Music...
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Let's pray.
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"Father in heaven,
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as we near the
end of this Series,
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we want to thank You because
you have been present with us
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in our study of Your holy Word.
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We ask now as we near
the end of this Series
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that Your Spirit will
be with us once more...
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that You will instruct us...
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and that You
will give us the power
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to live in harmony
with what we study today
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for it is extremely important.
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Thank you Father, for
the promise of Your presence
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We claim that promise.
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In the wonderful name
that is above all names...
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the name of Jesus, amen. "
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Pause...
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In our Study today,
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we're going to look at
the parable of the sheep
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and the goats
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as well as two or
three other passages
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that are related to
this particular passage
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in Matthew chapter 25.
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So, the first
thing that we want to do
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is: read the passage itself...
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it's lengthy...
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we find it in Matthew
25 verses 31 through 46
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and as I read,
please focus on the details.
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Try to fix the
details in your mind
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so that you
understand the interpretation
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that we're going to give
to this particular parable.
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I'm reading now from
Matthew 25 and verse 31.
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"When the Son of
Man comes in His glory,
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and all the
holy angels with Him,
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then He will sit on
the throne of His glory.
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All the nations will
be gathered before Him,
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and He will separate
them one from another,
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as a shepherd divides
his sheep from the goats.
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And He will set the
sheep on His right hand,
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but the goats on the left.
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Then the King will say
to those on His right hand,
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'Come, you blessed of My Father,
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inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
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from the
foundation of the world:
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'For I was hungry
and you gave Me food;
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I was thirsty and
you gave Me drink;
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I was a stranger
and you took Me in;
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I was naked and you clothed Me;
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I was sick and you visited Me;
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I was in prison
and you came to Me. '
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Then the righteous
will answer Him, saying,
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'Lord, when did we see
You hungry and feed You,
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or thirsty and give you drink?
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When did we see You a
stranger and take You in,
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or naked and clothe You?
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Or when did we see
You sick or in prison,
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and come to You?"
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Verse 40...
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And the King will
answer and say to them,
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'Assuredly, I say to you,
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inasmuch as you did it to one of
the last of these My brethren,
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you did it to Me. '
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Then He will also say
to those on the left hand,
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'Depart from Me, you cursed,
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into the everlasting fire
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prepared for the
devil and his angels:
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for I was hungry
and you gave Me no food;
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I was thirsty and
you gave Me no drink;
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I was a stranger and
you did not take Me in,
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naked and you did not clothe Me,
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sick and in prison and
you did not visit Me. '
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Then they also
will answer Him, saying,
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'Lord, when did
we see You hungry
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or thirsty or a
stranger or naked
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or sick or in prison,
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and did not minister to You?'
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Then He will
answer them, saying,
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'Assuredly, I say to you... '"
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and now notice this...
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very important point...
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"'inasmuch as you did not do
it to one of the least of these,
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you did not do it unto Me. '
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And these will go away
into everlasting punishment,
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but the righteous
into eternal life. "
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So, that is the lengthy parable
or story that Jesus told.
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Now, we want to ask three
questions of this passage.
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First Question:
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To whom did Jesus
address this parable?
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Second Question:
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When and where will
this judgment take place?
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And finally: What
will be the standard
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that will be
used in that judgment?
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So, three questions we
are going to try to answer.
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To whom did Jesus
address the parable?
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When and where will this take...
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this judgment take place
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and what will be the
standard of the judgment?
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So, let's answer
the first question.
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Did Jesus direct this parable
to believers or to unbelievers?
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The fact is... as we have
seen in previous lectures,
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Matthew 24 is addressed to those
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who claim to be
followers of Jesus Christ.
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Jesus began His
sermon in verse 4
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by saying, "Make sure
that no one deceives you... "
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speaking to His disciples.
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After describing
the signs of His coming
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from verses 4 to verse
31 of Matthew chapter 24,
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we find Jesus
telling four parables
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and the one that
we're studying today
00:06:14.14\00:06:16.30
is one of the four parables
that apply to believers.
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Those four parables, of course,
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we've studied
some of them already...
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the good and faithful servant...
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the ten virgins...
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the talents...
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and then, the one
that we're studying today:
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the parable of the
sheep and the goats.
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So, basically, Matthew 24 and 25
00:06:37.13\00:06:41.00
are addressed to
people who claim to believe
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in Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord.
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It's not written primarily
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for people who
don't believe in Jesus...
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for people who
have not been converted
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or don't belong
to God's own people.
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These chapters
are addressed to those
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who claim to be followers
or disciples of Jesus Christ.
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So, then, let's
ask the question,
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"When will this judgment that
is described here take place?"
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Well, some of you
might be surprised to know
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that this parable applies
to events that take place
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after the Millennium primarily.
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Let's take a look
at when this separation
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will take place.
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The passage
gives us several clues.
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The first clue is that
the Son of Man is sitting
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on a great white throne
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and He is sitting by Himself.
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Very important...
when Jesus went to heaven,
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He sat with His
Father on His throne.
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Secondly, this throne
is the throne of His glory.
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In other words, it's
Christ's glorious throne.
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Number 3: All
nations are gathered together
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before the throne
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which means that every person
who belonged to those nations
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must have resurrected
at this particular point.
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The next point is that there is
an examination of the evidence
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in this judgment
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and then, a
verdict is pronounced
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based on the evidence that
was examined in the judgment.
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The Sentence is then
executed in the Lake of Fire
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and the Lake of
Fire has been prepared
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for the devil and his angels.
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So, these are the
characteristics that we find
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in this particular parable
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that indicate when
this judgment occurs.
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The Son of Man is sitting
on a great white throne...
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it's the throne of His glory...
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all nations are gathered
together before the throne...
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books are opened...
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the evidence is examined...
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a verdict is given based on
the evidence in the books...
00:09:05.14\00:09:08.34
then the Sentence is
executed in the Lake of Fire...
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and the Lake of Fire has
been prepared for the devil
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and his angels.
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Now, the book of
Revelation contains
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a similar scene of judgment.
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There's a parallel passage
00:09:24.06\00:09:27.40
in Revelation 20
verses 7 through 9
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and verses 11 through 15.
00:09:30.40\00:09:33.17
Now, we're not going to take
time to read these verses...
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you can do this at your leisure,
00:09:36.77\00:09:39.07
but once again I repeat
that there's a similar passage
00:09:39.11\00:09:42.71
in Revelation 20:7 through 9
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and verses 11 through 15
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and these verses
contain the same elements
00:09:47.02\00:09:50.32
that we notice in the
judgment that is mentioned
00:09:50.35\00:09:53.32
in Matthew chapter 25.
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Now, there's a certain
sense in which this judgment
00:09:55.62\00:10:00.20
that is described
here in Matthew 25
00:10:00.23\00:10:02.46
takes place at the second coming
00:10:02.50\00:10:05.23
but that will be only a partial
fulfillment of this parable.
00:10:05.27\00:10:09.90
If you read Great
Controversy page 322,
00:10:09.94\00:10:13.27
Ellen White presents
this parable as taking place
00:10:13.31\00:10:17.71
at the second coming of Christ.
00:10:17.75\00:10:19.51
But she also presents a broader
fulfillment of this parable
00:10:19.55\00:10:25.65
in Early Writings page 53
00:10:25.69\00:10:27.92
to events that take
place after the Millennium.
00:10:27.96\00:10:31.43
Let's notice the elements that
apply to after the Millennium
00:10:31.46\00:10:37.20
according to the
book of Revelation.
00:10:37.23\00:10:39.27
First of all,
00:10:39.30\00:10:41.07
there is a great white
throne above the holy city.
00:10:41.10\00:10:45.77
In Great Controversy
page 665, Ellen White wrote,
00:10:45.81\00:10:49.98
"Far above the city,
00:10:50.01\00:10:51.75
upon a foundation of
burnished gold, is a throne,
00:10:51.78\00:10:56.45
high and lifted up.
00:10:56.48\00:10:58.25
Upon this throne
sits the Son of God,
00:10:58.29\00:11:01.89
and around Him are the
subjects of His kingdom. "
00:11:01.92\00:11:06.16
So, you have a
great white throne
00:11:06.19\00:11:09.50
and Jesus is
sitting on that throne.
00:11:09.53\00:11:14.20
You can read it in Revelation
chapter 20 and verse 11.
00:11:14.24\00:11:18.07
Revelation chapter 20,
verse 5 and also verses 7 and 8,
00:11:18.11\00:11:23.11
tell us that all
nations are gathered together
00:11:23.14\00:11:26.72
before the throne that
is outside the holy city.
00:11:26.75\00:11:32.05
Everyone who has
ever lived in history
00:11:32.09\00:11:34.92
has resurrected
after the Millennium.
00:11:34.96\00:11:37.66
Then, Revelation
20 verse 13 tells us
00:11:37.69\00:11:41.53
that there is an
examination of the evidence.
00:11:41.56\00:11:44.50
In other words, books are opened
00:11:44.53\00:11:46.80
and the evidence is
discussed and looked at.
00:11:46.84\00:11:51.44
After the evidence is examined,
00:11:51.47\00:11:54.54
there is a
verdict that is given.
00:11:54.58\00:11:57.58
You can read that in
Great Controversy, page 666
00:11:57.61\00:12:02.18
and Early Writings page 53.
00:12:02.22\00:12:05.59
And then, after
the verdict is given,
00:12:05.62\00:12:08.16
those who are in the city
00:12:08.19\00:12:10.73
are told, "Inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.86
from the
foundation of the world. "
00:12:13.90\00:12:15.30
The wicked now, who have had
a verdict, admitted against them
00:12:15.33\00:12:21.40
will suffer the execution of the
judgment in the Lake of Fire.
00:12:21.44\00:12:26.47
That's in
Revelation 20 and verse 10.
00:12:26.51\00:12:28.88
And then, we notice that
the Lake of Fire was prepared
00:12:28.91\00:12:32.81
for the devil and his angels
00:12:32.85\00:12:34.38
and Revelation
20 verse 10 tells us
00:12:34.42\00:12:37.09
that Satan and his angels
are cast into the Lake of Fire
00:12:37.12\00:12:40.59
that has been prepared
for the devil and his angels.
00:12:40.62\00:12:44.06
So, the third
question that we ask is
00:12:44.09\00:12:47.30
what is the
criterion of the judgment?
00:12:47.33\00:12:50.47
In other words, what is
the standard of the judgment?
00:12:50.50\00:12:53.84
What are the actions
00:12:53.87\00:12:55.90
of the sheep and
the goats compared with
00:12:55.94\00:12:58.51
that doomed the goats
and saved the righteous?
00:12:58.54\00:13:03.51
Well, the book of
Revelation tells us
00:13:03.55\00:13:07.85
who will be
allowed inside the city
00:13:07.88\00:13:10.79
and who will not be
allowed inside the city.
00:13:10.82\00:13:14.29
The perspective of Revelation
falls upon what people did
00:13:14.32\00:13:19.86
that they were
not supposed to do.
00:13:19.89\00:13:22.63
In other words,
they committed sins
00:13:22.66\00:13:25.07
that excluded them
from the holy city.
00:13:25.10\00:13:28.50
Let's read several
verses in the book of Revelation
00:13:28.54\00:13:31.37
where we see clearly
00:13:31.41\00:13:33.38
that the criterion of
the judgment in Revelation
00:13:33.41\00:13:36.31
has to do with what people did
00:13:36.34\00:13:38.85
that they
should never have done.
00:13:38.88\00:13:40.92
Revelation
chapter 21 and verse 27,
00:13:40.95\00:13:44.89
we find these words.
00:13:44.92\00:13:46.86
"But there shall by
no means enter it... "
00:13:46.89\00:13:51.43
that is the city...
00:13:51.46\00:13:53.26
"anything that defiles,
00:13:53.29\00:13:54.90
or causes an
abomination or a lie,
00:13:54.93\00:13:58.73
but only those who are written
in the Lamb's Book of Life. "
00:13:58.77\00:14:02.60
So you notice,
those who defile...
00:14:02.64\00:14:06.07
those who commit
abominable acts...
00:14:06.11\00:14:09.11
those who lie...
00:14:09.14\00:14:11.15
they're not written in
the Lamb's Book of Life
00:14:11.18\00:14:13.68
and they are not
allowed to enter the holy city.
00:14:13.72\00:14:16.62
Revelation 22 verses 14 and 15,
00:14:16.65\00:14:19.85
I wish I could deal with this
text more fully at this time
00:14:19.89\00:14:25.43
because there's a
variation in the translation.
00:14:25.46\00:14:28.06
Some translations say,
00:14:28.10\00:14:29.70
"Blessed are those
who wash their robes... "
00:14:29.73\00:14:32.73
the King James and the
New King James translate:
00:14:32.77\00:14:35.87
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments. "
00:14:35.90\00:14:37.87
There are clear
reasons why the translation,
00:14:37.91\00:14:40.88
"do His Commandments"
is the best translation.
00:14:40.91\00:14:44.55
Revelation chapter 22
verses 14 and 15 tells us
00:14:44.58\00:14:48.62
who will be
allowed into the city
00:14:48.65\00:14:50.49
and who will not and why.
00:14:50.52\00:14:52.32
It says there in
Revelation 22 verse 14,
00:14:52.35\00:14:55.46
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments,
00:14:55.49\00:14:58.69
that they may have the
right to the tree of life,
00:14:58.73\00:15:01.93
and may enter through
the gates into the city. "
00:15:01.96\00:15:05.37
So, you'll notice here...
those who do His commandments...
00:15:05.40\00:15:09.10
they have the
right to the Tree of Life
00:15:09.14\00:15:11.47
and they enter through
the gates into the city.
00:15:11.51\00:15:14.31
God's people who are in the
city kept God's commandments
00:15:14.34\00:15:18.51
but now it refers to
those who are outside.
00:15:18.55\00:15:21.88
"But outside... " verse 15,
00:15:21.92\00:15:24.42
"are dogs and
sorcerers and sexually immoral
00:15:24.45\00:15:29.29
and murderers and idolaters,
00:15:29.32\00:15:32.63
and whoever loves
and practices a lie. "
00:15:32.66\00:15:36.30
Those are violations
of the Ten Commandments.
00:15:36.33\00:15:39.37
Sexually immoral would be:
you shall not commit adultery...
00:15:39.40\00:15:42.37
murderers...
thou shalt not kill...
00:15:42.40\00:15:44.21
idolaters... the
second commandment:
00:15:44.24\00:15:47.24
Don't make images
and bow to them...
00:15:47.28\00:15:48.94
practicing a lie... you
shall not bear false witness.
00:15:48.98\00:15:51.51
Those outside the city actually
broke God's commandments...
00:15:51.55\00:15:55.45
they were disobedient
to God's commandments.
00:15:55.48\00:15:58.09
Notice one more text on
the standard of the judgment
00:15:58.12\00:16:01.39
in the book of Revelation.
00:16:01.42\00:16:02.76
Revelation 21 verses 7 and 8:
00:16:02.79\00:16:05.79
"He who overcomes
00:16:05.83\00:16:07.90
shall inherit all things... "
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.57
so, inside the
city are the overcomers.
00:16:10.60\00:16:12.43
"He who overcomes
shall inherit all things,
00:16:12.47\00:16:15.70
and I will be his God
and he shall be My son. "
00:16:15.74\00:16:19.51
But now notice who is outside.
00:16:19.54\00:16:22.14
It says there,
"But the cowardly,
00:16:22.18\00:16:25.98
unbelieving, abominable,
00:16:26.01\00:16:30.09
murderers, sexually immoral,
00:16:30.12\00:16:33.36
sorcerers,
00:16:33.39\00:16:34.99
idolaters,
00:16:35.02\00:16:36.59
and all liars shall
have their part in the lake
00:16:36.62\00:16:40.50
which burns with
fire and brimstone,
00:16:40.53\00:16:42.60
which is the second death. "
00:16:42.63\00:16:45.93
So, you notice that those
who are outside the city...
00:16:45.97\00:16:49.40
they actually broke
God's Ten Commandments...
00:16:49.44\00:16:52.37
they did not obey them.
00:16:52.41\00:16:53.91
So the emphasis in
the book of Revelation
00:16:53.94\00:16:56.64
is... that
those outside the city
00:16:56.68\00:16:59.65
did things that they
were not supposed to do.
00:16:59.68\00:17:02.88
In other words, they
hung on to their sins.
00:17:02.92\00:17:07.29
They refused to repent
and have their lives changed
00:17:07.32\00:17:11.03
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
00:17:11.06\00:17:12.83
but the criterion in the
gospel of Matthew chapter 25
00:17:12.86\00:17:17.87
appears to be different.
00:17:17.90\00:17:19.80
But you are going to notice that
it is actually complementary...
00:17:19.83\00:17:24.77
it is the other side
of the coin so to speak.
00:17:24.81\00:17:27.68
whereas the book of Revelation
emphasizes the sin of commission
00:17:27.71\00:17:33.01
the book of Matthew
emphasizes the sin of omission.
00:17:33.05\00:17:37.99
What do I mean?
00:17:38.02\00:17:39.79
The emphasis in Revelation
falls upon what the wicked did
00:17:39.82\00:17:45.26
that they should not have done.
00:17:45.29\00:17:46.93
The emphasis in Matthew is
upon what the wicked did not do
00:17:46.96\00:17:53.64
that they should have done.
00:17:53.67\00:17:55.87
I want to read you a
very interesting statement
00:17:55.90\00:17:59.17
that we find in the book:
Selected Messages Volume 1,
00:17:59.21\00:18:03.04
page 220... it reads like this,
00:18:03.08\00:18:06.11
"The condemning power
of the law of God extends,
00:18:06.15\00:18:11.25
not only to the things we do,
00:18:11.29\00:18:14.36
but to the
things we do not do. "
00:18:14.42\00:18:17.46
Hmmm... interesting...
00:18:17.49\00:18:19.86
so the condemning power
of the law of God extends
00:18:19.89\00:18:22.50
not only to the things we do
00:18:22.53\00:18:23.87
but to the things we do not do.
00:18:23.90\00:18:26.47
We are not to justify
ourselves in omitting...
00:18:26.50\00:18:30.41
that's why I call
it the sin of omission.
00:18:30.44\00:18:33.07
"We are not to
justify ourselves in omitting
00:18:33.11\00:18:36.14
to do the things
that God requires.
00:18:36.18\00:18:38.38
We must not only
cease to do evil,
00:18:38.41\00:18:41.82
but we must learn to do well.
00:18:41.85\00:18:48.12
God has given us powers to
be exercised in good works;
00:18:48.16\00:18:52.09
and if these powers
are not put to the use,
00:18:52.13\00:18:55.26
we shall certainly be set down
as wicked and slothful servants.
00:18:55.30\00:19:00.64
We may not have
committed grievous sins;
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.21
such offenses may not
stand registered against us
00:19:04.24\00:19:08.41
in the book of God;
00:19:08.44\00:19:09.78
but the fact that our
deeds are not recorded as pure,
00:19:09.81\00:19:15.08
good, elevated, and noble,
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.02
showing that we have not
improved our entrusted talents,
00:19:18.05\00:19:21.66
places us under condemnation. "
00:19:21.69\00:19:25.39
Now, you notice
in Matthew chapter 25
00:19:25.43\00:19:29.06
that the goats are
placed on the left-hand side
00:19:29.10\00:19:32.20
and the sheep are
placed on the right-hand side.
00:19:32.23\00:19:36.07
In the Bible, the right-hand
side is the side of God's favor.
00:19:36.10\00:19:42.34
You can read that in
Desire of Ages, page 644.
00:19:42.38\00:19:47.48
You'll notice, for
example, that Jesus
00:19:47.52\00:19:50.62
when He goes to heaven
00:19:50.65\00:19:51.99
He sits at the
Father's right hand.
00:19:52.02\00:19:55.02
Ellen White provides a
very interesting detail
00:19:55.06\00:19:58.69
in Desire of Ages, 644,
00:19:58.73\00:20:01.00
where she says
that at the last supper
00:20:01.03\00:20:03.73
the beloved disciple,
John, sat on Christ's right side
00:20:03.77\00:20:10.31
whereas Judas, the traitor,
sat on the left side of Jesus.
00:20:10.34\00:20:15.14
When the fishermen
threw out their nets all night
00:20:15.18\00:20:19.61
on the left side of the
boat and they fished nothing,
00:20:19.65\00:20:23.92
the next morning,
Jesus appeared on land
00:20:23.95\00:20:27.56
and said to the disciples,
00:20:27.59\00:20:29.92
"Cast the net on
the right-hand side
00:20:29.96\00:20:32.73
and you will catch fish. "
00:20:32.76\00:20:34.10
And they cast it
on the right-hand side
00:20:34.13\00:20:36.60
because Jesus was on that side
00:20:36.63\00:20:39.03
and they embraced
a multitude of fish.
00:20:39.07\00:20:42.40
You know, the archaic
meaning of the word "sinister"
00:20:42.44\00:20:47.18
is: toward the left-hand side.
00:20:47.21\00:20:51.15
In fact, in Spanish they
still use the word: Siniestar
00:20:51.18\00:20:55.92
as something negative,
00:20:55.95\00:20:57.59
it's the sinister side...
00:20:57.62\00:20:58.99
the left side is
the sinister side.
00:20:59.02\00:21:01.76
And, of course, we know
that when a person gets up
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.69
in a bad mood,
00:21:04.73\00:21:06.06
we say that he woke
up with his left foot.
00:21:06.09\00:21:09.83
So, the goats are placed
on the side of God's disfavor
00:21:09.86\00:21:13.97
whereas the sheep are placed
on the side of God's favor.
00:21:14.00\00:21:18.24
The passage in
Matthew chapter 25 reminds us
00:21:18.27\00:21:22.78
of some verses that we find
in Isaiah 58 and verses 6 and 7.
00:21:22.81\00:21:28.85
This is how it reads,
00:21:28.88\00:21:31.25
"Is this not the
fast that I have chosen?
00:21:31.29\00:21:35.06
To loosen the
bonds of wickedness,
00:21:35.09\00:21:38.46
to undo the heavy burdens,
00:21:38.49\00:21:40.66
to let the oppressed go free,
00:21:40.70\00:21:43.26
and that you break every yoke?
00:21:43.30\00:21:45.87
Is it not to share
your bread with the hungry,
00:21:45.90\00:21:49.47
and that you bring to your
house the poor who are cast out;
00:21:49.50\00:21:55.08
when you see the
naked, that you cover him,
00:21:55.11\00:21:58.11
and not hide
yourself from your own flesh?"
00:21:58.15\00:22:01.68
This passage is very similar
00:22:01.72\00:22:05.25
to what we find
in Matthew chapter 25
00:22:05.29\00:22:08.59
and if you read the context of
Isaiah 58:6 and 7, you'll find
00:22:08.62\00:22:13.70
that the Jews were fasting
00:22:13.73\00:22:16.20
and they were
exhibiting their affliction
00:22:16.23\00:22:19.27
and yet they were
ignoring the needs
00:22:19.30\00:22:21.97
of those
individuals that needed help.
00:22:22.00\00:22:26.27
However, the parable of Jesus
00:22:26.31\00:22:29.24
is not simply telling
us that we should be active
00:22:29.28\00:22:32.95
in community services
00:22:32.98\00:22:34.92
in giving out literal food and
clothing and things like that
00:22:34.95\00:22:38.85
what Seventh-day
Adventists call: Dorcas work.
00:22:38.89\00:22:41.46
There is a spiritual dimension
to the counsel of Jesus as well.
00:22:41.49\00:22:46.80
"I was hungry... " Jesus says.
00:22:46.83\00:22:50.30
People are hungry for
spiritual food... the Bible.
00:22:50.33\00:22:55.20
"I was thirsty... " Jesus says.
00:22:55.24\00:22:58.04
People are
thirsting for the Holy Spirit
00:22:58.07\00:23:02.04
represented by fresh water.
00:23:02.08\00:23:04.01
"I was a
stranger... " Jesus said.
00:23:04.05\00:23:07.15
Those who have
not embraced Jesus,
00:23:07.18\00:23:09.78
are strangers to the
covenant and without hope
00:23:09.82\00:23:13.05
according to Ephesians chapter
2 and verse 12 and verse 19.
00:23:13.09\00:23:17.03
Jesus says, "I was naked. "
00:23:17.06\00:23:19.96
That means that
people are destitute
00:23:20.00\00:23:22.83
of the righteousness of Christ
00:23:22.86\00:23:24.20
because spiritual
nakedness simply means
00:23:24.23\00:23:27.40
that you don't have
Christ's righteousness.
00:23:27.44\00:23:29.37
"I was sick... " Jesus says.
00:23:29.40\00:23:31.97
Well, people are
sick with the virus of sin
00:23:32.01\00:23:36.78
and we have the remedy...
the remedy is Jesus Christ.
00:23:36.81\00:23:40.32
Jesus said, "I was in prison. "
00:23:40.35\00:23:43.28
There are multitudes of
people who are prisoners to sin
00:23:43.32\00:23:47.29
and prisoners to Satan according
to Isaiah 61 verses 1 and 2.
00:23:47.32\00:23:51.66
So, you'll notice that these...
00:23:51.69\00:23:54.13
these elements that
Jesus speaks about...
00:23:54.16\00:23:56.87
things that need to be
done in favor of the destitute
00:23:56.90\00:24:00.34
not only has a
physical dimension,
00:24:00.37\00:24:03.14
it also has a
spiritual dimension.
00:24:03.17\00:24:07.08
The Bible speaks
of bread as food...
00:24:07.11\00:24:10.95
as the Bible... as food.
00:24:10.98\00:24:13.75
The Bible speaks of
the Holy Spirit as drink,
00:24:13.78\00:24:17.29
John 7:37 to 39.
00:24:17.32\00:24:18.89
The Bible speaks about strangers
00:24:18.92\00:24:21.22
becoming members of
the covenant community,
00:24:21.26\00:24:23.86
Ephesians 2:12 and 19.
00:24:23.89\00:24:25.69
The Bible speaks about those
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.70
who are sick with the
virus of sin, Isaiah 1 verse 6.
00:24:27.73\00:24:30.73
The Bible speaks about
those who are prisoners...
00:24:30.77\00:24:34.14
spiritually speaking...
00:24:34.17\00:24:35.67
you find that in
Isaiah 61 verses 1 and 2.
00:24:35.70\00:24:38.81
It's fashionable
today for Christians to say,
00:24:38.84\00:24:42.78
"Oh! if I could only
visit the Holy Land... "
00:24:42.81\00:24:45.51
"If I can only
walk where Jesus walked
00:24:45.55\00:24:48.95
to experience
baptism in the Jordan River
00:24:48.98\00:24:52.92
like Jesus was
baptized by John the Baptist. "
00:24:52.95\00:24:56.19
But regarding the desire of
people to go to the Holy Land
00:24:56.22\00:25:00.80
as it is called,
00:25:00.83\00:25:02.36
Ellen White had something
to say about that desire.
00:25:02.40\00:25:06.63
In the book: Desire of
Ages, page 640, she wrote,
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.71
"Many feel that it
would be a great privilege
00:25:10.74\00:25:14.44
to visit the scenes of
Christ's life on earth,
00:25:14.48\00:25:18.75
to walk where He trod,
00:25:18.78\00:25:21.75
to look upon the lake
beside which He loved to teach,
00:25:21.78\00:25:25.85
and the hills and valleys on
which His eyes so often rested.
00:25:25.89\00:25:30.86
But we need not go to Nazareth,
00:25:30.89\00:25:33.46
to Capernaum,
00:25:33.50\00:25:35.70
or to Bethany, in order to
walk in the steps of Jesus.
00:25:35.73\00:25:40.94
We shall find His
footprints beside the sickbed,
00:25:40.97\00:25:45.24
in the hovels of poverty,
00:25:45.27\00:25:47.78
in the crowded
alleys of the great city,
00:25:47.81\00:25:50.65
and in every place
where there are human hearts
00:25:50.68\00:25:54.48
in need of consolation.
00:25:54.52\00:25:55.88
In doing as Jesus
did when on earth,
00:25:55.92\00:26:00.46
we shall walk in His steps. "
00:26:00.49\00:26:03.39
You'll notice that the sheep did
not care who gets the credit.
00:26:03.43\00:26:09.23
They did not serve in order
to gain accolades and applause.
00:26:09.26\00:26:15.10
They didn't do their
things in order to be saved
00:26:15.14\00:26:17.94
nor for money.
00:26:17.97\00:26:19.31
What they did they
performed spontaneously
00:26:19.34\00:26:24.61
and naturally
00:26:24.65\00:26:25.98
because they had the
love of Jesus in their hearts
00:26:26.01\00:26:29.25
and that love
flowed out towards others.
00:26:29.28\00:26:32.25
Are we aware that
when we do these things
00:26:32.29\00:26:37.29
that Jesus says
we're supposed to do,
00:26:37.33\00:26:39.83
that we are
actually doing them to Jesus?
00:26:39.86\00:26:44.47
"In that you have done them unto
these the least my Brethren,
00:26:44.50\00:26:48.90
you have done it unto
me... " is what Jesus said.
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.97
You'll notice in
the parable that...
00:26:52.01\00:26:54.34
that the goats did not
mistreat those in need.
00:26:54.38\00:26:57.58
In other words, they didn't...
they didn't kick the hungry
00:26:57.61\00:27:00.12
and the thirsty and the stranger
00:27:00.15\00:27:02.18
and the naked and the sick
and those who were in prison,
00:27:02.22\00:27:04.05
no... they did
not mistreat them.
00:27:04.09\00:27:06.02
Perhaps they even
allowed the people
00:27:06.05\00:27:09.52
to eat the crumbs
that fell from their tables
00:27:09.56\00:27:13.56
like the rich man in the story
of the rich man and Lazarus.
00:27:13.60\00:27:16.50
Their grievous sin
was that they ignored
00:27:16.53\00:27:21.20
those that were in need
00:27:21.24\00:27:23.61
and they did not do what
they were supposed to be doing.
00:27:23.64\00:27:26.64
In ignoring those in
need... they ignored Jesus.
00:27:26.68\00:27:31.01
During His ministry, Jesus spoke
00:27:31.05\00:27:34.35
of love and
compassion for those in need.
00:27:34.38\00:27:37.59
On the other hand, He
had strong words of rebuke
00:27:37.62\00:27:41.09
for those who made a
profession of religion
00:27:41.12\00:27:43.86
but did not act in harmony with
what they claimed to believe.
00:27:43.89\00:27:48.53
The words of Jesus to
the goats are unusual.
00:27:48.56\00:27:52.30
We are not used to hearing
Jesus speak in this manner.
00:27:52.33\00:27:56.10
"Depart from Me you cursed
00:27:56.14\00:27:58.57
into the fire prepared for
the devil and his angels. "
00:27:58.61\00:28:01.78
These are strong words
on the part of Jesus Christ.
00:28:01.84\00:28:04.98
Now we find some other stories
in Scripture that illustrate
00:28:05.01\00:28:09.95
the lessons that we
find in this parable.
00:28:09.98\00:28:12.82
The story of the rich
young ruler is an illustration
00:28:12.85\00:28:17.59
of the lessons of
this particular parable.
00:28:17.63\00:28:20.33
You see, there are
two sides to perfection.
00:28:20.36\00:28:24.83
The first side is
ceasing to do evil
00:28:24.87\00:28:27.87
and the other
side is doing good.
00:28:27.90\00:28:30.07
If we have only one side,
we have an unbalanced religion
00:28:30.11\00:28:33.88
and we will never
make it into the kingdom.
00:28:33.91\00:28:36.28
We must cease to do evil and
also, at the same time, do good.
00:28:36.31\00:28:41.68
Let's go to Matthew
chapter 19 verses 16 to 22
00:28:41.72\00:28:45.75
where we have the
story of the rich young ruler
00:28:45.79\00:28:48.82
and I'm going to interpret
as we go along in our study.
00:28:48.86\00:28:52.93
Matthew 19 verse 16,
00:28:52.96\00:28:55.96
"Now behold, one
came and said to Him,
00:28:56.00\00:28:58.43
'Good Teacher,
00:28:58.47\00:28:59.90
what good thing shall I do
that I may have eternal life?'"
00:28:59.93\00:29:03.84
So, this young
man wants eternal life
00:29:03.87\00:29:06.14
not just life in this world,
he wants to live eternally.
00:29:06.17\00:29:08.78
So, he's asking
Jesus, "What do I need to do
00:29:08.81\00:29:12.01
to gain eternal life. "
00:29:12.05\00:29:13.95
Verse 17,
00:29:13.98\00:29:15.58
"So He said to him,
00:29:15.62\00:29:16.99
'Why do you call Me good?
00:29:17.02\00:29:18.62
No one is good
but One, that is, God.
00:29:18.65\00:29:22.79
However, if you want
to enter into life... "
00:29:22.82\00:29:28.03
and we understand
that that's eternal life
00:29:28.06\00:29:30.07
according to the context...
00:29:30.10\00:29:31.43
"if you want to have eternal
life... " Jesus is saying,
00:29:31.47\00:29:33.60
"Keep the commandments. "
00:29:33.64\00:29:35.54
On wow! this young
man when he heard that
00:29:35.57\00:29:37.97
he said, "That's fantastic,
00:29:38.01\00:29:39.34
I've kept the
commandments all my life
00:29:39.37\00:29:41.48
so, I'm almost ready
to enter the kingdom. "
00:29:41.51\00:29:44.41
So, he starts
thinking and he says, "Well...
00:29:44.45\00:29:48.38
I wonder whether he
means the Ten Commandments...
00:29:48.42\00:29:51.92
I'd better
clarify and find out if...
00:29:51.95\00:29:54.42
when He says, 'Keep
the commandments... '
00:29:54.46\00:29:56.26
He's talking about
the Ten Commandments.
00:29:56.29\00:29:57.63
Now, I've kept
them since my youth...
00:29:57.66\00:29:59.23
but I want to make sure
00:29:59.26\00:30:00.60
that He's talking
about those commandments. "
00:30:00.66\00:30:02.13
So, in verse 18, he said
to Him, that is, to Jesus...
00:30:02.16\00:30:07.57
"Which ones?"
00:30:07.60\00:30:08.94
Jesus said... now Jesus
quotes the last six commandments
00:30:08.97\00:30:13.48
that have to do to our
duty towards our neighbor
00:30:13.51\00:30:16.31
but He didn't quote one...
00:30:16.34\00:30:17.95
in place of that one,
He put another one in there
00:30:17.98\00:30:21.28
and you'll notice here the
commandments that Jesus quoted.
00:30:21.32\00:30:25.79
"Which ones?"
00:30:25.82\00:30:27.36
"You shall not murder"
00:30:27.39\00:30:28.99
that's commandment number six,
00:30:29.02\00:30:30.73
"You shall not commit
adultery... " number seven,
00:30:30.76\00:30:32.53
"You shall not
steal... " number eight...
00:30:32.56\00:30:34.16
"You shall not bear
false witness" number nine,
00:30:34.20\00:30:37.10
and number ten of course
is: "You shall not covet. "
00:30:37.13\00:30:40.04
But instead of that
one, Jesus placed in there
00:30:40.07\00:30:44.57
actually He continues... "Honor
your father and your mother"
00:30:44.61\00:30:48.04
and then the last one is,
00:30:48.08\00:30:50.31
"You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. "
00:30:50.35\00:30:54.52
So, Jesus quotes all of
the last six commandments,
00:30:54.55\00:30:57.85
only the last commandment...
"You shall not covet... "
00:30:57.89\00:31:01.36
instead of that... He puts,
00:31:01.39\00:31:03.36
"You shall love your
neighbor as yourself... "
00:31:03.39\00:31:04.93
because loving your neighbor
is the opposite of covetousness.
00:31:04.96\00:31:08.50
So, it's the
positive way of saying,
00:31:08.53\00:31:10.97
"You shall not covet. "
00:31:11.00\00:31:12.33
And now, the story
develops in verse 20.
00:31:12.37\00:31:16.34
"The young man said to Him,
00:31:16.37\00:31:18.37
'All these things I
have kept from my youth,
00:31:18.41\00:31:22.58
What do I still lack?'"
00:31:22.61\00:31:25.48
See, there was a
funny feeling in him
00:31:25.51\00:31:28.15
that there was
something that was missing.
00:31:28.18\00:31:29.95
Yes, he was
keeping the commandments...
00:31:29.98\00:31:31.69
he wasn't killing anybody...
00:31:31.72\00:31:33.05
he wasn't committing adultery
with somebody else's wife...
00:31:33.09\00:31:35.69
he wasn't
bearing false witness...
00:31:35.72\00:31:37.89
and he was honoring his parents,
00:31:37.93\00:31:40.10
you know, he was...
00:31:40.13\00:31:41.46
at least externally
keeping the commandments,
00:31:41.50\00:31:44.50
but he feels like there
must be something lacking
00:31:44.53\00:31:48.24
that Jesus hasn't said.
00:31:48.27\00:31:49.60
So, in verse 21,
"Jesus said to him,
00:31:49.64\00:31:53.34
'If you want to be perfect... '"
00:31:53.38\00:31:56.41
now, listen to that word...
00:31:56.44\00:31:57.95
He's asked, "What do I need
to do to have eternal life?"
00:31:57.98\00:32:01.72
Jesus says, "If you
want to enter eternal life,
00:32:01.75\00:32:04.25
keep the commandments... "
00:32:04.29\00:32:05.62
and then, Jesus says, "If
you want to be perfect... "
00:32:05.65\00:32:07.46
so, this says that you
have to have perfection
00:32:07.49\00:32:11.26
in order to enter eternal life.
00:32:11.29\00:32:13.46
Remember that word, "If
you want to be perfect. "
00:32:13.50\00:32:15.40
So, Jesus says, "If
you want to be perfect,
00:32:15.43\00:32:18.50
go, sell what you
have and give to the poor,
00:32:18.53\00:32:24.27
and you will have
treasure in heaven;
00:32:24.31\00:32:27.71
and come, follow Me. "
00:32:27.74\00:32:29.88
So, this young man has said,
"Oh, I have never killed anyone,
00:32:29.91\00:32:34.92
I have never
dishonored my parents...
00:32:34.95\00:32:36.85
I've never committed
adultery with anyone...
00:32:36.89\00:32:39.09
you know, I've never borne false
witness against my neighbor,
00:32:39.12\00:32:41.59
I've never done any
of these bad things... "
00:32:41.62\00:32:43.66
but Jesus says, "Okay,
go sell everything you have
00:32:43.69\00:32:47.73
and give it to the poor
00:32:47.76\00:32:49.10
and you will have
treasure with Me in heaven. "
00:32:49.13\00:32:53.10
What did the young man do?
00:32:53.13\00:32:57.17
Verse 22, "But when the
young man heard that saying,
00:32:57.21\00:33:01.98
he went away sorrowful,
00:33:02.01\00:33:04.05
for he had great possessions. "
00:33:04.08\00:33:07.58
The problem with the
rich young ruler is that
00:33:07.62\00:33:11.15
outwardly at least,
he abstained from evil
00:33:11.19\00:33:15.56
but he did not perform the good.
00:33:15.59\00:33:18.73
His sin was not the
sin of commission...
00:33:18.76\00:33:22.20
it was the sin of omission.
00:33:22.23\00:33:24.90
God will judge
us in the final day
00:33:24.93\00:33:28.44
not only for the bad things we
did... that we should not have
00:33:28.47\00:33:32.54
but for the good that we should
have done... and did not do.
00:33:32.57\00:33:36.54
So, remember, Jesus said,
"If you want to be perfect,
00:33:36.58\00:33:40.02
go sell what you have
and give it to the poor. "
00:33:40.05\00:33:43.05
Now, we have another story...
00:33:43.08\00:33:45.29
it's called the
parable of the good Samaritan
00:33:45.32\00:33:48.56
but really it's
not only a parable...
00:33:48.59\00:33:50.93
it's actually a true-life story.
00:33:50.96\00:33:53.46
In fact, Ellen White
tells us in Desire of Ages
00:33:53.50\00:33:56.77
that the Levite and the
Priest who bypassed this man
00:33:56.80\00:34:00.44
who had fallen to
the hands of robbers,
00:34:00.47\00:34:02.27
were actually present
when Jesus told the story.
00:34:02.30\00:34:05.34
They were probably wondering,
you know, "How did this man
00:34:05.37\00:34:08.38
find out what we did
in bypassing this man
00:34:08.41\00:34:11.18
who was in dire need. "
00:34:11.21\00:34:13.05
Now, you notice in this story
that we find in Luke chapter 10
00:34:13.08\00:34:16.85
verses 25 to 37,
00:34:16.89\00:34:19.02
that there's a young lawyer...
00:34:19.05\00:34:22.42
when I say "Lawyer" he's an
expert in the writings of Moses,
00:34:22.46\00:34:26.93
in the legal writings of Moses,
00:34:26.96\00:34:28.86
in other words, he's a
"sacred lawyer" if you please,
00:34:28.90\00:34:32.53
not a secular lawyer,
00:34:32.57\00:34:34.44
but he comes and he
asks Jesus a question,
00:34:34.47\00:34:37.87
Luke chapter 10 and verse 25,
00:34:37.91\00:34:40.74
"And behold, a
certain lawyer... "
00:34:40.78\00:34:42.84
that is someone who's an
expert in the writings of Moses,
00:34:42.88\00:34:45.51
"stood up and
tested Him, saying,
00:34:45.55\00:34:48.42
'Teacher, what shall I do
to inherit eternal life?'"
00:34:48.45\00:34:52.79
Is that the same question
that the rich young ruler asked?
00:34:52.82\00:34:56.42
Absolutely.
00:34:56.46\00:34:57.79
This young expert
in the law of Moses...
00:34:57.83\00:35:01.13
he wants to have eternal life
00:35:01.16\00:35:03.20
and he says, "What do I need
to do to have eternal life?"
00:35:03.23\00:35:05.53
Well, Jesus now
throws the question at him,
00:35:05.57\00:35:09.57
He said to him, "What
is written in the law?"
00:35:09.60\00:35:13.58
That is... the
writings of Moses...
00:35:13.61\00:35:14.94
"What is written in the law?
00:35:14.98\00:35:17.21
What is your reading of it?"
00:35:17.25\00:35:19.41
In other words, Jesus is saying,
"You tell me what you need to do
00:35:19.45\00:35:23.12
to receive eternal life?"
00:35:23.18\00:35:24.52
Verse 27, "So he
answered this... "
00:35:24.55\00:35:27.89
this is the
young... the young expert...
00:35:27.92\00:35:30.29
"and said, 'you shall
love the Lord your God
00:35:30.33\00:35:32.63
with all your heart,
00:35:32.66\00:35:34.00
with all your soul,
00:35:34.03\00:35:35.36
with all your strength,
00:35:35.40\00:35:36.73
and with all your mind,
00:35:36.77\00:35:38.10
and your
neighbor as yourself. '"
00:35:38.13\00:35:39.70
And now, Jesus
says to this young man,
00:35:39.73\00:35:42.80
"And He said to him,
00:35:42.84\00:35:44.24
'You have answered rightly;
00:35:44.31\00:35:46.88
do this and you will live. '"
00:35:46.91\00:35:49.44
In other words, "Do this and
you will have eternal life. "
00:35:49.48\00:35:52.25
So, he's saying
to him, you know,
00:35:52.28\00:35:55.22
"Love God above everything...
00:35:55.25\00:35:56.85
love your neighbor as yourself
00:35:56.89\00:35:58.49
and you will
have eternal life. "
00:35:58.52\00:36:00.02
Hmmm... this lawyer...
00:36:00.06\00:36:02.66
he knew that he wasn't
doing what Jesus told him to do,
00:36:02.69\00:36:05.26
so, in verse 29,
we find these words,
00:36:05.29\00:36:09.10
"However, he... " that
is the... this expert...
00:36:09.13\00:36:12.90
"wanting to justify himself... "
00:36:12.93\00:36:15.20
because he wasn't
practicing what he was preaching
00:36:15.24\00:36:17.74
by the way,
00:36:17.77\00:36:19.11
"said to Jesus,
00:36:19.14\00:36:20.48
"And who is my neighbor?"
00:36:20.51\00:36:22.14
In other words,
00:36:22.18\00:36:23.51
"What does it mean to
love my neighbor as myself?
00:36:23.55\00:36:25.51
Who's the neighbor
that I'm supposed to love?"
00:36:25.55\00:36:28.45
Verse 30, "Then Jesus
answered and said... "
00:36:28.48\00:36:31.29
now Jesus is going to
illustrate who a neighbor is
00:36:31.32\00:36:34.62
and what you need to
do to have eternal life.
00:36:34.66\00:36:36.69
"Then Jesus answered and said:
00:36:36.73\00:36:38.49
'A certain man went down
from Jerusalem to Jericho... "
00:36:38.53\00:36:42.30
believe me... it is down...
00:36:42.33\00:36:44.13
I've been over there,
00:36:44.17\00:36:45.50
it's a tortuous road that goes
through the Judean wilderness
00:36:45.53\00:36:48.70
from Jerusalem... which is high
00:36:48.77\00:36:51.14
down to Jericho.
00:36:51.17\00:36:52.64
So, it says, "A certain man went
down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
00:36:52.67\00:36:56.95
and fell among thieves... "
00:36:56.98\00:36:59.85
now, spiritually speaking, this
has a spiritual application.
00:36:59.91\00:37:05.39
Spiritually speaking,
who is the great thief?
00:37:05.42\00:37:08.32
The great thief is Satan.
00:37:08.39\00:37:11.23
In John chapter 10
00:37:11.26\00:37:14.03
Jesus says that Satan
does not come but to steal...
00:37:14.06\00:37:17.37
so the thieves
represent Satan and his angels
00:37:17.40\00:37:20.94
and what did the thieves do?
00:37:20.97\00:37:23.71
They stripped
him of his clothing.
00:37:23.74\00:37:26.31
What does clothing
represent in Scripture?
00:37:26.34\00:37:29.44
It represents righteousness.
00:37:29.48\00:37:31.88
So, Satan with the human race...
00:37:31.91\00:37:34.28
he stole from
them eternal life...
00:37:34.32\00:37:39.95
and he stripped them
of their righteousness
00:37:40.02\00:37:43.96
and not only that,
00:37:43.99\00:37:45.89
but it says that
the thieves wounded him.
00:37:45.93\00:37:49.46
Folks, the human race is wounded
by sin... by the disease of sin.
00:37:49.53\00:37:55.34
And then it
says, "He wounded him
00:37:55.37\00:37:57.91
and the thieves departed
leaving him half dead. "
00:37:57.94\00:38:02.38
Without external help,
this man would have died.
00:38:02.44\00:38:06.85
He needed someone to
come from outside to help him
00:38:06.88\00:38:11.29
or else he would have died.
00:38:11.32\00:38:13.02
Just like it was necessary
for Jesus to come from heaven
00:38:13.05\00:38:17.03
to help us, or
else we would have died.
00:38:17.06\00:38:20.00
So, now in verse 31, there
is the Minister that comes by,
00:38:20.03\00:38:25.87
the Pastor... if you please.
00:38:25.93\00:38:28.00
"Now by chance a
certain priest... "
00:38:28.04\00:38:30.61
this is a religious leader,
00:38:30.64\00:38:33.27
"came down that road
00:38:33.31\00:38:35.58
and when he saw him he
passed by on the other side. "
00:38:35.61\00:38:40.52
By the way, this
priest might have thought
00:38:40.55\00:38:43.08
that he was on a
rush to get to Jerusalem
00:38:43.12\00:38:45.62
because he had to do the
services of the sanctuary.
00:38:45.65\00:38:47.89
Or perhaps he thought,
00:38:47.92\00:38:49.26
"Well, the thieves
might still be around
00:38:49.29\00:38:50.86
so, I'd better
get out of here... "
00:38:50.89\00:38:52.56
he probably thought,
"Well, if I help this man,
00:38:52.59\00:38:54.73
I might get my garments
all... all stained with blood. "
00:38:54.76\00:38:58.63
I don't know what excuse
he used but the Bible says
00:38:58.67\00:39:01.47
that this religious
leader saw him and passed by.
00:39:01.50\00:39:06.98
Then you have a Levite...
00:39:07.01\00:39:08.88
which would be a symbol
of the deacons of the church
00:39:08.91\00:39:11.05
because they cared
for the sanctuary...
00:39:11.08\00:39:12.75
leaders of the
church... in other words...
00:39:12.78\00:39:15.02
so, it says, "Likewise a Levite,
when he arrived at the place"
00:39:15.05\00:39:19.42
he was a little bit better...
00:39:19.45\00:39:20.79
because it says,
"he came and looked... "
00:39:20.82\00:39:22.82
at least the... the Priest...
00:39:22.86\00:39:24.93
all he did was he
saw him and passed by.
00:39:24.96\00:39:26.96
This one, the
Levite, "came and looked
00:39:27.00\00:39:29.80
but he passed by
on the other side. "
00:39:29.83\00:39:32.63
In other words, they ignored
this man who was in need.
00:39:32.67\00:39:36.71
But then, verse
33, a stranger comes,
00:39:36.74\00:39:40.61
he's a Samaritan...
00:39:40.64\00:39:42.81
he's not a member
of the chosen people.
00:39:42.84\00:39:44.95
"However, a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed,
00:39:44.98\00:39:48.98
came where he was
00:39:49.02\00:39:50.92
and when he saw
him, he had compassion. "
00:39:50.95\00:39:54.82
So, the Samaritan has
compassion on this Jewish man
00:39:54.86\00:39:59.69
that has fallen into
the hands of thieves.
00:39:59.73\00:40:02.86
Who does the Samaritan
represent in this story?
00:40:02.90\00:40:06.23
The Samaritan
represents Jesus Christ.
00:40:06.27\00:40:09.64
Verse 34, "So he went to him
00:40:09.67\00:40:13.91
and bandaged his wounds"
00:40:13.94\00:40:15.98
is that what Jesus does with
the wounds that sin has caused
00:40:16.01\00:40:18.81
to humanity?
00:40:18.85\00:40:20.38
Absolutely...
00:40:20.42\00:40:21.75
"pouring on oil and wine... "
00:40:21.78\00:40:23.89
what do oil and wine represent
symbolically in Scripture?
00:40:23.92\00:40:27.32
Oil represents the Holy Spirit
00:40:27.36\00:40:29.72
and wine
represents the blood of Jesus.
00:40:29.76\00:40:31.83
Those are the healing
agents that God has given
00:40:31.86\00:40:36.30
to heal a humanity that
has been wounded by Satan
00:40:36.33\00:40:40.94
and his angels...
00:40:40.97\00:40:42.30
so it says,
"pouring on oil and wine;
00:40:42.34\00:40:44.44
and he set him
on his own animal,
00:40:44.47\00:40:46.84
and brought him to an inn... "
00:40:46.88\00:40:48.44
now he's going to
bring him to church.
00:40:48.48\00:40:50.65
So, it says, "He
brought him to an inn"
00:40:50.68\00:40:53.62
the inn represents the church,
00:40:53.65\00:40:55.32
"and took care of
him... " at least for a while.
00:40:55.35\00:40:57.82
"On the next day,
when he departed... "
00:40:57.85\00:41:02.66
you see, now, the good
Samaritan is going to depart
00:41:02.69\00:41:05.66
like Jesus departed to heaven
00:41:05.69\00:41:07.63
"he took out two denarii... "
00:41:07.66\00:41:10.17
so, he's going to give
resources to the innkeeper,
00:41:10.20\00:41:13.34
which would be the
pastor of the church
00:41:13.37\00:41:15.37
and of course, to
the church in general,
00:41:15.40\00:41:17.41
he took out two denarii,
gave them to the innkeeper,
00:41:17.44\00:41:22.18
that is... the
pastor of the church
00:41:22.21\00:41:24.31
who has received gifts from God
00:41:24.35\00:41:26.65
to help those who are in need,
00:41:26.68\00:41:28.52
and said to him,
'Take care of him... '"
00:41:28.55\00:41:32.42
and now notice this,
00:41:32.45\00:41:35.52
there's a second
coming of the Samaritan...
00:41:35.56\00:41:38.39
"and whatever more you spend,
00:41:38.43\00:41:40.83
when I come again,
I will repay you. "
00:41:40.86\00:41:46.80
In other words, "I will bring
my reward when I come again. "
00:41:46.84\00:41:50.27
Does Jesus promise to bring
His reward when He comes again
00:41:50.31\00:41:55.21
to give to those who
have done to those in need
00:41:55.24\00:41:59.25
to those who are hurt and help
them in their dire situation?
00:41:59.28\00:42:03.69
Absolutely.
00:42:03.72\00:42:05.25
So, then verse 36 says,
00:42:05.29\00:42:07.66
"So, which of
these three do you think
00:42:07.69\00:42:11.26
was neighbor to him who
fell among the thieves?"
00:42:11.29\00:42:15.50
And he said, "He who
showed mercy on him. "
00:42:15.53\00:42:20.77
Then Jesus said to
him, Go and do likewise. "
00:42:20.80\00:42:26.68
The religion of Jesus
is a religion of doing.
00:42:26.71\00:42:30.58
Jesus said, "Do unto others
00:42:30.61\00:42:33.21
as you would have
them do unto you. "
00:42:33.25\00:42:35.02
He didn't say,
"Don't do unto others
00:42:35.05\00:42:36.99
as you don't want
them to do unto you. "
00:42:37.02\00:42:38.89
The religion of Jesus
is an active religion...
00:42:38.92\00:42:42.12
it is a dynamic religion.
00:42:42.16\00:42:43.49
When Jesus is in the heart,
00:42:43.53\00:42:45.63
we help other people
and care about other people
00:42:45.66\00:42:49.16
who have been wounded
by Satan and his angels
00:42:49.20\00:42:52.23
and without external
help, they would perish.
00:42:52.27\00:42:55.67
Now, let's go to another passage
00:42:55.70\00:42:59.54
where the word
"perfect" is used.
00:42:59.57\00:43:01.71
I hope you haven't forgotten
00:43:01.74\00:43:03.08
that Jesus said to
the rich young ruler,
00:43:03.11\00:43:05.25
"If you would be perfect,
00:43:05.28\00:43:06.92
go sell what you have
and give to the poor. "
00:43:06.95\00:43:08.82
So, perfection involves
doing good to the poor...
00:43:08.85\00:43:13.32
doing good to others.
00:43:13.36\00:43:14.69
Let's go to Matthew chapter
5 verse 38 through verse 48.
00:43:14.72\00:43:20.40
It says there,
"You have heard... "
00:43:20.43\00:43:23.70
Jesus is
speaking, "that it was said,
00:43:23.73\00:43:25.87
'An eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth. '"
00:43:25.90\00:43:29.24
That's the unconverted
person's way of doing things.
00:43:29.27\00:43:33.48
"He knocked out my tooth,
00:43:33.51\00:43:35.24
I'm going to knock
out a tooth from him. "
00:43:35.28\00:43:37.91
"He hit me in the nose, I
hit him back in the nose. "
00:43:37.95\00:43:41.38
So, Jesus said, "You've
heard, 'an eye for an eye
00:43:41.42\00:43:44.05
and a tooth for a tooth. '
00:43:44.09\00:43:45.42
But I tell you not to
resist an evil person.
00:43:45.45\00:43:50.03
Rather, whoever slaps
you on your right cheek,
00:43:50.06\00:43:53.80
turn the other to him also.
00:43:53.83\00:43:56.00
If anyone wants to sue
you and take away your tunic,
00:43:56.03\00:44:00.17
let him have your cloak also.
00:44:00.20\00:44:04.71
And whoever
compels you to go one mile,
00:44:04.74\00:44:07.38
go with him two.
00:44:07.41\00:44:09.04
Give to him who asks of you,
00:44:09.08\00:44:12.05
and from him who wants to borrow
from you do not turn away. "
00:44:12.08\00:44:15.95
You have heard that it was said,
00:44:15.98\00:44:18.09
'You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy. '
00:44:18.12\00:44:21.39
But I say to you,
love your enemies... "
00:44:21.42\00:44:24.03
He doesn't say,
"Don't hate your enemies"
00:44:24.06\00:44:26.36
He says, "Love your enemies...
00:44:26.39\00:44:27.73
bless those who curse you. "
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.43
He's not saying,
"Bite your tongue
00:44:29.46\00:44:31.17
so you don't
curse your enemies. "
00:44:31.20\00:44:32.57
He says, "Bless
those who curse you...
00:44:32.60\00:44:35.50
do good to those who hate you...
00:44:35.54\00:44:38.34
and pray for those
who spitefully use you
00:44:38.37\00:44:42.28
and persecute you. "
00:44:42.31\00:44:43.68
Now, when I'm preaching
on this particular subject,
00:44:43.71\00:44:46.82
I ask the congregation
the following question,
00:44:46.85\00:44:49.92
"How many of
yourselves consider yourselves
00:44:49.95\00:44:53.72
sons of your father in heaven?
00:44:53.76\00:44:55.89
And everybody
raises their hand and says,
00:44:55.92\00:44:58.03
we are children of the Father,
we are the children of God. "
00:44:58.06\00:45:01.36
But there's a condition
00:45:01.40\00:45:03.10
for being called
"Children of God. "
00:45:03.13\00:45:05.53
Let's go back to verse
44 and connect verse 45.
00:45:05.57\00:45:10.07
"But I say to you,
'Love your enemies...
00:45:10.11\00:45:12.21
bless those who curse you,
00:45:12.24\00:45:14.11
do good to those who hate you,
00:45:14.14\00:45:16.01
and pray for those
who spitefully use you
00:45:16.04\00:45:18.78
and curse you... do
good to those who hate you,
00:45:18.81\00:45:22.58
and pray for those
who spitefully use you
00:45:22.62\00:45:24.65
and persecute you... "
00:45:24.69\00:45:26.05
and then it says in verse 25,
00:45:26.09\00:45:27.96
"that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven. "
00:45:27.99\00:45:31.79
So, the condition
is according to this,
00:45:31.83\00:45:35.96
"Love... bless... do good...
00:45:36.00\00:45:38.63
and pray for
those who persecute you
00:45:38.67\00:45:40.94
that you may be sons
of your father in heaven;
00:45:40.97\00:45:43.87
for he makes His sun rise
on the evil and on the good,
00:45:43.91\00:45:47.91
and sends rain on the
just and on the unjust. "
00:45:47.94\00:45:50.65
What would it be
like if God said,
00:45:50.68\00:45:52.01
"Well, this
person is My follower,
00:45:52.05\00:45:53.88
therefore, I'm going to
give him rain and sunshine
00:45:53.92\00:45:55.92
but this individual
has not accepted me...
00:45:55.95\00:45:58.35
no rain... and no sunshine... "
00:45:58.39\00:45:59.89
See, God not only
asks us to do good,
00:45:59.92\00:46:02.62
He also
practices what He preaches.
00:46:02.66\00:46:05.53
Verse 46, "For if you
love those who love you,
00:46:05.56\00:46:09.26
what reward have you?
00:46:09.30\00:46:10.87
Do not even the tax
collectors do the same?
00:46:10.90\00:46:13.84
I mean, do worldlings
who don't love Jesus...
00:46:13.87\00:46:18.71
have never accepted Jesus...
00:46:18.74\00:46:20.08
do they love their
mother and father and friends?
00:46:20.11\00:46:22.08
Of course they do.
00:46:22.11\00:46:23.45
So, if we only love our
mother and father and friends
00:46:23.48\00:46:25.75
and our family,
00:46:25.78\00:46:27.12
what more do we have than them?
00:46:27.15\00:46:28.62
"For if you love those who
love you, what reward have you?
00:46:28.65\00:46:32.12
Do not even the tax
collectors do the same?
00:46:32.15\00:46:34.56
"And if you greet
your brethren only,
00:46:34.59\00:46:37.59
what do you do more than others?
00:46:37.63\00:46:39.39
Do not even the
tax collectors do so?"
00:46:39.43\00:46:42.43
And now comes the conclusion.
00:46:42.46\00:46:44.27
"Therefore you shall be perfect,
00:46:44.30\00:46:46.90
just as your Father
in heaven is perfect. "
00:46:46.94\00:46:50.31
What is this passage
saying that perfection is?
00:46:50.34\00:46:55.11
It's not ceasing to do evil,
00:46:55.14\00:46:58.28
but it is doing good...
00:46:58.31\00:47:00.35
it's the other
side of perfection.
00:47:00.38\00:47:02.02
It's the positive
side of perfection.
00:47:02.05\00:47:04.45
Not only ceasing to
do evil but doing good.
00:47:04.49\00:47:08.22
Loving enemies...
blessing those who curse us,
00:47:08.26\00:47:11.96
doing good to those who hate us
00:47:11.99\00:47:13.76
and praying for
those who spitefully use us
00:47:13.80\00:47:16.83
and persecute us.
00:47:16.87\00:47:18.67
That is the sign of perfection
that has to do with "doing"
00:47:18.70\00:47:25.01
just like in the parable
of the sheep and the goats.
00:47:25.04\00:47:26.98
Now, the passage in Luke...
the parallel passage in Luke
00:47:27.01\00:47:32.88
has the same content
00:47:32.91\00:47:36.42
but its conclusion
is a little different.
00:47:36.45\00:47:39.62
You're probably wondering
if, "Be ye therefore perfect
00:47:39.65\00:47:42.49
as your Father in
heaven is perfect... "
00:47:42.52\00:47:44.46
means that you're supposed
to be merciful and loving
00:47:44.49\00:47:47.20
like the Father is.
00:47:47.23\00:47:48.56
Well, let's go to Luke chapter
6 and verses 27 through 36...
00:47:48.60\00:47:53.34
a parallel passage
to what we just read,
00:47:53.37\00:47:55.90
you're going to see the
parallels as we begin to read.
00:47:55.94\00:47:59.17
Here Jesus speaks,
"But I say to you who hear,
00:47:59.21\00:48:02.88
'Love your enemies,
00:48:02.91\00:48:04.35
do good to those who hate you,
00:48:04.38\00:48:06.75
bless those who curse you,
00:48:06.78\00:48:08.68
and pray for those
who spitefully use you.
00:48:08.72\00:48:11.65
To him who strikes
you on the one cheek,
00:48:11.69\00:48:14.52
offer the other also
00:48:14.56\00:48:16.26
and for him who
takes away your cloak,
00:48:16.29\00:48:18.83
do not withhold
your tunic either.
00:48:18.86\00:48:21.00
Give to
everyone who asks of you.
00:48:21.03\00:48:24.10
And from him who
takes away your goods
00:48:24.13\00:48:26.80
do not ask them back.
00:48:26.84\00:48:28.24
And just as you want to
do... want men to do to you,
00:48:28.27\00:48:33.91
you also do to them likewise.
00:48:33.94\00:48:37.01
But if you love
those who love you,
00:48:37.05\00:48:39.25
what credit is that to you?
00:48:39.28\00:48:41.18
For even sinners
love those who love them.
00:48:41.22\00:48:43.28
And if you do good to
those who do good to you,
00:48:43.32\00:48:46.65
what credit is that to you?
00:48:46.69\00:48:48.82
For even sinners do the same.
00:48:48.86\00:48:50.46
And if you lend to those from
whom you expect to receive back,
00:48:50.49\00:48:54.90
what credit is that to you?
00:48:54.93\00:48:56.53
For even sinners lend to
sinners to receive as much back.
00:48:56.56\00:49:00.74
But love your enemies,
00:49:00.77\00:49:02.47
do good and lend,
hoping for nothing in return;
00:49:02.50\00:49:06.21
and your reward will be great,
00:49:06.24\00:49:08.94
and you will be
sons of the Most High.
00:49:08.98\00:49:11.55
For He is kind to the
unthankful and evil. "
00:49:11.58\00:49:15.48
Do you remember that
in Matthew chapter 5,
00:49:15.52\00:49:18.05
it said, "Be ye
therefore perfect
00:49:18.09\00:49:20.72
as your heavenly
Father is perfect... "
00:49:20.76\00:49:22.49
after
everything that we've read?
00:49:22.52\00:49:24.26
Now, notice the way
that Luke expresses it.
00:49:24.29\00:49:27.03
Verse 36, "Be
therefore merciful,
00:49:27.06\00:49:32.97
as your Father
also is merciful. "
00:49:33.00\00:49:36.77
So, what is: "Be
ye therefore perfect?"
00:49:36.81\00:49:40.04
It means, "Be ye
therefore merciful. "
00:49:40.08\00:49:43.45
So, perfection does not
only involve ceasing to do evil,
00:49:43.48\00:49:48.38
but performing the good.
00:49:48.42\00:49:50.35
James chapter 1 and
verse 27 has the balance.
00:49:50.39\00:49:55.02
It has both sides of perfection,
the ceasing to do evil
00:49:55.06\00:49:59.49
and the doing of good.
00:49:59.53\00:50:01.06
We find in James
chapter 1 and verse 27,
00:50:01.10\00:50:04.47
"Pure and undefiled religion
before God and the Father
00:50:04.50\00:50:09.30
is this: to visit orphans
and widows in their trouble,
00:50:09.34\00:50:14.04
and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world. "
00:50:14.08\00:50:17.75
So, you see the two sides
of perfection in this verse.
00:50:17.78\00:50:21.98
First of all, you have
"visiting orphans and widows"
00:50:22.02\00:50:26.15
and secondly, "keeping yourself
unspotted from the world. "
00:50:26.19\00:50:30.89
In other words: do
good and cease to do evil.
00:50:30.93\00:50:35.00
Now, how should we live while
we wait for the coming of Jesus?
00:50:35.03\00:50:39.50
Jesus gave us five indications
of what we should be doing
00:50:39.53\00:50:45.31
while we wait for Jesus to come.
00:50:45.34\00:50:47.94
First of all,
invest all of our resources
00:50:47.98\00:50:52.55
in the finishing of God's work.
00:50:52.58\00:50:54.72
Ellen White stated in
Patriarchs and Prophets, page 95
00:50:54.75\00:50:59.72
that all that Noah possessed,
he invested in the ark.
00:50:59.75\00:51:04.03
Every blow struck upon the
ark was a witness to the people.
00:51:04.06\00:51:09.06
So, Noah invested
everything he had in the ark...
00:51:09.10\00:51:13.40
his time... his
resources... his strength
00:51:13.44\00:51:16.27
and his intelligence.
00:51:16.30\00:51:18.54
The second thing that
Jesus said we're supposed to do
00:51:18.57\00:51:21.98
while we wait it to watch.
00:51:22.01\00:51:24.45
The parable of the
good and faithful servant
00:51:24.48\00:51:27.32
illustrates the need to watch.
00:51:27.35\00:51:29.15
The word "watch" in the gospels
and it's mentioned several times
00:51:29.18\00:51:33.72
means to be
alert... to be wakeful
00:51:33.76\00:51:36.39
and to pay attention.
00:51:36.42\00:51:38.83
You know, you can
lock the door of your house
00:51:38.86\00:51:42.06
for a 1,000 nights
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.43
and then on night
1,001 you're in bed
00:51:43.47\00:51:47.84
and you're nice and comfortable,
00:51:47.87\00:51:49.20
you say, "Oh! I
forgot to lock the door,
00:51:49.24\00:51:51.77
but I'm so nice and
warm under these covers... "
00:51:51.81\00:51:54.11
and you don't lock the door.
00:51:54.14\00:51:55.54
That might be the night
when the thief will come.
00:51:55.58\00:51:58.58
And so we have to
always be watchful
00:51:58.61\00:52:02.05
because we do not know
00:52:02.08\00:52:03.42
when the hour of the
close of probation will come.
00:52:03.45\00:52:07.32
Unfortunately, as
Jesus delays His coming,
00:52:07.36\00:52:10.96
the tendency is not
to become more alert
00:52:10.99\00:52:14.26
but to become less alert
00:52:14.30\00:52:16.93
and to lose
anxiety and preparedness
00:52:16.97\00:52:19.93
for the coming of Jesus.
00:52:19.97\00:52:21.30
I remember when I was a kid,
00:52:21.34\00:52:25.87
I heard my parents talk about
the second coming of Jesus.
00:52:25.91\00:52:29.14
I also heard my
grandparents speak
00:52:29.18\00:52:32.05
about the
second coming of Jesus.
00:52:32.08\00:52:33.75
And I'm sure that their
parents and grandparents
00:52:33.78\00:52:37.65
spoke to them about
the second coming of Jesus
00:52:37.69\00:52:40.12
and it's been delayed.
00:52:40.16\00:52:41.82
And the tendency is to say,
00:52:41.86\00:52:44.13
"Well, you know, we
know He's coming some time,
00:52:44.16\00:52:46.26
but He's not coming real soon. "
00:52:46.29\00:52:48.36
Another things that Jesus
told us to do was to pray.
00:52:48.40\00:52:52.60
In Mark 13 and verse 33,
Jesus told His disciples,
00:52:52.63\00:52:56.87
"Watch and pray because you
do not know when the hour is. "
00:52:56.91\00:53:02.98
Unfortunately, the disciples in
garden slept instead of praying
00:53:03.01\00:53:08.25
and, therefore, they
fell into temptation.
00:53:08.28\00:53:10.35
The fourth thing that
Jesus said that we must do
00:53:10.39\00:53:13.49
while we are waiting for
the second coming of Jesus
00:53:13.52\00:53:16.26
is to be ready.
00:53:16.29\00:53:18.39
This is the emphasis of
the parable of the ten virgins
00:53:18.43\00:53:22.36
to be all the time
for the close of probation
00:53:22.40\00:53:26.20
and for the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:53:26.23\00:53:29.10
I remember when I
was about ten years old,
00:53:29.14\00:53:33.21
we lived in the city
of Caracas, Venezuela,
00:53:33.24\00:53:36.51
my dad was the
Conference President
00:53:36.54\00:53:38.05
and my mother took my older
sister to Wisconsin Academy
00:53:38.08\00:53:42.92
to go to school
00:53:42.95\00:53:44.52
and my dad knew the exact time
00:53:44.55\00:53:48.16
that my mother was going
to come back to Venezuela
00:53:48.19\00:53:52.13
after she dropped off my sister.
00:53:52.16\00:53:54.26
So, you know, being
two men in the house,
00:53:54.30\00:53:59.37
we didn't bother to
wash the dishes very much...
00:53:59.40\00:54:02.77
we didn't bother
to clean the house...
00:54:02.80\00:54:05.14
everything was
somewhat in disarray
00:54:05.17\00:54:08.21
because we
said, "Well, you know,
00:54:08.24\00:54:09.61
we know when mom is coming back
00:54:09.64\00:54:11.41
and so, the day
before she comes back,
00:54:11.45\00:54:14.08
we're going to clean the house
00:54:14.12\00:54:15.45
and we're going
to wash the dishes
00:54:15.48\00:54:17.95
and have everything spic
and span when she comes back.
00:54:17.99\00:54:20.52
Well, it just so happens
00:54:20.56\00:54:22.62
that my mom decided
to take an earlier flight
00:54:22.66\00:54:25.23
and, of course,
when she got home,
00:54:25.26\00:54:27.73
she saw all of the
dirty dishes in the kitchen
00:54:27.76\00:54:31.00
and she saw the
house in disarray.
00:54:31.03\00:54:33.13
What is the lesson here?
00:54:33.17\00:54:35.50
The lesson is that we
should be ready all the time.
00:54:35.54\00:54:39.27
We should have
kept the dishes washed
00:54:39.31\00:54:41.54
and we should have
kept the house clean
00:54:41.58\00:54:43.61
and that way... my mother
could have come at any time
00:54:43.65\00:54:46.58
and there would not have
been any problem whatsoever.
00:54:46.61\00:54:50.19
The fifth thing that Jesus
said that we're supposed to do
00:54:50.22\00:54:54.02
is to occupy until Jesus comes.
00:54:54.06\00:54:57.83
You see, Noah
had an active faith.
00:54:57.86\00:55:01.86
He not only preached... but
he also worked with his hands.
00:55:01.90\00:55:06.37
Benjamin Franklin once
spoke some very wise words
00:55:06.40\00:55:10.77
when he said, "Well done
is better than well said. "
00:55:10.81\00:55:16.18
Likewise, when the building
of the church is finished...
00:55:16.21\00:55:20.65
when all the faithful believers
have come into the church,
00:55:20.68\00:55:24.39
then, the door of probation
will close and Jesus will come.
00:55:24.42\00:55:31.39
In Luke chapter 19 and verse 13,
00:55:31.43\00:55:34.50
Jesus stated,
"Occupy until I come. "
00:55:34.53\00:55:39.07
The Greek word
is very interesting,
00:55:39.10\00:55:41.77
it's the word "Pragmatuomi"
00:55:41.80\00:55:44.77
where we get
the word "Pragmatic"
00:55:44.81\00:55:47.64
in the English language.
00:55:47.68\00:55:49.88
What does it
mean to be pragmatic?
00:55:49.91\00:55:52.61
It means: To put
theory into practice.
00:55:52.65\00:55:57.29
In other words, it's not enough
to have a theory of salvation...
00:55:57.32\00:56:01.72
the theory of salvation
must be put into practice.
00:56:01.76\00:56:07.13
I want to end by
giving you an illustration
00:56:07.16\00:56:10.90
you know, for those who
say that the coming of Jesus
00:56:10.93\00:56:15.00
is very, very delayed.
00:56:15.04\00:56:16.81
You know, I remember,
one of the first times
00:56:16.84\00:56:19.67
that I travelled overseas...
00:56:19.71\00:56:21.78
in fact, I think I was
traveling to South America,
00:56:21.81\00:56:24.15
I was at the airport...
00:56:24.18\00:56:26.18
checked in at the right time
00:56:26.21\00:56:28.52
and I noticed on
the board that it said
00:56:28.55\00:56:31.65
the flight was
delayed for 12 hours.
00:56:31.69\00:56:34.79
And so, I said, "What am
I going to do at the airport
00:56:34.82\00:56:38.36
for 12 hours?"
00:56:38.39\00:56:40.10
You know, I was in a city
00:56:40.13\00:56:42.16
where there was
actually nobody that I knew...
00:56:42.20\00:56:46.23
so, I had to stay in the
airport for all 12 hours.
00:56:46.27\00:56:49.84
I didn't have my
computer with me,
00:56:49.87\00:56:52.17
I didn't have
any books to read...
00:56:52.21\00:56:53.88
I'll tell you, even
though it was a large airport
00:56:53.91\00:56:57.81
and I could walk
around the airport...
00:56:57.85\00:56:59.55
you can only
walk around so much...
00:56:59.58\00:57:01.55
I got to the point where I
almost was tearing out my hair,
00:57:01.58\00:57:05.99
I was so bored...
00:57:06.02\00:57:07.46
spending twelve
hours in the airport
00:57:07.52\00:57:10.36
without anything to do.
00:57:10.39\00:57:11.73
It taught me a
great lesson and that is,
00:57:11.76\00:57:14.90
that if I took my
computer and I took some books,
00:57:14.93\00:57:17.77
I could read and
work on my computer
00:57:17.80\00:57:19.83
and time would
fly by a lot faster.
00:57:19.87\00:57:23.30
You know, there
have been occasions
00:57:23.34\00:57:25.27
that I've been at the airport
where I'm working on my computer
00:57:25.31\00:57:29.44
and I'm having so much
fun doing research and writing
00:57:29.48\00:57:34.02
that I kind of forget the time
00:57:34.05\00:57:36.18
and a couple of times,
I've almost forgotten my flight
00:57:36.22\00:57:39.49
because I've been so
involved in what I'm doing
00:57:39.52\00:57:43.16
and time flies when we're busy.
00:57:43.19\00:57:45.69
Time flies when we're ready...
00:57:45.73\00:57:47.53
when we pray...
00:57:47.60\00:57:48.93
when we watch
00:57:48.96\00:57:50.30
and when we invest
everything that we have
00:57:50.33\00:57:52.63
in the cause of Christ.
00:57:52.67\00:57:54.20
So, let us put into
practice these principles
00:57:54.24\00:57:57.07
as we wait for
the glorious moment
00:57:57.11\00:57:59.57
of the coming of Jesus.
00:57:59.61\00:58:01.54