Comparison of Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 - Mom's Bible ...

in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didstnot sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austereman, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that atmy coming I might have required mine own with usury. And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give itto him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one whichhath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, whichwould not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”The audience for this teaching included more than just his disciples. The context of the teaching was the establishment ofthe earthly kingdom of God. The servants were all given money with which to invest and make profit for the nobleman.They were to “occupy” (get busy, put the money to work) until the master returned. The actions of the servants showthat some invested more wisely and profited the master more than others. They were rewarded according to theirprofitability. The one who did nothing with his assigned portion, lost the allotted portion but was not cast away.* Thecitizens who rejected the leadership of the nobleman (i.e., those who refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah sent byGod), his enemies, were slain. The two categories in this teaching were identified as servants (those who accepted theauthority of the master as their king) and citizens (enemies who rejected the authority of the master). The servants werejudged in order to determine whether they would be rewarded; the enemies were judged as deserving ofcondemnation/death.*This seems to connect to the judgment of the believer regarding rewards as taught by Paul.1 Corinthians 3:13–15 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; andthe fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”Matt. 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon thethrone of his glory:Matt. 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherddivideth his sheep from the goats:Matt. 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.Jesus continues in the context of when He returns as King to planet earth. At that time He will be accompanied by theangels and will assume His throne. All those who have made it through the tribulation, the 70 th week of Daniel, alive willbe gathered before Him. (The Greek for nations is a reference to “races.”) He uses the picture of a shepherd separating