
Matthew 21 – Den of Thieves
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For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus said “ The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37) What work is Christ talking about? We know that we are commanded by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) To share the good news of Christ to everyone, but what other work is there? Well Jesus lists alot of work we should be doing feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick in the hospitals, mentoring the prisoners in jail
This is why the Church has so many ministries, we as the Body of Christ are to be the hands and feet of Christ, we are the light of the world and the salt of the Earth. You are not fulfilling the role of the Church sitting on your coach, there is work to do! You might ask, why should I do any of this work? Because you are doing it for your Master, and if you truly love Jesus , then you would do what he commands you to do. (John 14:15)
Jesus said “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did it for me” Think about it every time you helped someone, you are actually serving The Lord himself. The homeless person or the prisoner, imagine Christ standing next to you saying “Help that person”!
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:41-46
What does the world say about all this? “Dog Eat Dog” “Take Care of Number One”, “Only the strong Survive” , what does Jesus say about this “Everyone of these people you rejected, you reject Christ” Every Church should be involved in these ministries, otherwise they are going to give an account to Jesus on the day of judgment!
Jesus made it very simple, Everlasting Punishment (Hell) or Eternal Life (Heaven) (v46) Its the same Greek word aionion meaning eternal. If you believe in eternal life, then you have to believe in eternal punishment, the only way to salvation is Jesus Christ (John 14:6) ,
You are the Church, You are the Salt and Light, You are the hands and feet of Christ, take care of the Least of These in Jesus Name, Amen!

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25:31-34
While Christians anxiously await for the return of Christ, the world will mourn when The Lord returns, (Rev. 1:7, Matt 24:29) why? Because Jesus is coming to separate the Sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the saints and the sinners. The question is, which one are you? Are you a Born Again Sheep of Christ? Or are you dead in your sins?
It’s interesting how the world has turned the term GOAT (Greatest of All Time) into a desired title, while they also look down upon the term Sheep , as weak and stupid. Do you think that is a coincidence? Of course not, Satan has blinded the entire world to lead them to the broad way to Hell. The Sheep hear the voice of The Great Shepherd, the know and follow Christ. There is nothing shameful about being a Sheep, it’s the greatest title and honor that a person can achieve. I don’t think the world will have many “TEDTalks” about that!
Some might say “I’m not either, because I don’t believe in God” Don’t be deceived, Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords , every knee will bow to Jesus, did you catch that “EVERY”, that includes Atheists, Muslims, demons, angels, ect, there will be no exceptions when Christ returns and takes His throne. You will either be a Sheep or a Goat, you will either inherit eternal life or eternal damnation.
This is why the world will mourn the return of Christ, because when Jesus comes then comes judgment. Many people don’t understand this, that’s why it’s your job as a Sheep to preach the gospel of the Great Shepherd! Satan will keep the world distracted and blinded about The Kings return, because Satan knows his days are numbered, and Satan wants to take as many with him to the Lake of Fire
Jesus said to the Sheep “Come inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Everything that Christ has done for us, leads up to this moment, to enter into God’s eternal Kingdom with immortal bodies, free from sin and death, to reign with God forevermore! (Rev.21, Isaiah 66) This Victory is already won, it’s just a matter of when! Satan is already defeated, his time is running out, The Lord will return at a day or hour we least expect him
The judgment of God is coming! This is not just a message for Christians, but for everyone, because Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great Shepherd coming for his Sheep , Amen!

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. Matthew 25:14-19
When Jesus Christ returns, what will He say to you? Well done, Good and faithful servant or You wicked , lazy servant? Notice Jesus addressed both groups as servants, if you are a Christian , you are a servant of Jesus Christ! The Church has work to do, we are not just to sit around and wait for the rapture, we are to use our talents for the Kingdom of God
As we see in this parable, Jesus gives all of his disciples talents, some less and some more, but the point is “How are you using the gifts God has given you”? The Bible tells us we all have gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12) God wants us to use these gifts and talents, to build the Kingdom of God. Are you neglecting your gift from the Holy Spirit? Notice the response in the parable when Christ returns, he asks each individual what they did with their time and talents.
We must remember that each one of us have different talents and gifts given to us, (Romans 12) As the Body of Christ, one talent is not greater than another, when put together, the Body of Christ becomes complete, this is why it’s important for Christians to gather and work together as the Church
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Matthew 25:20-26
Notice those who used their talents and gifts for the Kingdom of God, Jesus said “Well done good and faithful servant, those who hid their talents and didn’t produce fruit, Jesus said “You wicked, lazy servant”! So if Christ came back today, what would he say to you? If we truly love Jesus, then we should strive to make our Master happy, because we love him! This is not about earning salvation, this is about showing evidence of your conversion, showing evidence of your faith, showing evidence that you truly love The Lord God with all your heart, soul, and strength
Those who share their gifts and talents of God, they “share in the joy of Thy Lord” When you feel alone, like your the only one serving The Lord, remember you enter into the Joy of serving Christ! The world can’t understand this joy, the world can’t understand working for The Lord, because the world doesn’t know or love Christ!
So when you stand face to face with Christ, what will he say to you? Well done good and faithful servant or depart from me I never knew you? Don’t bury your talents, let your light shine to others in Jesus name! Amen!

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Matthew 25:1-6
Jesus continually teaches about His return, we see this in Matthew Chapter 24 and now here again, the theme continues in Matthew Chapter 25, the parable of the Ten Virgins is about Christ’s return, and whether or not the Church is ready. It’s a continual theme and message , Be Ready for Christ return!
We also see the reference of Christ return as a wedding, where the Church is the bride of Christ, and Jesus is the groom. This is a personal relationship with God, this is not a religion that you worship a deity in the sky, Christ knows you and has called you by name before the foundations of the world. The Ten Virgins here is the Church, half are asleep and half are filled with the Holy Spirit ready to meet The Lord
Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, the message is stay filled with the Holy Spirit, be ready for Christ’s return at an hour you least expect him. Don’t fall away and asleep like half of the Church. This is the separation between the Sheep and the Goats, the false converts and the true Born Again believers
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:7-13
The foolish ones, the false converts, beg the Born Again believers to “give us your oil” , this shows their foolishness, no one can give you the Holy Spirit except Christ. As Jesus said “ I don’t know You” (v12) if they would have called upon the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, then they could have been saved, however they cling to their own abilities to save themselves, clinging to their religion and traditions, when they should be clinging to Jesus Christ
The last words by Christ again are “Keep Watch , You don’t know the Day or Hour”, how many times has Jesus told us this? Are we getting the message? Are our lamps full of the Holy Spirit? If you knocked on the door, does Jesus know you? Don’t wait until it’s too late and the door is shut! Amen!

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:40-44
When will Jesus Christ return? This is probably the question most asked and pondered by Christians throughout the centuries, however as Jesus is teaching us, Nobody knows the day or hour of His return. So how should we respond to this information? Well it’s simple “Always Be Ready”, however that doesn’t sound so simple in its application.
Jesus taught us another parable “If the homeowner knew when the thief was going to break into their house, he would have watched” makes sense, if we knew the exact day and time Christ was going to return, then I’m sure most people would be counting down the time, however since we don’t know, it’s important to stay ready and be on alert.
As Jesus said “You must be ready, for the Son of Man is returning at an hour you don’t expect him” Christ will return as a “Thief in the Night” at a time when we least expect him. So what do we as Christians need to do to prepare for his return? We need to remain as the spotless Bride (Ephesians 5:27) that Christ is expecting. We need to remain faithful and obedient to our Lord, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to be producing fruit worthy of the Kingdom (Matthew 7)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51
We all heard the expression “When the Cat is away the mice will play” well this sums up the Church, when Christ ascended back to Heaven, most of the Church has fallen asleep. A majority of the Church has gotten lazy and buried their gifts. Alot of the Church has become more interested in worldly things than their mission from Christ
When our Master returns, what is he going to find? Is Christ going to find you managing your time and talents well serving the Kingdom, or will he find you wasting your life on meaningless worldly endeavors? Jesus has said over and over again “I will return in a hour you don’t expect” are we getting the message?
There is still time, it’s time to get on fire for The Lord and fulfill the Great Commision in Jesus name Amen!