Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In Matthew 24:3, the disciples of Jesus asked two important questions. They first asked when the destruction of the temple would happen and second when the second coming of Jesus would occur. Throughout the remainder of Matthew 24 and into Matthew 25, Jesus addressed both of these important events. Jesus first dealt with the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in Matthew 24:4-35. He continued by dealing with His return in Matthew 24:36-25:46. This information would be crucial for the disciples of Jesus. The information Jesus gave would help them to be prepared for the events as the approached.

Jesus discussed the destruction of the temple in detail. When we take the facts given by Jesus and couple them with historical facts as they occurred in real time, we know that the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. when the Romans plundered Jerusalem. However, as Jesus indicated in Matthew 24:36, no one knows the day or the time of the return of Jesus. While he gave no real time line for His eventual return, He stated that it would happen. From that point forward Jesus and His apostles repeatedly warned the followers of Jesus to get and to remain prepared for that eventual day. (See Matthew 24:42, 44; 25:13, 1 Thess. 5:6, 1Peter 4:7; 5:8).

In His discussion about the day of His return, Jesus stressed the fact that on that day a separation would occur among men (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus said, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:32-33 KJV).

It is obvious from the statements of Jesus that those on the right-hand side of the Lord will receive a great reward. Those receiving the great reward are the ones that have attended to the Lord through their service to Him on the behalf of other men (Matthew 25:40). Jesus describes the grand nature of this reward in Matthew 25:46 where He said, “… the righteous into life eternal.

In contrast, those on the Lord’s left hand will be punished according to (Matthew 25:41-46). It is obvious that those who will be punished are those that have failed to attend to the Lord in their service to others. Of these individuals, Jesus said, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment …”. What a shame it will be for many who plan on living eternally with God, to discover that they have fell short of the glory of God. How terrible it will be for those individuals to be negatively rewarded for the failures in their physical lives.

The horrors of the statement of condemnation by Jesus can be avoided if people prepare for the Lord’s return. Mankind’s preparation begins when we obey the Gospel (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16), and we remain faithful to Him (Titus 2:12; Revelation 2:10). God’s desire is that we use our God given talents and abilities to honor and glorify His name. We do that when we obey His will in our initial obedience. We do that when we continue to serve Him as we help our fellow man by teaching them the Word of God and aiding them in physical ways as we have the opportunity (Matthew 28:19-20; Galatians 6:1-2, 10). He wants us to use the blessings, talents, and abilities that He provides. Are you ready for the Lord’s return?
(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)