Judgement: 8 Parables
By Mark Farquharson
In the bible many times the passages that cover the judgement cover both believers and unbelievers. This is why I will be covering the two groups together. There are many parables on the Judgement, however what you have to realize is that these are parables. Thus you have to understand the parable correctly to understand what actual happens at the Judgement.
Sheep and Goats Judgement
Sheep have their names on the scroll of life, and get into the holy city, while the goats do not. The Sheep represent the faithful, and the Goats {kids} represent the rest of mankind who do not make it at that point in time.
Matthew 25:31-33 "Now, whenever the Son of Mankind may be coming in His glory, and all the holy messengers with Him, then shall He be seated on the throne of His glory, and in front of Him shall be gathered all the nations. And He shall be severing them from one another even as a shepherd is severing the sheep from the kids. And He shall be standing the sheep, indeed, at His right, yet the kids at the left. {CLV}
All the nations are gathered in the front of the throne. The Son of Mankind is of course Jesus Christ. Whenever Christ maybe coming in his glory. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd, and his sheep are those who believe in him. There are not two lots of sheep, there is only the one flock, both Jew and gentile. The sheep are standing on the right and the kids or goats are on the left. Note the wording here is “kid” as opposed to goat, that is to say young goats as opposed to the mature sheep. Jesus Christ the Idea {Good} Shepherd will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are on the right, and Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Those the sheep are righteous, and will reign with Christ.
Matthew 25:34-40 "Then shall the King be declaring to those at His right, 'Hither, blessed of My Father! Enjoy the allotment of the kingdom made ready for you from the disruption of the world. For I hunger and you give Me to eat' I thirst and you give Me drink; a stranger was I and you took Me in; naked and you clothed Me; infirm am I and you visit Me; in jail was I and you come to Me.' "Then the just will be answering Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we perceive Thee hungering and nourish Thee, or thirsting and we give Thee drink? Now when did we perceive Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and we clothed Thee? Now when did we perceive Thee infirm, or in jail, and we came to Thee?' "And, answering, the King shall be declaring to them, 'Verily, I am saying to you, In as much as you do it to one of these, the least of My brethren, you do it to Me.' {CLV}
The Sheep, those on the right, are just. They will enjoy the allotment that has be made ready for them, from the beginning of time. The sheep seem ignorant that their righteous acts of love and faith towards the brethren actually are being done to Jesus Christ the king as well. In as much as you do it to the least of the brethren, you do it to Christ. The good the sheep did to the brethren, then did it to Christ also. Thus if someone hurt the brethren he also does it to Christ.
The ambassadors of a king in ancient times would be sent to other kings to negotiate peace agreements. If these servants where treated badly or put to death, then that would represent an attack on the king himself.
Matthew 25:41-46 "Then shall He be declaring to those also at His left, 'Go from Me, you cursed, into the fire eonian, made ready for the Adversary and his messengers. For I hunger and you do not give Me to eat; I thirst and you do not give Me drink; a stranger was I and you did not take Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; infirm and in jail and you did not visit Me.' "Then shall they also be answering, saying, 'Lord, when did we perceive you hungering or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in jail, and we did not serve you?' "Then shall He be answering them, saying, 'Verily, I am saying to you, In as much as you do it not to one of these, the least, neither do you it to Me.' And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian." {CLV}
Those who did not help the Lord, by helping the brethren do not get in. The goats are ignorant of the fact that by not helping the brethren they where not helping the king. This is not about what they did, it is about what they did not do.
Those who help the brethren are just, and get life eonian that is an undefined period of time, however they are immortal. One could think then that whose who are chasten for eonian are never going to get out. However that rules out judgement based on a person’s deeds. It would also mean that there is no one in the nations for the people in the nations have already come through the fire. Those who are chasten for eonian, are in the second death, but they are not in there forever. Each persons chastening is different because they committed different sins, some will be chastened for longer than others.
Judgement of the Slaves
Mark 13:34-37 "It is as a man, a traveler, leaving his home and giving his slaves authority, and to each his work, and he directs the doorkeeper that he may be watching. Watch, then, for you are not aware when the lord of the house is coming, at evening, or midnight, or cockcrowing, or morning, that, coming suddenly, he may not be finding you drowsing. Now what I am saying to you, I am saying to all: 'Watch!'" {CLV}
Luke 12:37-44 Happy are those slaves, whom the Lord, coming, will be finding watching. Verily, I am saying to you that He will be girding Himself about and causing them to recline, and, coming by, will be serving them." And if He should be coming in the second watch, and if in the third watch, and should be finding them thus, happy are those slaves." Now this you know, that if the householder were aware at what hour the thief is coming, he would watch and would not let his house be tunneled into." You also become ready, then, for, in an hour which you are not supposing, the Son of Mankind is coming." Now Peter said to Him, "Lord, to us art Thou saying this parable, or also to all? And the Lord said, "Who, consequently, is the faithful and prudent administrator, whom the lord will be placing over his attendance, to be giving them the measure of grain in season.? Happy is that slave, whom his lord, coming, will be finding doing thus." Truly, I am saying to you that over all his possessions will he be placing him." {CLV}
Slave: In parables where a slave or servant is mention it does mean a believer. Jesus Christ brought believers with his blood, which means believers are slaves of Christ.
The slaves are to watch for the Lord’s return. Those who are watching, those who are faithful, those slaves are happy.
Luke 12:45-46 Now if that slave should be saying in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,' and should be beginning both to beat the boys and the maids and to be eating and drinking and to be drunk, the lord of that slave will be arriving on a day for which he is not hoping and at an hour which he does not know, and shall be cutting him asunder and shall be appointing his part with the unfaithful." {CLV}
This slave does not watch, he thinks the Lord has delayed his coming. However the Lord comes, when the slave does not expect. The slave is appoint his part with the unfaithful, those with out faith.
It is important not to panic here. It seems that on the surface that some believers will not be getting into the kingdom. Thus some may panic that they will not get into the kingdom. A lot of writers thus teach that you have to not sin and stay on the path, or else you will not get into the kingdom. However it is impossible for anyone not to sin, you need to be incorruptible. This will not happen until Jesus Christ returns, then those who are Christ’s will change, and have new bodies, and be incorruptible. Those who are Christ’s, are covered by grace. You can not fall out of grace, for grace superabounds. Those who are chosen, those who are Christ’s, will stay watching, they will not be the slave who does not watch.
Then who is the slave who does not watch? The slave who does not watch is the one who is false. He does not truly believe in the Lord, he does not believe the Lord is going to come. This slave also shows his true colours as it where. By going and beat the boys and the maids and to be eating and drinking and to be drunk. This shows what he is really like.
Luke 12:47-49 Now that slave who knows the will of his lord and does not make ready, nor yet does aught with a view to his will, shall have many lashes." Now he who does not know, yet does what deserves blows, shall have few lashes. Now to everyone to whom much was given, from him much will be sought, and to whom they committed much, more excessively will they be requesting of him." Fire came I to be casting on the earth, and what will I, if it were already kindled? {CLV}
There is a distinction between the one who knew and the one who does not know. The one who did not know receives few lashes, the one who knew shall receive many lashes. This shows that it is based on the persons knowledge. Both do the same, the one who knew and the one who did not know. They both deserve many blows, but the one who did not know, receives less.
This is then due to their individual spiritual condition. Some know a lot, others know little or nothing. The teachers that where around when the Lord was on the earth, knew a lot. However most of them will be going to the Lake of Fire. It is the same today, there are many who know a lot, but most of them will also be going to the Lake of Fire.
Lashes: It is important to note that this is a parable, no one will be physically lashed by the Lord. No one will be lashed by anyone at all, there is no actual physical lashing. However lashes can refer to severe reproof, that is a serve chastening, a serve correction. Thus those who should have known, will receive more chastening, they need more than those who did not know.
Matthew 24:45-51 "Who, consequently, is the faithful and prudent slave whom the lord places over his household to give them nourishment in season? Happy is that slave whom his lord, coming, will be finding doing thus. Verily, I am saying to you that over all his possessions will he be placing him. "Now if that evil slave should be saying in his heart, 'Delaying is my lord,' and should begin to beat his fellow slaves, yet may be eating and drinking with the drunken, the lord of that slave will be arriving on a day for which he is not hoping, and in an hour which he knows not, and shall be cutting him asunder, and will be appointing his part with the hypocrites. There shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth. {CLV}
Here it tells us more about the slave who is not doing, the slave is evil. Those who go into the lake will lament, that is they will express sadness and regret. The gnashing of the teeth, here means that they will be angry and frustrated.
The Talents and the Minas:
The Parable of the Minas {Luke 19:11-27} & the Parable of the talents {Mathew 25:14-30}. Even through these parables were spoken at different times, they are equivalent.
Matthew 25:14-22 For it is even as a man traveling. He calls his own slaves and gives over to them his possessions. And to one, indeed, he gives five talents, yet to one, two, yet to one, one; to each according to his own ability. And he travels immediately. "Now, being gone, the one getting the five talents trades with them and gains another five talents. Similarly, also, the one with the two; he also gains another two. Yet the one getting the one talent, coming away, excavates in the earth and hides his lord's silver. "Now, after much time, the lord of those slaves is coming and settling accounts with them. And, approaching, the one getting the five talents brings to him another five talents, saying, 'Lord, five talents you give over to me, Lo! another five talents do I gain with them.' Now his lord averred to him, 'Well done! good and faithful slave. Over a few were you faithful; over many will I place you. Enter into the joy of your lord!' "Now, approaching, the one also getting the two talents said, 'Lord, two talents you give over to me, Lo! another two talents I gain with them.' His lord averred to him, 'Well done! good and faithful slave. Over a few were you faithful; over many will I place you. Enter into the joy of your lord!' {CLV}
Talent: In the days when the Lord was on the earth, a talent was a unit of money.
The lord here is of course Jesus Christ, he is indicating in this parable the fact that he will be gone along time. The talents in the parable represent Christ’s property. Jesus was stating by way of this parable the fact that he would leave his property with his servants. This is not Christ’s physical property, but the property belonging to the spiritual kingdom of God.
Now the slaves here work for their master while he is gone. Each worker has a job to do while the master is away. Each worker is given talents according to their ability, they are not all given the same about. Depending on the calling, depending on the work that God has given them, they are given the amount that is needed for there circumstance.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And the same One gives these, indeed, as apostles, yet these as prophets, yet these as evangelists, yet these as pastors and teachers, toward the adjusting of the saints for the work of dispensing, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ, unto the end that we should all attain to the unity of the faith and of the realization of the son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the complement of the Christ, {CLV}
Romans 12:4-8 For even as, in one body, we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, thus we, who are many, are one body in Christ, yet individually members of one another." Now, having graces excelling, in accord with the grace which is given to us, whether prophecy, exercise it in accord with the analogy of the faith;" or dispensing, in the dispensation; or the teacher, in teaching;" or the entreater, in entreaty; the sharer, with generosity; the presider, with diligence; the merciful one, with glee." {CLV}
The slave that has five and the slave that has two, both gain talents. When the lord returns he places them over the many. That is they are placed over many people, it does not mean they are place over many actual talents.
After the return of Christ the millennium eon will start. The slaves will have entered the joy of their Lord Jesus Christ. During this time the slaves, that is the saints will reign with Christ {Revelation 20:1-6}. The saints, the slaves in the parable will each reign over a number of cities.
During the judgement eon, the saints, the faithful, the slaves in this parable, will judge the rest of mankind, 1Corinthians 6:2-3. The faithful will be in the heaven. However the rest of mankind will be in the lake of fire. After the judgement eon, the holy city, new Jerusalem, will descend out of heaven to the new earth {Rev 21:1-2}.
There will are nations on the new earth Rev 21:24-26. These nations are part of the kingdom. Who are in the nations? For the faithful are in the holy city and the rest of mankind are in the lake of fire. The answer is that a number of people have past through the lake of fire, that is they have done their time in the lake of fire.
Those in the holy city will rule over those in the nations. Thus they are place over, that is they rule over many people who are in the nations which have cities.
The parables indicate that there will be different levels of authority. In the Minas parable some will rule over ten cities while others rule over five cities. Now what of the one who had one talent?
Mathew 25:24-30 "Now, approaching, the one also having gotten the one talent, said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you do not sow, and gathering whence you do not scatter. And, being afraid, coming away, I hide your talent in the earth. Lo! you have what is yours!' "Now, answering, his lord said to him, 'Wicked and slothful slave! You were aware that I am reaping where I do not sow, and gathering whence I do not scatter. It was binding on you, then, to be depositing my silver with the bankers, and on coming, I should recover what is mine together with interest. Take the talent away from him then, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' For to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have a superfluity, yet from the one who has not, that also which he has shall be taken away from him; and the useless slave cast out into outer darkness. there shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth. {CLV}
The slave with one talent is cast into outer darkness. This outer darkness is also mentioned in Revelation 22:15, where it is called outside or without. That is this slave is cast outside of the kingdom, which includes the nations. However we now that first the slave goes to the lake of fire for that is where all the rest of the dead go who are not faithful or who are without faith.
The Minas:
Luke 19:11-14 Now at their hearing these things, adding, He spoke a parable because of His being near Jerusalem, and they are supposing that instantly the kingdom of God is about to be looming up." He said, then, "A certain man, a noble, went into a far country, to obtain for himself a kingdom, and to return." Now, calling ten of his slaves, he gives to them ten minas and said to them, 'Go into business while I am coming.'" Now his citizens hated him, and they dispatch an embassy after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us!'" {CLV}
The noble man in the parable is Jesus Christ. Here Jesus is telling the people he is speaking to that he is going to go away and obtain a kingdom. Next he tells them that he will come back. However instead of giving each slave a different amount, the slaves are each given one mina. In the present eon this represents God’s plan and order in it’s fullness, in the earth, through His people. Ten representing the complete and perfect Divine order.
Luke 19:15-19 And, obtaining the kingdom, it occurred at his coming back, that he said also to summon to him these slaves to whom he had given the silver, that he may know what business they do." Now along came the first, saying, 'Lord, your mina earns ten minas.'" And he said to him, 'Well done, surely, good slave! Seeing that you became faithful in the least, be having authority over ten cities.'" And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, lord, makes five minas.'" Now he said to this one also, 'And you, be over five cities.'" {CLV}
Those who are faithful will be given authority over the cities. However the faithful will not all rule over the same number of cities. In the parable one is given authority over ten cities the other over five cities. It depends on how the faithful in Christ use the spiritual blessing and gifts that they have. During the millennium the saints will rule over the earth and later on the new earth those in the nations.
Luke 19:20-23 And a different one came, saying, 'Lord, lo! your mina which I had, reserved in a handkerchief." For I feared you, seeing that you are a harsh man. You are picking up what you do not lay down and reaping what you do not sow.'" Now he is saying to him, 'Out of your mouth will I judge you, wicked slave! You were aware that I am a harsh man, picking up what I do not lay down and reaping what I do not sow." And wherefore do you not give my silver to the bank, and I, coming, would utilize it together with interest?'" {CLV}
The unfaithful slave is lazy, because he did nothing with the mina that he was given, where as the others increased theirs. He was disobedient because he did not do what the master had told them to do, where as the others had. The slave did not care about his master. Upon the masters return he told lies about his master to cover his wrong doing. Making out that his master was harsh and thieving. He did this to make the claim that he was in fear of his master and that is why he just kept the mina safe, instead of risking it.
Luke 19:24-27 And to those standing by he said, 'Take away the mina from him and give it to him who has the ten minas.'" And they say to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'" For I am saying to you that to everyone who has, shall be given, yet from him who has not, that also which he has shall be taken away from him." However, these, my enemies, who are not willing for me to reign over them-lead them here and slay them in front of me.'" {CLV}
The mina {blessing and gifts} that was given to the unfaithful slave, is not lost, or done away with, it is actually given to the one who has ten. The ones who were faithful are given more, while the unfaithful will be stripped of what was given to them graciously.
At the Judgement those who were unfaithful will suffer much loss, the spiritual gifts that they had will be taken away from them. That is the Christians who did nothing with their gifts or blessings, or use them inappropriately will suffer greatly, and have a place with the unbelievers in the Lake of fire. Now those who are unfaithful do not have an allotment in the Kingdom.
The faithful get rewarded based on their actions, while the unfaithful are punished based on their actions. They are judged for being unfaithful and place with the unbelievers in the lake of fire for being unfaithful.
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2010-2011, 2021 & 2023