Matthew 25-19

Many are disturbed that several passages are cited which state nearness, imminence, a little while, at hand, this [1st century] generation, quickly and shortly to come to pass regarding the Parousia.

Examples are: Matthew 10:23; 16:26, 27; 24:32-34; Luke 21:31, 32; Romans 13:11, 12, 16:20; 1 Corinthians 7:26, 10:11; Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 10:37; James 5:8; 1 Peter 4:5, 7, 17; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:1-3, 22:6, 10, 12). It appears that some are grieved by the words of the Holy Spirit.

Those who are disposed to oppose and complain feel that using all the above passages and others to support the Lord's return in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, is unfair and prejudiced exegesis (interpretation).

They assert that every time statement depicting the Lord's coming does not indicate nearness of that event from the first-century standpoint. In contrast to the numerous passages cited above indicating imminence, one passage, Matthew 25-19, is presented in defense of a long period of "millenniums" occurring between Jesus' going away and coming again.The proof-text for this alleged long interim of time is Matthew 25-19, in the parable of the talents.

As stated before, the purpose of raising this point is to discredit and nullify the arguments made from the scriptures on the first-century nearness and shortness of time for Christ's return. This "long time" reasoning, Matthew 25-19, directly contradicts the scriptures.

It is acknowledged by many that the passages teach imminence. However, in the same breath many will assert that this one scripture reference of "long time" negates, cancels or otherwise modifies the whole multitude of scriptures which clearly teach the imminence of Christ's return.

Establishing the Context of Matthew 25-19

Often one overlooks this fact perhaps because of preconceived notions about the remoteness of endtime events. Jesus, however, places the teaching of this parable in the realm or time frame of his earthly creatures. Remember, the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country.

Secondly, this man called his own servants and delivered to them his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, according to their several ability (v. 15)

Thirdly, two of these same servants traded and increased the profits of their master by one-hundred percent. The other, a wicked and slothful servant "digged in the earth and hid his lord's money." It is in connection with these events that it is said, After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ( Matthew 25-19 ) Note, it is the same man or lord who traveled into the far country that returned to take account of those same servants to whom he had delivered his goods. This episode therefore, was during the lifetime of a man and of his servants in particular.

The parable does not teach per se, that a man is likened to the kingdom. Rather it teaches that the kingdom was likened to a man!

The correct application of the parable would therefore harmonize with what is true of a man. One thing is absolutely certain, i.e., it is not true of a man that his lifetime extends over almost 2000 years!

Thus, to apply after a long time the lord of those servants come in Matthew 25-19, to a period stretching to almost 2000 years and counting is more elasticity than God has ever place in the time of a man's life, --Methuselah included, (Genesis 5:27).

Thus, Matthew 25-14 is grossly abused by interpreting it to span for multiple generations and centuries.

Matthew 25-19, and the Life Span of a Man

Viewing the significance of this point it should be clear that since a man's life is a short time or vapor, then the isolated events of his life are by contrast significantly shorter!

Therefore, the "journey" of the man traveling into a far country and his subsequent return would be indeed short or brief time-wise by comparison to the already short lifetime of the man. One must then understand after a long time, of Matthew 25-19, as relative to the reckoning of time from a human standpoint or life span.

Concerning this long time it is half a life time in the latter case and over half a life span in the former. In the case of the profitable servants, it was a long time to work and serve the master before the reward was received.

In the case of the wicked servant it was long enough time for him to become lax and unconcerned about serving his lord and may have even promoted an attitude which mockingly said, "My lord delays his coming," or raised the question, Where is the promise of his coming?

There is no doubt that Peter and the apostles taught an imminently expected return of Christ in the first century, (1 Peter 4:5, 7, 17; James 5:7-9). See others above. There also were scoffers who came in Peter's own lifetime, the lifetime of a man i.e. the first century generation, asking, "Where is the promise of His coming, and by it indicating that an imminent coming taught in the first century was viewed by mockers as delayed since it had not happened within the first 30 years or so. They understood what a long time meant. Why can't the futurists do so?

Even Abraham, the father of faith in whose steps of faith all of his children (Christians, (Galatians 3:29), should walk, collapsed under the pressure of time that seemed long delayed in the fulfillment of the promise concerning Isaac. It was only about 25 years from the time God promised Abraham a son to the fulfillment in Isaac's birth. Abraham weakened in just over a decade and begot a son by Hagar. See Genesis chapters 12, 17 and 21.

Surely, with our modernized high-tech society where everything is delivered to us in nano-seconds and "absolutely positively "right now," many of us would balk at the thought of having to wait 37 to 40 years to receive a promise, especially when it would mean intense suffering and severe persecution (Matthew 24:13) as that described in the New Testament.

In this respect, such a period of a man's life could properly be styled a long time, or even a short eternity. But in view of the brevity of a man's life, this relative long time is but a little while. It therefore harmonizes with all other time statements of nearness and imminence regarding the short period of time for the arrival of the Parousia. So, in trying to argue for after long time the Lord comes, from Matthew 25-19 leaves one coming up a bit short!





Tim LaHaye