Matthew 25: Jesus’ Final Examination: Expectations from His Disciples—and the Prize for Those Who Pass

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In Matthew 25, Jesus delivers what feels like a final examination for his disciples. On the eve of his suffering, he does not give new doctrines or timelines. Instead, he tells three parables that reveal what truly matters to him when everything else is stripped away.

The first parable, the Ten Virgins, confronts us with the call to preparedness. All ten look alike, all are invited, and all fall asleep. Yet only five are ready when the bridegroom arrives. Jesus is clear: discipleship cannot survive on borrowed faith or last-minute urgency. What matters is a sustained, living relationship with God that endures over time.

The second parable, the Talents, shifts the focus to faithful action. Each servant receives something to steward, and each is judged not by comparison but by faithfulness. The greatest failure is not weakness or lack of ability, but fear that leads to inactivity. Jesus expects his disciples to risk what they have for the sake of his kingdom, trusting that obedience is safer than self-preservation.

The final scene, the Sheep and the Goats, brings everything down to earth. Judgment hinges on practical love—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick and imprisoned. In a stunning revelation, Jesus identifies himself with “the least of these,” declaring that love for him is proven by love for the vulnerable.

Across all three, the expectations are clear: be watchful, be faithful, be compassionate. And the prize? Not status, comfort, or applause—but joy. “Enter the joy of your Master,” Jesus says. The reward for those who pass the exam is life in God’s kingdom, shaped by love and shared with Christ himself.

In the end, Jesus’ final examination is not about what we know, but about who we become while waiting for him.

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