Alright, this morning we are continuing our study on the parables of our Lord Jesus. And this morning, we’re going to look at the parable of the ten minas. Now I’m not sure whether how many of you are familiar with this parable. Perhaps you are more familiar with the other parable called the parable of the talents. Now the two parables are similar, but they are not the same. So they have different lessons for us. In fact, the Lord told this parable first before He told the other parable during His journey to Jerusalem. So let us first look at the parable as it is recorded by Luke in Luke chapter 19. Luke chapter 19 and beginning in verse 11.

So Luke 19:11-27. “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Now therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant.

You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. (Verse 27) But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’”

Alright, so this is the parable of the ten minas. So what we’re going to do is that we are going to, first of all, look at the reason why our Lord told this parable. And then we are going to look at the parable itself. And then we shall see what the Lord is teaching us. So first, let us look at the reasons or the reason why the Lord told this parable. The reason is given in verse 11 because it says there: “Now as they heard these things, now Jesus (told or) spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.”. Now what is this verse saying?

Now this is the reason why the Lord told the parable because they heard His teaching and because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Now, remember that when you read the gospel of Luke, it’s kind of broken into two not exact half. So from chapter 1 through chapter 9 and verse 50 is the first half. And if you would turn with me now to chapter 9 and verse 51, that begins the second half of this gospel. Luke 9:51, now it says here: “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem”.

So from this verse onward right through the end of the gospel, now Jesus had set His mind or His face to go towards Jerusalem. And so from this point on we have what we call the journey narrative. It’s all about Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and everything in between. And so why was He going to Jerusalem? Why was He going to Jerusalem? Now the reason that He was going to Jerusalem, now along the way He had revealed to His disciples. Why do you think He was going to Jerusalem? So when you come to chapter 18 alright- chapter 18 and verse 31 alright- and verse 31, we are told here.

In chapter 18 and verse 31: “Then He took the twelve (that is His disciples) aside and then He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that were written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. (Verse 32) For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. And they will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”. And so Jesus was explaining to His disciples that this is the reason why I’m going to Jerusalem. I’m going there to die, and that is His mission.

And Jesus was fixated at that. He fixed His mind. He is very clear as to His mission on earth and that is to go to Jerusalem and be killed by these wicked people on the cross in order that He might save His people from their sin. That is the only way that we sinners might be saved from our sin and from eternal damnation, and that’s by God punishing His own Son on the cross on behalf of those who trust in Him. So that is the reason. That’s the reason why I’m going to Jerusalem. But then we are told in verse 34: “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.”. So they appear very confused about what the Lord was saying.

Now you might want to investigate. You go back you know and read and find out why were the disciples so confused because in their mind that is just impossible. That cannot be true that our Lord and Master should go to the cross and die and maybe for other reasons. So they were not able to understand what Jesus was saying to them in such plain terms that I’m going to Jerusalem to die. And so we come to chapter 19 alright- we come to chapter 19. Now in verse 11 it says here: “and as they heard these things”. Like I say as Jesus was going to Jerusalem, Jesus was explaining to the disciples.

But He was also doing many things on His way to Jerusalem. He was preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. He was warning the people of the danger to come- the wrath of God or the judgement of God. He was urging the people to strive to enter through the narrow gate. He was telling them it is better you know, “do not be afraid of those who kill the body. But fear Him who” not only would kill the body but also would destroy the soul. He said fear Him, for He can cast you into hell. He said unless you repent, you would also perish. So in between, you see that the Lord was preaching. He was warning the people. He says pay attention to this message. It is very important.

But on His way to Jerusalem, He also performed many miraculous acts. He healed in fact the blind just a chapter before in chapter 18 alright and healed the lepers in chapter 17 and so on. And so the disciples, now this is the way they understand, said this is our Master. He is coming and He is speaking to the crowd and He has got a huge following. Now we like a hero like that where they have a huge crowd following Him. So everywhere Jesus went, huge crowds were following Him. And He was performing miracles, doing wonders, and people were amazed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I said every time Jesus performed a miracle, we are told by Luke the response or the reaction of the people were simply amazement. They just could not believe their eyes. But for the disciples, they were thinking something huge, something great is about to happen and they were observing the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you see in verse 11, so they heard these teachings, they saw these things. And now at this point in chapter 19 and in verse 11, now He spoke this parable because He was near Jerusalem. In other words, that thing, the reason why He was going to Jerusalem was about to happen. He is about to die.

In perhaps a few days’ time, He would arrive in Jerusalem. He would be tried and He would be killed. And so He was near Jerusalem. He knew that the time had come for that to happen. But again, the other thing here. It says: “and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately”. Now you see the thinking of the Lord Jesus Christ and what the disciples were thinking, there were different things. The disciples were thinking that when they arrived in Jerusalem, now Jesus is going to overthrow the Roman Empire because He was observing Jesus. This is a great man. He’s a great following. He can do wonder or wondrous things alright marvellous miracles.

And so here is our hero. He’s going to enter Jerusalem and He’s going to take the kingdom back from the Romans. So that was what was they were thinking alright what was in their mind. They thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. And so Jesus said look, let Me tell you this alright. Let Me tell you a story alright to explain all this. And so Jesus says actually My mission is not to go to Jerusalem and to as it were build alright establish the kingdom of God immediately. My mission, Jesus said, which He said just a verse before this in verse 10 alright: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”.

The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. I have come to preach the gospel. I have come to die for sinners alright. And so they heard that, but they did not understand. And so they were confused. Now then Jesus told this parable. So we come next now to the parable itself. So what did Jesus tell them, having this confusion in their mind, seeing that they thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately, seeing that they thought that Jesus is going to Jerusalem to overthrow the Roman Empire? He told a parable to tell them not yet alright- not yet. And so this is the parable in verse 12: “Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself and return.”. And then He said he’ll call his servants.

Now there are various groups of people I want you to take note of here in this parable. He called his servants, ten of them. He gave them a mina each. Then he gave them a command alright an order said: “Do business till I come”. And then he returns and he calls these servants to account. And the first say what I make this much, one mina and earned ten more. The second came and reported and say one mina and I earned five more. And the third servant came and said I one mina, I didn’t do anything about it. I just kept it in my handkerchief, and here’s the one mina. And then there’s another group of people mentioned in verse 14.

But his citizens, you see, there were his servants. And then there were his other subjects, the citizens. But his citizens in verse 14 (we are told) “hated him and sent a delegation after him saying we will not have this man to reign over us”. And to these people when he came back in verse 27, he said bring those people here alright- bring those people here, those citizens of mine who hated me and did not want me to be their king. Bring them over here in verse 27 as I bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them and slay them all before me. So that is the story alright- that is the story.

Now before I move on to tell you the teachings or the lessons here, now let me also point out that this is the only parable probably based on a true story because during the days of our Lord Jesus Christ alright, so something happened. Now, this is very familiar to the readers because in those days they were under the Roman power (the Roman Empire) and they were allowed to have their own kings to govern their own affairs. But this king had to be appointed by Caesar. And so when Jesus was born and Herod died, his son alright had to go to Rome alright- had to go to Rome and as it were get the authority, the appointment or the appointment letter to be the next king of the Jewish people.

And we are told, I mean this is the true story alright that the son of King Herod was not liked by his citizens. They hated him and they did not want him to be their next king. But he didn’t care. So he went to Rome to meet Caesar to get his appointment letter, but the citizens who hated him also sent a delegation. That is what verse 14 means. They sent a delegation to appeal alright to Caesar to tell Caesar we don’t want this man. We want the other man alright. But they were not successful. And so the son came back and he dealt with his servants, and he dealt with his citizens, those who rebel against him. So that is the parable, the story.

So what is Jesus saying? What is He trying to teach us here? So that leads us to the third alright thing we want to consider this morning, the teachings of this parable. The teaching of this parable. You see, what Jesus is saying is this, that He is the nobleman. He is the nobleman mentioned in this story here, and He is going to Jerusalem not to immediately overthrow the Roman Empire. But actually, He is going to Jerusalem to die, and then He will rise up again, and then He will ascend to heaven. Now that is where He is going to receive His kingdom and then He will come back again- and then He will come back again and establish His kingdom that will be forever and ever.

In other words, it is about His death, resurrection, ascension, and Him coming back again to this earth, and then He established His kingdom forever. So that is what the Lord is saying to the people who were following Him. Now in this story alright in His teaching here, now He’s saying that well, He’s going to come back again. But when He returns, now He’s going to deal with three kinds of people in the world. He’s going to deal with three kinds of people in the world, and all of us will be one of these alright- will be one of these. And therefore it is important for us to listen to the Lord very carefully because we are all kind of in the picture. We are all involved in this story. Jesus is coming again.

Now Luke tells us in his other book (the book of Acts) in Acts chapter 1. In Acts chapter 1, and he records this alright- he records this. Acts 1:6, it’s kind of a repeat alright- kind of repeat this whole scene, but now focusing on the disciples. Now therefore when they had come together (this is after the resurrection). It’s amazing that after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, they still did not get the message. So verse 6, they asked Jesus saying: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”. They are still thinking of the national kingdom of Israel to be restored by the Lord Jesus Christ. So they were still thinking that the Lord is going to do it during their time. They said now, are you going to do that?

And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, and while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Verse 10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”.

Now Luke is kind of repeat this whole scene here. He is saying that this Jesus whom the disciples saw ascended into heaven will one day come again. Then He tells us that two angels appeared and he said to the disciples: Why are you still gazing into the sky? Why are you still looking up? He’s gone, but He will return. He will return. Meanwhile. Meanwhile alright, you have a job to do. Go and do your business alright the task that has been given to you. Alright verse 8: “and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the outermost part of the earth.”. Alright when Jesus returns as I said, He will deal with three groups or three kinds of people, and we are in either of them.

Now the first group of people is what we may call the true believers. When He returns, He will find on earth those who are true believers, those who are truly His. Back to Luke chapter 19. You see when He returns, He said you know, He will call the people alright- He will call the people. Now, who are these first group of people? How are they being described here in this parable here? Now there are few things we can say about a true believer- about a true believer. He calls them His servants. Verse 13: “And so he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten minas”. Now we know that the true believers are the faithful servants of the Lord. The true believers are the faithful servants of the Lord. And we know three facts about the faithful servants.

The first is this, that they’re servants; the faithful servants are those who knew their responsibilities. God’s people know their responsibility. They know what God wanted them to do. The command was clear. Verse 13, the command is this. I’ve given you ten minas, go and do business or engage in business till I come. Go and do. Go and take action. Go and do what I tell you to do until I come. Now that is the command given to them. And I say the faithful servants, the true believers are those who first of all, they know their responsibility. They know the commandment of the Lord. I want to ask you: Now do you know the commandment of the Lord?

Do you know what God wants you to do? Now what is it the command that, the work that God has given to these people or this Master has given to these people? It’s represented by the mina alright- represented by the mina. Now some suggest that the mina could very well be the gospel, the Great Commission. Do you know the work that God has given to you to do? And are you doing that? Are you doing it? You see, that is the first thing. As I say in Acts you know, the command is clear. You shall be My witnesses not just here, until the ends of the earth. We are to go into the world and make disciples of all the nation.

Now you might ask: Now how did they know? How can the true people of God know the will of God? Now sometimes we think that it is very hard to know what God wants us to do. So a lot of Christians are not really doing the will of the Lord, say I don’t know what God wants us to do. And do we even as a church know what is God’s commission to us? What is really the work of the church? You see, the work of the church is the work that God has given to us to do. I say that the faithful servants are those who know. They know, but how did they know? If you do not know, you need to know the answer to that question. How can a Christian know the will of God?

I say it’s actually very easy and straightforward. We don’t have to as it were maybe go under the tree and meditate and hope that God will kind of reveal something to us and say: Oh, this is the commission. Oh, this is the thing that I want you to do. Or you don’t have to maybe in the late of the night you know in the middle of the night and you were thinking maybe in the stillness his the students of the night God might speak to me and tell me what I should do as a Christian. Or maybe as a church we should go to a retreat and then we go into the jungle somewhere or to the mountain and we wait, and then maybe the Lord will speak to us and tell us what we should do.

No! You see, that is not how we know the will of God. This is not how we know what God wants us to do. The way we know what God wants us to do is here. It’s in the Bible. You see in the early church we know that they were devoted. How did they know the will of God, what God wanted them to do? We are told in Acts 2:42 that they were devoted to the apostles’ doctrine. That is how they knew they were devoted to the apostles’ doctrine. In other words, they were committed to the studying of the Bible. Now if you neglect this book, you wouldn’t know what God wants you to do.

And so that is the way the early Christians knew what God want them to do, and that is still the way we all can know what God wants us to do. And therefore when Paul gave instructions to the pastors of the church in those days (I suppose the same for today if he would give instruction to the pastors), now he will say the same thing. Now, what do you think that Paul would tell the pastors? What should be your focus? What should be your priority? What is really your work as a pastor in the church? Well, he says in his letter to Timothy in Second Timothy and chapter 4. Second Timothy chapter 4, and beginning in verse 1. He said: “I charge you”.

Now this is a solemn charge, said: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ”. Before God and before our Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom”. Now in other words, before he gives the charge to his mentee alright (Timothy), he said this is a solemn thing before God and before our Lord who will appear one day and judge. And this is the charge. Verse 2: “preach the word”. Preach the word. Don’t tell your own stories. Don’t tell interesting you know inspirational things. Tell them what God wants to tell them. Don’t tell them what you want to tell them. “Preach the word”. And he said: “Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”. With patience, with effort, with zeal, preach the word.

Now, why is Paul putting it this way? Why is Paul you know saying that to you know this young pastor with that kind of tone? The reason is because this is a work that nobody wants to do. If you think a pastor you know, every week come and preach. Not many people come up and preach every week. And sometimes, people think this church is very weird. What kind of pastor preaches every week? Now you say that’s weird? It’s more like saying how come the mother cooks every day? Of course, the mother have to cook every day because the children need to eat; because the church needs to be fed. That’s what Peter said to the elders, to his fellow elders in 1 Peter 5:2. What did he say? “Feed the flock”. What do you mean by feeding the flock?

Well, you mean the pastor must be a good chef you know? He must know how to cook, now we have to feed a flock. Now today I cooked chicken, tomorrow bak kut teh alright because I need to feed the flock. No, to feed with the Word of God. Now in Timothy here (Second Timothy here), now Paul speaks with that tone of gravity because that is how people can know the will of God, what God wants them to do, and that is not an easy job. And in addition to that, he says in verse 3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap upon themselves teachers”. Now you know what verse 3 is saying? Already it’s hard.

Now those people who have prepared sermons before, you know it’s hard alright. Every time I ask someone to prepare sermon, he said wah, take three days leave to prepare. Not only it is hard, but nobody wants to hear. Now that’s probably the harder part alright. And you prepare and prepare and prepare, and then nobody wants to hear. They say oh, we don’t want to hear the Word of God. What do they want to hear? They’ve got itchy ears, that’s what Paul says. And they want to hear those other preachers that can say things that they want to hear. They do not want to hear the Word of God. But there is no other way, that’s what Paul is saying. Preach the word in season and out of season.

Now what does that mean, in fashion or not out of fashion? Maybe oh in the Puritan days you know in the days of the Puritans, people loved preaching. You know they will sit down and listen to the Puritans preaching for three hours. Now here people cannot stand even thirty minutes of preaching. Well, Paul says preach the word because that is how people can know the Word of God. And so that is what we need to do as a church, and this is what Christians ought to do. They need to be devoted to the apostles’ doctrine. They need to be like the Bereans. We are told in Acts 17:11 that they searched the Scripture daily.

Are you searching the Scripture daily? Well, that is how you can know. But that is the first thing alright about these faithful servants. They know. The true believers, the faithful servants of God are those who know the Word of God because they are devoted to the Word of God; because they searched the Scripture daily. But there’s a second thing about them. They are not just people who know. They are not just people who know but they are also people who do the will of God alright. They’re also people who do their job faithfully. Now again the few things about the faithfulness in this alright- in doing their job. In doing their job. And their faithfulness is shown in several ways. Firstly, the master is away, is not present, but they are still serving faithfully.

Now listen to Paul in Philippians 1:27. Philippians 1:27, and here Paul was commending the church at Philippi. And he says this, verse 27 of chapter 1: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. He said whether I come and see you or absent, you are still serving. You see, these people are not serving because people are watching. Now a lot of times you know people do that. We don’t serve when people are not seeing or not putting on a show and say good job, good job alright. We are not content to serve quietly.

Now we know that there are people who are faithful. They serve quietly. Nobody noticed. As I say perhaps last week that one day we’ll be surprised that those people we least expect to be saved or to be rewarded will be saved and will be rewarded by God. These are the unseen people, the unknown people serving quietly in some corners. Some corners in this world, but they are faithful people. They know the will of God, and they do their job quietly even in the absence of their master. But these are also people who serve alright- who serve in spite of the fact that it was demanding.

Now when they were given the mina and to do business alright. And those people in business you know, it’s not easy to do business alright and add another ten minas. But they serve alright in spite of the fact that serving is not easy. Yes, serving is not easy. Now, sometimes you think oh, we come to church and you want to serve- want to serve. Okay, you want to serve. Let’s get you know, let’s get down to work. I was in New Zealand once and staying with a couple, and they were very involved in student’s ministry. And then along the way, he mentioned this. Now it’s not easy to be involved in the student’s ministry because I was there in their house and the students were just in and out of the house every day alright. I stayed with them and we see students come.

Now we were in Auckland alright and say that is not their lifestyle you know. It’s not you know under their own control as it were. But listen to Paul here in Acts chapter 20, beginning in verse 18 about his own service alright, about Paul’s own service in the ministry. Acts chapter 20, beginning in verse 18: “And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you”. How did I serve you? That’s what he’s saying. Verse 19: “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house”.

You see, Paul says that that is serving God with much trials and with much tears. Now if you are not ready for that to rough it out as it were, then you are not ready to serve the Master. You think that it’s all glory, all joy. Now sometimes people may be sitting and watching, especially you know you have a big stage and we see the pastor or people up there you know. Such a public you know show and things like that. You say I want to be that man. I will give myself to go into the ministry. And one day you’re up there, but that is only you know the façade. That’s only the appearance of what serving means. But serving the Lord means hardship. But these people served.

But the third thing about their faithfulness in serving is this. Not only they served in the absence of the Master, they served in spite of the hardship, but they served till He comes. They never stop serving. And so when the Master returns, He finds this group of people. He said, come. He said: Master, I’ve been serving you. Here, the proof of my service, ten more minas. Another group came. And Master, I have been serving You until You come and here’s the evidence of my service, and five minas. And the Lord said to this group of people good servants alright, good and faithful servants. Well done. See, when the Lord returns, He will find this group of people. I’m not sure how many are in this group, but He will find this group of people, the faithful servants who are the true believers.

Now there is a second group of people He will find on earth. These are the unfaithful servants, and they are the false believers. The unfaithful servants and they are the false believers. Look again at chapter 19 of Luke alright- chapter 19 of Luke here in verse 20. Verse 20: “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, I have kept put away in a handkerchief.”. Did nothing. Yes, I heard You. Yes, I was told do business till I come, but I did nothing. I did nothing with what You have told me to do. Now I said this is the second group of people which the Lord will find when He returns, the false believers. They are the unfaithful. They’re represented or pictured by the unfaithful servant here.

Now note they are still called servants alright- they’re still called servants, but they are not true servants. They are still called believers, they are still called Christians, but they are not true Christians. Now again some things to say about this group of people. First, these are people who knew their responsibility but did not do. They knew their responsibility but did not do. Verse 22: “And he said to him, ‘Out of your mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant.”. You see, the Lord called these unfaithful servants as wicked servants because He said you are not Mine. You heard what I said, but you do not do. And there many Christians who are like that. When they say Christians, they are so-called Christians because they’re found in the church, because they come to church, because they listen.

They may attend Bible studies and they know. They see here. They heard what was being preached. They know, but they do not do the will of the Master. So that is the first thing about this group of people. The second thing is this group of people, they do not have a right attitude towards the Master. They did not love their Master. They have wrong ideas that oh, You are the wicked Master alright You are the hard Master. See, there are people who think of God that way. God, you see they cannot understand the great and merciful God and His great love for us. They think of God as perhaps you know God is unkind. He’s the angry God and He is not a God.

In fact, He’s probably a God who is a great killjoy. He doesn’t like us. He doesn’t like to see us laugh or happy. And so these are people who do not love their Master. Now Jesus said in John chapter 14. Now John chapter 14 and here in verses 23 and 24, now listen to what Jesus said here. He said, verse 23: “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”. What is it that these servants here do not keep the word of the Master? Because they do not love their Master. That’s what Jesus said: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (Verse 24) He who does not love Me does not keep My words”.

So your disobedience- your disobedience shows that you do not love your Master. Why are you not obeying God? Why are you not doing what He tells you to do? Why? Ever asked yourself the question? Perhaps is not that you did not know. You knew the many things taught in the Bible. You have heard, maybe from Sunday school days. But why is it that you are not living out your faith? Jesus says because you do not love Me. Now so the warning given by Matthew alright given in Matthew by the Lord Jesus Christ is this because on the last day I’m going to meet these people. On the last day, I’m going to meet these people. The first group, those who love Me, they obey Me. They are My people, the true Christians.

Now this group, they are those who hate. They do not love Me. They have the wrong attitude towards Me, and they do not do My will. So what will Jesus say to them when He returns? These words. Matthew 7:21, Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he” what? “Who does the will of My Father”. That is the distinguishing mark. That is how we can tell whether you are a true or a false Christian. It’s not about hearing. It’s not about just simply knowing, but it’s all about doing what God tells you to do in His Holy Word. That is how Jesus knows. That is how we would know. So when He returns, there will be this group of people. They will be in for a surprise.

As I say, they thought that they were the servants. They thought that they were the believers. They thought that they were the Christians. Yes, they all go to church. Yes, they’ve been baptised. Yes, but they do not do the will of the Father. And so many will be in that category when Jesus returns. And then we have the third category alright- the third category, and that is the unbelievers. So we have the true believers, we have the false believers, and then we have the unbelievers. Now who are these unbelievers and how do we know that they are the unbelievers? Again back to Luke 19:14 we are told very clearly these are the citizens. The citizens hated him. And so they sent a delegation and said we do not want this man to be our king. And then we are told in verse 27.

Now Jesus says when I return, I will call these people out. And then He says bring these enemies of Mine who do not want Me to be their king and slay every one of them. They shall all be punished. Now, these are the unbelievers. They hated the Lord Jesus Christ. They hated God. There are many haters of God in the world today. They will throw their fists against the face of God. They’ll turn their back on God and will not care about God. They will not do what God wants them to do. They don’t care. They hate Him. What is it that they hate Him? Well, the Bible tells us because they have the heart as the kind of man alright, cannot and does not submit to the will of God.

They have a sinful heart and they will not acknowledge Him. They hate Him and they will not acknowledge Him. They will not bow before Him. They say now we will have not have this man. We will not have this man to be our king. But they fail to realise that one day when Jesus returns, the Bible tells us that every knee shall bow and confess that Jesus is Lord, whether you hate Him or not or whether you accept that or not. One day when He returns, every knee shall bound and confess that He is Lord. And you know what? They will face a terrible judgement. Jesus says bring them here. I will slay every one of them. And that is spoken of in distance by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Second Thessalonians.

Second Thessalonians, now let me read this word. This is what is going to happen on that day. Second Thessalonians chapter 1, beginning in verse 7: “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels”. One day Jesus shall be revealed. He shall appear with his mighty angels. Verse 8: “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Are you one of these people? Are you one of those who hate God? Are you one of those who will not bow to the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ?

No? Then take note because one day King Jesus will appear with His mighty angels in flaming fire- in flaming fire taking vengeance of those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel, who do not embrace the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. “These (verse 9) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”. These people shall be punished. God will cast them away into eternal damnation forever and ever in hellfire. Not in Vellfire alright, in hellfire. That is the warning given to us in the Scripture. Again. Jesus is coming again. You’re either the true believer, the false believer, or the unbeliever. Let us pray.

“Our dear Father in heaven, we thank You again for this warning. We know that You have spoken this to the disciples and the people in those days and we thank You that Your Word has been preserved for us today that we may hear these once again and be warned, for we know that Jesus will come again with His mighty angels. On that day it should be found in this world these people- the unbelievers, the false believers, and the true believers. We pray, O Lord. Give us grace and save us and make us indeed Your faithful servants. For these, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.