2025.10.07 Sermon Notes. RAPTURE READY. Be Ready, Be Faithful, Be Fruitful
Matthew 25:14-46
William Akehurst, HSWC
Scriptures: Matthew 25:14-46, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Colossians 3:23-24, James 2:17, Galatians 6:10, 1 John 3:18
BIG IDEA: Believers are called to be ready for Christ’s return, faithful with what He entrusts, and fruitful in love and service.
Recap:
Last week, we began in Matthew 25 with the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Matthew 25:1-13. And our takeaway was:
We are to be spiritually prepared now, for Christ’s return will be sudden. Readiness is essential and personal, it cannot be borrowed or transferred, and each believer must be ready for the Return of Christ.
Jesus ended with the warning: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Today we continue in Matthew 25:14-46
II. THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS – BE FAITHFUL (Matthew 25:14–30)
Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents (Luke 19:11–27)
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
THE STORY
• A master entrusts his servants with his wealth according to their abilities: five, two, and one talent.
• The first two servants invest and double their talents; the third buries his out of fear.
• When the master returns, he rewards the faithful servants with praise and greater responsibility. The unfaithful servant is rebuked and cast out.
THE MEANING
• The Master: Jesus, who entrusts resources and responsibilities to believers.
• Talents: Gifts, opportunities, abilities, and influence God gives each of us.
• Faithful Servants: Believers who wisely use God’s gifts for His glory.
• Unfaithful Servant: Those who neglect or hide what God has given out of fear or laziness.
• Weeping and gnashing of teeth is more than just a picture of sorrow; it is the cry of a heart filled with regret for missing God’s gift of grace.
The tears represent sorrow that cannot be undone, and the gnashing of teeth reveals the frustration of realizing too late what could have been.
POINT: This is why we must be ready now, keeping our hearts close to Christ, so that our joy will be found in His presence and not in regret apart from Him.
THE LESSONS
• God expects fruitfulness, not excuses. What matters is not how much we’ve been given, but whether we’ve been faithful with it.
• Faithful stewardship brings reward. God delights to entrust more responsibility and eternal joy to those who serve Him well.
• Unfaithfulness has consequences. Neglecting God’s gifts leads to loss, separation, and judgment.
• The return of Christ is certain. Accountability is inevitable. Just as the master came back to settle accounts, Jesus will return, and each of us will give an account for how we used what He entrusted to us.
THE TRUTHS
• God entrusts each of us with gifts, opportunities, and resources.
• Faithfulness is measured individually, not comparatively.
• Laziness and fear rob us of fruitfulness.
THE APPLICATION
• What are you doing with what God has given you?
How are you using God’s gifts—time, finances, spiritual gifts, influence?
Are you investing them for His glory, or burying them in the ground?
• When we stand before Christ, He won’t ask, “How much did you make compared to others?” but rather, “Were you faithful with what I gave you?”
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES
• 1 Corinthians 4:2 “It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.”
• Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.”
SELF REFLECTION: The parable challenges every believer: Am I faithfully using what God has entrusted to me for His kingdom, or am I wasting it in fear, laziness, or self-focus?
KEY LESSON: Faithfulness leads to eternal joy. Neglect leads to loss. Live so you hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
III. THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS – BE FRUITFUL (Matthew 25:31–46)
Matthew 25:31-46 The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
THE CONTEXT
• This passage comes at the end of Jesus’ teaching about being ready for His return.
• He describes His return in glory, seated on His throne, separating sheep from goats. The sheep are those who served Him by serving “the least of these”—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned. The goats are those who neglected others and therefore neglected Him.
• The Son of Man (Jesus) will return in glory, accompanied by angels, to judge all nations.
• The judgment is based on how people lived, especially in relation to caring for others.
THE SEPARATION of Sheep and Goats (vv. 31–33)
Jesus will act as a shepherd separating two groups:
• Sheep (righteous): placed on His right
• Goats (unrighteous): placed on His left
• POINT: Key imagery - Sheep are generally obedient and gentle; goats are seen as independent and less disciplined, symbolizing contrasting responses to God.
• LESSON: There will be a clear distinction between those who live in alignment with God’s will and those who do not.
THE CRITERIA for Judgment (vv. 34–40)
The sheep are praised for acts of compassion and mercy, such as:
• Feeding the hungry
• Giving drink to the thirsty
• Welcoming strangers
• Clothing the naked
• Caring for the sick and imprisoned
• KEY PRINCIPLE: Jesus explains that serving others is equivalent to serving Him: (vs. 40) ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
• POINT: Faith is not just belief—it is active love that manifests in practical service.
THE FATE of the Goats (vv. 41–46)
• The goats are condemned for neglecting acts of compassion, failing to serve others in need.
• The punishment is eternal separation from God, described as “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
• The emphasis is that inaction and apathy toward the needy have eternal consequences.
• LESSON: True faith always produces deeds. Those who ignore others’ needs reveal a lack of heart transformation and alignment with God. Neglect for others reflects neglect for Christ.
THE POINTS:
• Jesus is the Judge: All will give account before Him.
• Faith is Evidenced by Action: Genuine faith results in practical love and service.
• Serving Others = Serving Christ: How we treat the “least” reflects our relationship with God.
• Judgment Has Eternal Consequences: Both reward and punishment are based on faithfulness expressed in love.
THE TRUTHS
• The King is coming to judge with righteousness.
• True faith produces visible fruit in acts of love and mercy.
• Neglect of others reveals neglect of Christ.
THE APPLICATION
• This is where faith gets real.
• Faith is lived out in action, not just belief or stewardship. Its about being fruitful in love.
• Ask: Who around me is hungry, thirsty, lonely, or in need? Do I see Christ in them? Do I love in word only, or in action?
• Love must be expressed in deed, not only words.
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES
• James 2:17 – “Faith without works is dead.”
• Galatians 6:10 – “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all.”
• 1 John 3:18 – “Let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
THE KEY LESSON
• We are not saved by works, but we are saved unto good works.
• True disciples bear the fruit of compassion, reflecting the heart of Christ.
SUMMARY:
Matthew 25:31-46 teaches that eternal destiny is determined by love in action.
Faith is not passive; it is seen in the care we give to others, especially the vulnerable, and reflects our heart toward Christ Himself.
Matthew 25 is a wake-up call.
Big Picture: Be Ready, Be Faithful, Be Fruitful
1. The Ten Virgins remind us: Be Ready. Maintain spiritual preparedness (Matthew 25:1-13).
2. The Talents remind us: Be Faithful. Use God-given gifts for His glory (Matthew 25:14-30).
3. The Judgment of the Nations reminds us: Be Fruitful. Love others in tangible ways as evidence of true faith (Matthew 25:31-46, Sheep and Goats).
REFLECTIVE QUESTION:
Am I ready for Christ’s return, faithful with His gifts, and fruitful in love?
The Bridegroom is coming. The Master will return. The King will sit upon His throne.
AND THE EVEN BIGGER QUESTION:
Will HE find me, you (us) - Ready, Faithful, and Fruitful?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the clear and living Word that searches our hearts and prepares us for Your coming. Lord Jesus, You are the Bridegroom who is soon to return, the Master who calls us to faithfulness, and the King who reigns in glory. Forgive us when we grow careless, lazy, or selfish. Fill us with the oil of Your Spirit, that our lamps may burn bright until the day You appear. Teach us to be faithful stewards of the time, gifts, and opportunities You have entrusted to us. Stir our hearts with compassion, that we may love and serve others; the hungry, the broken, the lonely, and the least among us - as if serving You. On that great Day, may we be found ready, faithful, and fruitful, and may we hear the words we long for: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
Hymns
• 400 Pentecostal Power
• 346 Revive Us Again
• 267 What Can Wash Away My Sin (Nothing But The Blood – Communion)
• 482 When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
• 335 Take My Life and Let It Be
• 320 A Charge to Keep I Have
• 359 I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go
