for money—just like Judas.

Judas’s price was thirty pieces of silver.
Ours may be smaller—but often far more subtle.

We betray Him today not with a kiss, but with compromise:
When we call Him Lord but won’t obey Him…
When we praise Him on Sunday but ignore Him Monday…
When we hide our faith…
When we treat sin lightly…
When we want His blessings more than His presence…

Judas had his moment in history.
We have ours every day.

But praise God—Christ went to the cross knowing we would betray Him.
And He died so our hearts could be changed.

---

4. The Economics Professor and the Cost of Sin

There’s an old story about an economics professor who auctioned off a dollar bill every year. The highest bidder won the dollar, but the second-highest bidder still had to pay their bid. Before long, two embarrassed students were paying more than the dollar was worth simply because they couldn’t admit they were losing.

That’s how sin works.

We start small—just a little compromise, just a little pride, just a little sin.
But sin always raises the price.

We pay with our peace.
We pay with our joy.
We pay with our integrity.
We pay with our closeness to God.

Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver,
but he paid far more than he ever received.

So do we.

But here is the gospel:

Jesus willingly went to the cross for people who haven’t always valued Him rightly.
He died for those who sold Him cheap—so He could buy them back at the highest price: His own blood.

---

5. How Can We Be Known for Our Love for Christ?

I don’t know about you, but I want to be remembered the way Jesus said this woman would be remembered—
for doing beautiful things for Him.

So how do we do that? How do we, as a church, live a life of devotion?

Here are four simple ways:

1. Give Jesus your best—not your leftovers.

She brought her treasure.
Beautiful devotion begins when Jesus gets the first part of our life—our time, worship, giving, affections—not what remains after everything else is done.

2. Obey Jesus even when others don’t understand.

The disciples called her obedience “waste.”
But Jesus called it beautiful.

3. Love Jesus more than anything else.

Not tied for first.
Not almost first.
First.

A church that treasures Christ above everything becomes a church that looks like Him in everything.

4. Serve one another with humble, sacrificial love.

Real devotion is not loud or flashy.
It’s quiet.
It’s faithful.
It’s Christlike.

When we love each other that way, the world breathes in the fragrance of Christ.

---

The Call

Church, let’s be a people known for our worship, not our worldliness.
For our devotion, not our distraction.
For our obedience, not our excuses.
For our love, not our schemes.

Let’s be a church that pours out the perfume—
not one that counts the cost and walks away.

We don’t do beautiful things for Jesus to earn His love.
We do beautiful things for Jesus because He first did the most beautiful thing for us.

He gave His life to redeem us.

How could we not give Him our devotion?

Where does your devotion lie?

Matthew 25:31–46

It was a cold Sunday morning in a small church on the edge of town. People trickled in wearing their Sunday best—shaking hands, exchanging smiles, settling in for worship. Just before the service began, the back doors opened. A man walked in with worn-out clothes, tired eyes, and rough hands. He slipped into the back pew. A few glanced his way. Someone offered a polite smile, then returned to their bulletin. When the offering plate passed him, he quietly handed it to the next person.

As soon as the final prayer ended, he slipped out the side door without speaking to anyone.

The next Sunday the congregation gathered again—this time expecting a special guest speaker. When the moment came, that same man walked up to the pulpit. The room went completely silent.

He looked over the crowd and said,
“Last week I came to see how you would treat me.”

Then he opened his Bible and read:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me… Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
— Matthew 25:35, 40

Conviction fell like a weight upon the room. They realized they had missed Jesus standing right in front of them.

---

When Jesus Returns, Faith Will Be Revealed

Matthew 25 is no longer a parable when we reach verse 31. Jesus pulls back the curtain and gives us a prophetic picture of the final judgment:

The Son of Man returns in glory.
All nations gather before Him.
He separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

And the dividing line is not merely what they claimed to believe, but whether their faith lived—whether it expressed itself through love toward Christ’s people.

That’s the main idea of this entire passage:

Faith that doesn’t lead to action is not living faith.
The way we treat Christ’s followers reveals the reality of our relationship with Him.

This isn’t salvation by works—Jesus never teaches that.
But it absolutely is salvation that works.

---

1. Living Faith Serves Because Jesus Has Changed Us

Jesus begins His commendation in verses 35–36:

“I was hungry… and you gave me food.
I was thirsty… and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger… you welcomed me.
Naked… you clothed me.
Sick… you visited me.
In prison… you came to me.”

The righteous are stunned.
“Lord, when did we see You like this?”

They weren’t trying to impress God.
They weren’t keeping score.
They weren’t doing good works to earn heaven.

Their love simply flowed from who they were.

This is the consistent theme of Scripture. Galatians 6:10 says:

“Do good to everyone, especially to the household of faith.”

In other words, Christians serve Christians—not to be saved, but because they already are.

Jesus says that when we serve His people, we are serving Him.

---

Feeding the Hungry

Hunger today takes many forms:

Physical hunger – Families rationing groceries, elderly believers choosing between medication and food.

Time hunger – Single parents drowning under the weight of doing everything alone.

Emotional hunger – Believers crushed by discouragement and starving for hope.

Feeding the hungry may be as simple as:

• Bringing dinner to a weary family
• Sliding a grocery card into someone’s Bible
• Meeting quiet needs before anyone has to ask
• Speaking God’s Word into a starving soul

These small acts preach the gospel louder than we realize.

---

Giving Drink to the Thirsty

People today thirst for:

• Relief from pressure
• Encouragement in seasons of despair
• Spiritual refreshment after long battles

Sometimes “a cup of cold water” is paying a bill.
Sometimes it’s praying with someone in the parking lot.
Sometimes it’s a timely Scripture sent when they’re breaking.

Refreshing others is a way of showing them the refreshment Christ has given us.

---

Welcoming the Stranger

A “stranger” isn’t only someone new—it’s someone who feels unknown.

• The person sitting alone
• The believer who recently moved
• The young adult who feels overlooked
• The older saint who feels forgotten

Hospitality is not about perfect homes.
It’s about making space in your life where lonely people can breathe again.

---

Clothing the Exposed

People today experience exposure in different ways:

Material exposure:
Families unable to afford winter coats, school shoes, or basic needs.

Emotional exposure:
Believers burdened with shame, sin struggles, or mistakes—afraid they’ll be judged instead of restored.

To clothe the exposed is to protect dignity, to remind them they are made in the image of God and clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

---

Caring for the Sick

Sickness strips away a sense of control.

Caring may look like:

• Sitting by a hospital bed
• Bringing meals
• Cleaning a home or running errands
• Watching children
• Praying when fear is louder than faith

This includes emotional sickness too—depression, grief, anxiety, trauma.
Sometimes the loudest ministry is quiet presence.

---

Visiting the Prisoner

Some believers are behind literal bars—forgotten, abandoned, unseen.

Many others are behind invisible ones:

• Addiction
• Shame
• Grief
• Regret
• Anxiety
• Consequences of sin

Visiting these “prisons” means carrying the gospel into broken places and walking alongside believers who feel trapped.

---

2. Dead Faith Has No Works—and Leads to Judgment

Jesus then turns to the goats—the people whose faith never moved.

They say, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty…?”

But the absence of works revealed the absence of Christ.

Faith that never moves is not saving faith.

It’s like buying a brand-new truck and never turning the key.
Looks good. Sounds impressive. But never actually goes anywhere.
Over time it rusts, dies, and becomes useless.

A faith that never acts is no faith at all.

Jesus does not soften His words:

“Depart from Me… into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Hell was never created for humans—it was prepared for the devil.
But those who reject the Savior, reject repentance, and reject His people will go where those who do not belong to Christ must go.

The sheep are not saved because they did good works.
They did good works because they were saved.

Works do not purchase salvation—they reveal it.

---

The Final Separation

Jesus pictures the final judgment as a shepherd separating sheep from goats.

Two groups.
Only two.

Not church-goers and non–church-goers.
Not “nice people” and “bad people.”

But:

• Sheep clothed in Christ’s righteousness
• Goats clothed in their own

The question is painfully simple:

What side are you on?

Not “What do you say you believe?”
But “What does your life reveal?”

---

A Wake-Up Call, Not a Crushing Weight

Jesus tells this sobering truth just before the cross—while His own love is about to be displayed for the world.

He wants our hearts, not empty religion.
He wants faith that breathes, acts, and loves.

Maybe you realize today that your faith has been sitting still like that unused truck—shiny, talked about, but unmoved.

That realization isn’t condemnation—it’s invitation.

Jesus died for wandering goats who need a Shepherd.
He died for sinners needing forgiveness.
He died to make us new.

So this is the call:

• Repent where your faith has been dead.
• Turn from empty religion.
• Run to Jesus.
• And then live a faith that moves.

Feed the hungry.
Refresh the thirsty.
Welcome the stranger.
Clothe the exposed.
Care for the sick.
Visit the prisoner.

Not to earn salvation—but because Jesus has already given it.

This is faith that lives.

Amen—or ouch?

Matthew 25:14–30

If you have a Bible, open it to Matthew 25. The message of this passage is simple and sobering: don’t waste your talents. Everything we possess—our abilities, our resources, our influence, even our very breath—is a gift from God. And Jesus tells us plainly that what we do with what He’s given us matters for eternity.

Before we step into the text, it’s helpful to understand what a “talent” meant in biblical times. John MacArthur explains that a talent wasn’t a coin but a measure of weight. A talent of gold was worth far more than a talent of silver, but either way, it represented a significant amount of money. Our modern word talent—meaning a natural ability—comes from applying this parable to the stewardship of the gifts God gives us.

The point is this: everything we have is a gift from God, and everything God gives is meant to be used for His glory.

Main Idea:

Christians use and invest their talents to glorify God because He is the One who gave them to us.

---

God Is the Giver of Talents

J. C. Ryle, in his usual straightforward manner, reminds us that we are all God’s servants, and all of us have talents. Not just the gifted, not just the platformed, not just the “talented.” Anyone who has anything that can be used to glorify God is a “talented person” in the biblical sense.

Ryle lists these gifts—our money, influence, knowledge, strength, time, intellect, affections, even our access to Scripture. Where did all these things come from? His answer is blunt: all that we have is a loan from God.

If God had willed it, we could be nothing more than worms crawling on the earth. But instead, He has given us authority, dignity, His Son, and every grace that flows from Him. Even our talents—whatever they may be—are temporary loans intended for eternal purposes.

This is exactly what Matthew 25 shows us. The Master gives His servants 5, 2, and 1 talent—each according to their ability. Scholars vary in estimating their modern value, but many place the total near two million dollars. In other words, these are no small gifts. But what matters most is not the amount, but the responsibility.

Two servants invest what the Master entrusts. One servant buries it.

And Scripture is clear: God expects faithfulness from all of us, not just a few.

---

We Will All Be Judged for How We Use Our Talents

The text says the Master returns “after a long time” to settle accounts. Jesus is teaching us that He will return, and every believer will give an account for what we did with what God gave.

Two servants step forward with joy. “Look, Master!” you can almost hear the excitement in their voices. And the Master responds with those words all believers long to hear:

“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master.”

It’s not just an accounting—it’s a relationship of joy. There is excitement, intimacy, delight. Their faithfulness is rewarded, not because they earned salvation, but because their love for their Master overflowed in obedience.

Then the third servant steps up, not with joy but with excuses. He accuses the Master of being harsh, unfair, unreasonable. And in doing so, he reveals he never truly knew the Master at all.

His problem wasn’t lack of ability. It was lack of love.

He wasn’t condemned because he failed.
He was condemned because he refused to try.

He hid what God gave him. He buried it.
And Jesus calls him “wicked and slothful.”

There is a warning here: self-preservation does not equal glorification.

You cannot glorify God by sitting on what He gave you. Churches do this. Christians do this. And Jesus warns us not to follow the path of the “do-nothing servant.”

---

Our View of God Determines Our Use of Talents

The unfaithful servant created a version of the Master that excused his laziness. Many people do the same today. A wrong view of God leads to a wrong walk with God.

If you believe God is harsh, you’ll serve Him reluctantly.
If you believe God is generous, you’ll serve Him joyfully.

Fear paralyzes. Faith propels.

Had the unfaithful servant truly believed the Master was powerful and generous, he would have acted. Instead, he projected his own unbelief onto God.

When we lose a right view of Jesus—His grace, His kindness, His sacrifice—it distorts our worship, our service, our generosity, and our obedience. A thankful heart serves the Lord with joy.

---

Faithfulness Means Using What God Has Given, Not Hiding It

Jesus rebukes the servant for not even attempting a minimal return. His point is clear: Do something with what I’ve given you.

Too many churches bury their gifts because they fear losing them. They sit and wait for God to work while refusing to work with what God already gave.

But when the church gives faithfully, invests in missions, supports ministries, and serves the community, God uses it—even when the results aren’t immediately visible. Faithfulness isn’t measured in numbers but obedience.

We may be a “one-talent church,” but that doesn’t mean we should be a bury-the-talent church.

God can do more with one faithful talent than a thousand buried in the ground.

---

The Use of Our Talents Has Eternal Implications

Ryle beautifully captures this truth:

“Every hour spent in Christ’s service, and every word spoken on Christ’s behalf, has been written in a book of remembrance.”

What we do for Christ in this life matters. Every act of service, every sacrifice, every faithful investment is seen by God. And in this parable, the faithful are given more—not earthly riches, but eternal reward.

This is not the prosperity gospel.
This is the reality of spiritual life.

Use it, and it grows.
Refuse to use it, and it dies.

The unfaithful servant lost everything—not because he wasn’t gifted, but because he wasted what God gave him.

---

Seeing Christ in the Parable

Jesus is the Master who entrusted His servants.
He is the Faithful Servant who did what we could not.
And He is the Returning King who will settle accounts.

His life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate expression of investment—He gave everything so we could receive life. And one day, He will return, and every believer will stand before Him.

Some will hear, “Enter into the joy of your Master.”
Others—those who were close to the things of God but never knew God—will face judgment.

Works don’t save us, but fruit proves the presence of saving faith.

---

Living Faithfully in Light of Eternity

Here is our response:

1. Recognize your life and gifts as grace.

Everything is a gift. Everything.

2. Be faithful, not fearful.

Fear buries talents. Faith invests them.

3. Have a right view of the Master.

A wrong view of God leads to a wrong walk with God.

4. Use what you have, not what you don’t.

God expects faithfulness, not equal results.

5. Remember eternal consequences.

What you do now echoes forever.

6. Invest your life for the gospel.

Nothing done for Christ is wasted—not one dollar, one hour, or one act of obedience.

---

A Final Charge

J. C. Ryle gives us a sobering reminder:

“The unprofitable servant was not ruined because he robbed his master, but because he did nothing.”

Christianity without practice is no Christianity at all.
Churches die because they bury what God gave them.
Christians drift because they forget the Master who entrusted them.
Let us refuse to be a “do-nothing” people.

Let us live ready for His return, faithful in His work, eager to hear those words on that day:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

By Luke Sills
Text: Matthew 25:1–13

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’” — Matthew 25:6

There’s a story Jesus tells about ten bridesmaids waiting for a wedding to begin. Five are wise; five are foolish. They all start out the same—lamps in hand, hearts expectant, ready to celebrate with the bridegroom. But when the bridegroom is delayed, only half of them are truly ready when he finally arrives.

The story is simple but sobering: the wise bridesmaids brought extra oil; the foolish ones didn’t. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the foolish five ran off to find more oil. By the time they returned, the door was shut. Their cries—“Lord, Lord, open to us!”—were met with a chilling response: “I do not know you.”

The Point of the Parable

Jesus isn’t giving us wedding advice; He’s teaching us how to live in light of His return. The bridegroom represents Jesus Himself. Just as no one could predict the hour of His coming in the story, we cannot predict when Christ will return. The message is clear: don’t try to guess when—be ready always.

True readiness isn’t about knowing the timeline. It’s about having a living, active faith that keeps your lamp burning bright. It’s about a heart that stays close to Christ—trusting, obeying, and walking with Him daily.

The wise virgins were ready not because of their works, but because of their faith. Their faith was real, active, and alive—it worked itself out in readiness. They didn’t just say they belonged to the wedding party; they lived like it.

The Danger of Borrowed Faith

The foolish virgins’ mistake was not simply forgetfulness—it was presumption. They thought they could borrow oil from others. Spiritually speaking, they believed someone else’s faith could make up for their own lack of preparation.

Many make that same mistake today. They assume their parents’ faith, their church attendance, or their association with Christian friends will carry them through. But when Jesus returns, He won’t accept second-hand readiness. No one can believe for you.

Your lamp—your heart—must be filled with oil—faith, obedience, and devotion that are your own. Being around faithful people isn’t enough; your relationship with Jesus must be personal.

The Midnight Cry

At midnight, the cry went out: “Here’s the bridegroom!” That’s the moment that changes everything. The time for preparation is over; the door is closing.

There’s a deep urgency in this parable. Jesus is reminding us that His return will come suddenly—when most aren’t expecting it. For those who are ready, it’s a moment of joy and fulfillment. For those who have delayed, it’s too late.

Sir Francis Bacon once said, “The desire of power in excess caused angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall.” We often crave to know when Jesus is coming, but He’s far more concerned with who is ready when He does.

Living Ready Today

So what does readiness look like for us? Jesus’ story gives us five clear takeaways:

1. Don’t wait to surrender—Christ has already paid the price.

Jesus didn’t wait to go to the cross for you. He gave His life willingly, so you could be forgiven and free. Don’t delay your response to Him.

“Now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2

2. Don’t wait to grow—cultivate your faith daily.

Readiness doesn’t happen by accident. Keep your spiritual lamp full through prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience.

“Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” — Matthew 24:42

3. Don’t wait to serve—let your light shine now.

Waiting for Christ isn’t passive. Serve others, share the gospel, and live out your faith actively.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works.” — Matthew 5:16

4. Don’t wait to hope—live with eternity in view.

Hope in Christ’s return gives purpose to your present. The wise virgins lived ready because they believed the bridegroom was coming.

“The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” — Matthew 24:44

5. Don’t wait to decide—Jesus could return at any moment.

There’s no time like now to make sure your faith is your own. The midnight cry could sound at any moment.

The Door Will Not Stay Open Forever

The most haunting part of the parable is that the door eventually shuts. It’s a reminder that God’s mercy is not endless in duration. There comes a day when the invitation to believe expires—when the waiting ends, and the Bridegroom arrives.

When Jesus went to the cross, He didn’t delay. At the appointed hour, He gave His life, was buried, and rose again—defeating death once and for all. Now, the risen Savior invites us to be ready for His return.

Don’t Wait Until Midnight

Picture a bride waiting for her groom late into the night. Lamps flicker, eyes grow heavy, and the air is still. Suddenly, a shout pierces the darkness: “The bridegroom is coming!” Those who are ready rise and go in to celebrate. The rest are left outside, wishing they had prepared sooner.

Jesus’ call is clear: Don’t wait until midnight. Don’t wait to repent. Don’t wait to believe. Don’t wait to live fully for Him.

When the midnight cry sounds, may your lamp be burning bright—your heart full of faith, your life ready to meet the Bridegroom face to face.

Matthew 24:29–31, 36–51
By Luke Sills

Few topics capture the imagination of Christians like the end times. Ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, believers have wondered when He will return. Throughout history, people have predicted dates, written books, and even built movements around their calculations. Yet every single prediction has shared one thing in common — Christ did not return.

From a Roman clergyman in the 3rd century predicting A.D. 500, to Harold Camping’s billboard campaign in 2011, the pattern is the same: men speculate, time passes, and the world continues. Each false prediction not only disappoints but also brings disrepute to the faith. Jesus could not have been clearer when He said:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)

As theologian R.T. France observed, “In view of such plain statements as this, it is astonishing that some Christians can still attempt to work out the date of the parousia!” And William Barclay didn’t mince words, calling such speculation “nothing less than blasphemy, for the man who so speculates is seeking to wrestle from God secrets which belong to God alone.”

The lesson is clear: rather than speculating about when Christ will return, we are called to be ready.

---

The Main Idea

No man knows the time or hour when Jesus will return; therefore, we must always be ready to do the work of the Lord.

---

1. The Return of Jesus Will Be Obvious, but Unexpected

Jesus describes His return in vivid, unmistakable terms:

“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven…” (Matthew 24:29)

This will not be a quiet event hidden in a corner of the earth. It will be cosmic, glorious, and undeniable. Every eye will see Him. Every heart will know that the King has come.

As J.C. Ryle said, “The second personal coming of Christ will be as different as possible from the first.” He came first in humility — born in a manger, despised and rejected. But He will come again in power and great glory. The same Jesus who once wore a crown of thorns will return wearing the crown of the universe.

---

2. The Return of Jesus Should Lead Us to Readiness

Jesus follows His prophecy with several examples designed to shake us awake.

He recalls the days of Noah — days full of noise, feasting, and wedding celebrations. The world went on as usual, unaware that judgment was coming. Meanwhile, Noah — alone in obedience — built the ark in faith.

Noah didn’t wait for rain clouds before he believed God. He trusted God’s Word and acted on it. That’s readiness.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen… constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” (Hebrews 11:7)

When Jesus returns, it won’t be time to start building — it will be time to board the ark. Now is the time to believe, repent, and prepare.

Then Jesus gives another image — workers in the field and women at the mill. Both groups are living their normal lives, but suddenly, one is taken and one is left. The point isn’t whether they go up or stay behind — the point is readiness. Those who are ready are not idle; they are faithful in the ordinary.

Being ready for Jesus’ return means being faithful today — at work, at home, in your neighborhood. The faithful servant is found doing what his Master asked, not staring at the sky or wasting time in speculation.

---

3. Readiness Means Living Faithfully Until He Comes

Jesus also tells the story of two servants. One continues his work faithfully while the master is away. The other grows careless, saying, “My master is delayed.” He begins mistreating others and living for himself.

That’s where spiritual decay begins — not with open rebellion, but quiet indifference.
The moment we think, “I’ve got time… I’ll get serious later…” is the moment compromise begins.

When the master returns unexpectedly, it’s too late. The unfaithful servant is cut off and placed with the hypocrites — those who looked religious but lived for themselves. Jesus says there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” That’s not poetic language — that’s eternal regret.

But for the faithful, there’s blessing:

“Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:46)

When Jesus returns, He will not bless the one who guessed the timing but the one who was faithful in the waiting — serving, loving, giving, and obeying until He comes.

---

4. How Christ Fulfills This Text

Every word Jesus spoke about His return finds its foundation in His own life, death, and resurrection.

• In His Death, Jesus endured the very judgment He warned about. The darkness, the shaking earth, the divine wrath — He took it all upon Himself. The cross was the first tremor of final judgment, and there, mercy triumphed over wrath.
• In His Resurrection, He proved that readiness is not in vain. The same Jesus who obeyed in faith was vindicated by the Father. His resurrection is the guarantee that faithfulness now will be rewarded forever.
• In His Return, He will complete what He began. The One who came in humility will come again in majesty. Every eye will see Him, and He will set all things right. For those who believe, that day will not be one of fear, but of joy.

---

5. Are You Ready?

When Jesus returns, there will be no time to prepare — only time to reveal whether you were ready.

If you have not trusted in Christ for salvation, hear this: you are not ready. Like those in Noah’s day, you may be living life unaware of what’s coming. But there is still time to turn to Him in repentance and faith. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

For the believer, readiness means faithful, daily obedience. Adrian Rogers once said, “Christians should live as if Jesus died this morning, rose this afternoon, and is coming this evening.” That’s the kind of urgency that should mark our lives.

Jonathan Edwards lived with that same focus. Among his resolutions were these:

“Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, to inquire every night wherein I have been negligent or sinned, and how I might have done better.
Resolved, to act as I should do if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and the torments of hell.”

Those are the words of a man who lived ready.

So let me ask you: Are you ready?
Are you living with urgency, faithfulness, and expectation?
When Christ returns — whether today or a thousand years from now — may He find you faithful, awake, and doing what He has called you to do.

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)