When Jesus has finished saying these things, He said to His disciples that the Passover is two days away-and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him. But not during the festival, they said, or there may be a riot among the people.

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Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He had been predicting it to His disciples already, and now the time had come. He knew what the outcome was going to be…yet He continued on to Jerusalem. This is our Savior…this is the one we have the honor to follow. We get to bear the name Christian…something we should be proud of knowing what Jesus ultimately went through for each of us. Today, let’s praise His name. Today, let’s let our pride fall and let the name of Jesus rise. Today, let’s show the world what it means to be a follower of Christ. He deserves every breath, every word, every action. Today let’s make that a reality in our life.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Then the king will say to those on His right, come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothes me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothes you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

The King will reply, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you have done for me.

Then He will say to those on His left, depart from me, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you didn’t feed me, thirst and you didn’t give me something to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothes me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.

They also will answer Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?

He will reply whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

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In this last parable, Jesus makes it clear that if we are going to be a sheep, then we must live a life of sacrifice and service to those around us. We must be willing to put others above ourselves. We must be able to see the needs of others and do whatever we can to help. It’s great to do these as part of a church body, but it also must be a daily part of our individual lives as well. You see, it must come from the heart. It must come as a response to the relationship we have with Jesus. So the question today is who are you? A sheep…or a goat?

Again, it is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his wealth. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags of gold, and another one bag of gold, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who received five bags went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with two bags gained two more. But the man who was given one bag went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master returned and settled accounts with them. The man who received five bags brought the other five. The man said you entrusted me with five bags, see, I have gained five more.

The man with two bags came and said you entrusted me with two bags, see, I have gained two more.

The master said well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share my happiness!

The master said well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share my happiness!

Then the man with one bag came. He said I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not down and gathering where you have not scattered seed. I was afraid so I went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.

The master said you wicked, lazy servant! You knew that I harvest where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered. Well then, you should have put my money in the bank on deposit with bankers, so that when I return I would have received it back with interest.

Take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who gained five. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they do have, will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Again, Jesus uses a parable to explain the last days. He emphasizes that He isn’t searching for a lazy follower. Someone who has been given salvation and grace, and just sits on it and does nothing with it. No, He is looking for a follower who will use that to not only enhance their relationship with Him, but also to share it with others. To gain disciples as you disciple others. We must bear fruit. If we aren’t bearing fruit we will be cut off like the servant with the one bag. Get to work! We aren’t meant to just sit in a pew each week and then go about our own way. We must serve Him with our whole life! Start making disciples by being a disciple yourself.

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him!

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise to give them some of their oil.

The wise ones said no because there may not be enough for both of them. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.

While they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet and the door was shut.

Later the others came and said Lord please open the door for us.

He replied, truly I tell you, I do not know you.

Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

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Jesus reiterated what He warned them about the last days by sharing a parable with them. The bottom line…be ready at all times because the hour and day is unknown. You don’t want to be left buying oil because you weren’t prepared…get your life straight. The scary part was God’s response to those ladies…I don’t know you. Our goal should be to live our life in such a way that we will never hear those words. Don’t wait till tomorrow…get things straight today.

Jesus continues…about the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; they knew nothing about what was going to happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding a hand mill: one taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for the servant whose master finds him doing so when He returns. He will put him in charge of all His possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself my master is staying away a long time, and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing teeth.

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Jesus explains to us that no one, not even He, knows the day or time of His return. That’s why we must be alert and at watch every day. This is not a joke…this is not something to take lightly as we do too often. We ignore the warning and assume we will have tomorrow. It’s time we listen to Jesus’ words and understand we need to be ready right now. Not tomorrow or the next day. Not when work slows down or the kids get older. RIGHT NOW. Jesus also says it will be much better for us if we are serving Him when He returns. If not…we will be like those during the flood. We will be hit blindsided and unaware of what’s happening. Get yourself ready…take it seriously to help others get ready. Because we just never know if today is the day.

Jesus left the temple, as as He was walking His disciples came to Him to call attention to the buildings. Jesus said not one stone will be left on another, every one will be thrown down.

As Jesus was sitting at the Mount of Olives, His disciples came and asked Him when these things would take place and what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age.

Jesus told them to watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in His name, claiming they’re the Messiah and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but don’t be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end will still come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these are the beginning of birth pains.

You will he handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm until the end will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

So when you see standing in the holy place, the abomination that causes desolation, as spoken through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand-then let those in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath, for then there will be great distress.

If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. If anyone says to you look there is the messiah do not believe it. See, I have told you ahead of time.

Immediately after the distress of those days:

“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

Isaiah 13:10; 34:4

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. And then all people will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from every corner of the earth.

Learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as it’s twigs get tender and it’s leaves come out, you know that summer is near. When you see all these things, you know it is near, right at the door. This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Jesus gives a glimpse of His return. He focuses more on the condition of man. The wickedness that is spoken seems to be widespread. But look around today…we are in these times. We see evil at every turn. It’s time for the church to wake up…Jesus’ return is right at the door. Share the Gospel! People need to hear it and believe! Be the light!

Jesus continues by saying woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

Woe to you, blind guides! You say if anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath. You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say if anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by the oath. You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, full and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should’ve practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look nice on the outside but on the inside are full of bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. You say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors, you wouldn’t have taken part in the shedding on the prophets blood. So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, complete what your ancestors started!

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from Abel to Zechariah. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together like a hen gathers her chicks, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say:

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 118:26

Wow…Jesus does not hold back. He blasts these religious leaders, calls them out on their hypocrisy. Today, as a new year begins, I want you to examine your own life. Do you clean the outside while the inside remains dirty? Do you act as if you have life in Christ, but on the inside there is only death? Do you lead people into a relationship with Jesus or further away from? Examine this passage…examine your life…what changes need to be made today?

Jesus then turns to the crowd and His disciples and tells them that the Pharisees and teachers of the law sit in Moses’ seat, so they have to be careful to do everything they tell them. But do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and place them on other people’s shoulders, but they never lift a finger to move them.

Everything they do is to be seen: their phylaacteries are wide and their tassels are long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect and called Rabbi.

But you are not to be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher. You are not to be called Father, for you have one father and He is in Heaven. You are not to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

In this passage, Jesus picks up the intensity. He calls out the religious leaders as hypocrites who are not who they say they are. I can’t help but think, as I read through this passage, how similar the church has become. In today’s world we exalt preachers and teachers…Jesus says don’t. We place individuals as “father figures” in the church who we allow to call the shots and make the decisions…Jesus says don’t. We certainly put emphasis on people in charge of things and allow them to be the knowledge instead of God…Jesus says no. Bottom line…we put too much emphasis and praise on people, when it should all be about God. We put too much emphasis and praise on ourselves, when it should all be about God. Don’t fall into the me first, my church first, my preacher first mentality. It’s God first…and then everyone and everything else. Put God in His rightful place in your life today.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them what they thought about the Messiah. Whose son is he?

The Pharisees replied that he is the son of David.

Jesus then asked how it is that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord? He then quotes David:

“The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”

Psalm 110:1

Jesus continued by saying if then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son? No one had an answer, and from that day on no one dared to ask Him any more questions.

Jesus confronts the question about himself here. He is trying to prove to the Pharisees that He is exactly who He says He is. He reveals to them a flaw in their thinking. Instead of wanting to learn more from Him, though, they just retreat from Him and stop asking questions. Don’t we do that sometimes? When God reveals that we are in the wrong, instead of seeking more from Him we run away from Him? Instead of seeking the truth from God we run away trying to hold on to our truth? Maybe it’s time we let God speak in our lives. Let Him reveal to us the good and the bad. Let Him speak today.

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they got together. One of them who was an expert in the law, tested Him by asking Him which is the greatest commandment in the law.

Jesus replied to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All of the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

Loving God and loving others…Jesus says if we do these two things we will can keep every command. To love God with your emotions. To love God trusting Him with your soul. To love God by doing everything each day for Him. It’s not just saying I love God…it’s loving a life that people can see and have zero doubt who you belong to. To love your neighbor as yourself. When you’re sick you do what’s necessary to get better. When you’re hungry you eat, when you’re thirsty you drink. When you want something, you find a way to get it. Jesus says when you see someone else sick, help them get better. Feed those who are hungry and thirsty. Give them what they may be in need of…this is loving others more than yourself. So it’s simple…Love God and Love Others.