Chapter 24 begins with an eye to the future and the end times. With the wars and earthquakes and tsunamis lately around the world people are wondering yet again if we are living in these end times. I think we always live in these times and much not waste time as we do not know how much or little we have left, but not really any to waste. But there is an interesting note in parenthesis in verse 15 that the first gospel readers should have understood that something had already happened that Jesus was foretelling about - probably the destruction of the temple and the erection of a Roman temple on holy ground. There is a lesson from the fig tree designed to help the readers tell the signs of the times and an interesting assurance from Jesus in line 34 that the people of that generation would live to see the end time and heaven and earth passing away.
In verse 36 we come to realize that Jesus does not know everything. God knows the day but not the Son nor the angels nor anybody else. His parable about the servants would help us to always be ready and fulfill our responsibilities. As John Wesley would say, "Do all the good you can..." The chapter ends with more weeping and grinding of teeth.
Chapter 25 begins with another parable about being prepared and fulfilling our tasks, keeping alert because we do not know the day or hour. The old parable of the talents is now the parable of the valuable coins - loses something in the translation though adds clarity that the only talent is the ability to wisely use the valuable coins as shown by the first two servants. The words of the Master in verse 23 are words to memorize and listen for, "Well done! You are a good and faithful servant." May God say the same of you and me all in good time. They sound much better than those at the end of the story in verse 30 about the weeping and grinding again!
The parable that ends this chapter is one of my favorites noting how the king judges the sheep and the goats on whether or not those who were hurting or in need were ministered to or not. Another memorable line is there in verse 40, "I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me." And those who do not well it is only implied with eternal punishment, but I expect some weeping and grinding of teeth. But the righteous get to enter into the kingdom of heaven prepared for them (verse 34.)
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