Our Lord enters the final phase of His earthly ministry.
Matthew 25: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Parable of the Talents
14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Final Judgment
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 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,
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, 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?'
45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Matthew 26: The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,
2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."
10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.
11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
Judas to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.
21 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"
23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so."
Institution of the Lord's Supper
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray."
37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."
43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him."
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"
55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.
56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.
58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,
60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'"
62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"
63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
66 What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,
68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"
Peter Denies Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."
71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72 And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."
73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you."
74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Things to think about…
1. The wise virgins had the oil of the Holy Spirit and the unwise – no oil. Be wise and buy from the only storehouse – our Lord. May we all be filled with the Spirit and be ready in and out of season to obey and serve. The anointing of the Spirit makes us always ready for the Bridegroom’s return whatever season we in in life. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “be filled with the Holy Spirit”, Eph 5:18. This is not a once off, but an ongoing requirement for leaky Christians.
2. In Mt 25:14-30 confirms again that we are all made in the image of God and we are all called to bring Him glory with what we have – our talent. Some go and bury it in the world and never honour Christ. Those who are enlightened by His Spirit go and make disciples with their talent. We are created to share the love, grace and message of Christ with a lost world. We will be judged and rewarded accordingly.
3. In the final judgement there will be a separation of sheep and goats, Mt 25:31-46. Look at who we are called to serve – those who are Christ’s representatives – the least of these. We are called to serve all, but we are never to neglect the body of Christ. Be encouraged to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and visit those who are in prison for the cause of Christ. May we also remember that church is a place to feed the sheep, not entertain the goats. God’s word, witness and Spirit should be clearly on display whenever we meet. Pray it’s always the case at CBC.
4. The leaders and chief priests in Jesus’ day were a bunch of man fearers, Mt 26:1-5, they did not want to arrest Christ at the feast because they would have a problem with the crowds who loved the ministry of Jesus. Religious people who are in it for themselves fear the truth. May we encourage the truth regardless of our own personal bias, opinions or circumstances.
5. Wisdom tells us to go and be like this woman in Mt 26:6-13 and anoint others with the fragrance of Christ so it fills your workplace, community or home. Even if others (Christians) judge you for it.
6. Imagine the disciples hearing these words for the first time “Take, eat; this is my body”. How would you hear these words? Would you understand them as you do now? I doubt it. Jesus is obviously fulfilling what he said the crowds of disciples early in His ministry. Many didn’t follow Him after that, John 6 has the details.
7. What do you think Christ's words in Mt 26:29 mean? When is Christ's kingdom established? Are these words fulfilled after Pentecost, the Millennium or when Christ returns? It is certainly confirmed at the resurrection, but there is a real sense of now, but not yet. I believe the full expression and fulfillment as to what Jesus meant is found in Rev 5:9, 10.
8. The disciples slept when they should have been praying, Mt 26:36-46. Even though we are tired within ministry as Christians at times, there are some seasons where it is appropriate to stay awake and pray.
9. There is a denier of Christ in all of us, Mt 26:69-75. Those who point the finger at Peter also condemn themselves.
VisionPoint! For cell groups from Sunday morning’s message.
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell group break-up this week. Have a meal together J.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for our “Beirut Blessing” fund. Will be sent off this week. $1200 raised.
2. Continue to pray for Victoria and clusters around Ipswich, numbers of infections are going down, but the increased lockdown will see many businesses go under and depression and mental health to be a problem in the state.
4. Continue to pray for our government for wisdom and economic management.
6. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “I love a good wedding” Matt 22 – Luke Scheepers.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Wonderful worship led by Rod, Suzanne, Molly and Riley. Thanks guys!
2. Finances continue to be maintained.
3. Wonderful spirit of joy in our church. Thankyou Jesus.
4. Donations to Café roof ($5,175) and Blessing Beirut ($1200). Thankyou!
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Praise God for all those who serve at CBC.
Announcements
1. Prayer meetings Tuesday and Thursday mornings 5:30 -6:30am at Church
2. We have established a “Blessing Beirut” fund. After prayer and seeking after a support partner the Lord has led us to Ras Beirut Baptist. We have received word back from them. Pray our gift would bless Beirut with the gospel.
3. One service at 9:30am Every Sunday morning. This service will also be live streamed on Youtube. No kisses, hand-shakes or hugs are allowed. Hand sanitizer is to be used, tables will be wiped and chairs arranged for appropriate distancing. Families can of course sit together. CBC is allowed up to 50 people inside, then we have an overflow in the cafe.
4. Cell groups – Ask for details as to how and what is required.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Kids Church will be run in the house when the message starts.
