Second Sunday of End Time—Last Judgment
Jesus’ Judgment Is Always Right
These are the readings for the Second Sunday of End Time—Last Judgment.
(This Worship Help aligns with the lectionary readings from Christian Worship 1993 and Christian Worship: Supplement.)
God’s Word for This Week
The Lord wants you to take his judgment of all people seriously. He also wants to encourage you: Hanging on to his cross until the Last Day is worth all the difficulties that will come your way, for Jesus will call all people to account on the Last Day. Believers in Jesus will keep the eternal life they already have. Unbelievers will go away from Jesus to eternal death.
Traditional First Lesson – Jeremiah 26:1-6
List the ways Jeremiah and the people would know how serious God is about judgment.
God instructs Jeremiah not to omit a word. God also tells the people to listen to him and his word and to his messengers which he sent.
What would it mean “to be made like Shiloh”? (See 26:6.)
Shiloh was the location of the sanctuary after Canaan was conquered. Jeremiah warns that if the people do not repent their beloved temple of Solomon will suffer total destruction as the sanctuary at Shiloh.
Supplemental First Lesson – Ezekiel 9:1-11
After a vision of vile pagan practices in God’s temple in Jerusalem, Ezekiel saw judgment fall. Whom did God’s servants spare? (See 9:4.)
In the second part of the vision, Ezekiel saw God’s servants spare those who grieved and lamented over all the detestable things done in Jerusalem. (Do you grieve over this wicked world or take it for granted?)
Why did God say he would show no pity? (See 9:9.)
God said that he would show no pity because a) people were filling the land of Judah with bloodshed and b) people claimed that God did not see all the injustice.
Second Lesson – 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
What are the two sides of God’s judgment? (See 1:5,6.)
God’s judgment means; a) he judges the wicked worthy of eternal suffering, b) and he also counts those who trust in Christ worthy of living with him in his eternal kingdom.
How does the threat of “everlasting destruction” encourage us? (See 1:9.)
Everlasting destruction may seem a contradiction in terms. But for those who do not believe in Jesus as their Savior, God’s judgment is a process of destruction that will never end. Though we believers suffer persecution, we know a day is coming when persecutors of the gospel will pay the severest price.
How we might become complacent? (See 1:10.)
We must not gloat about our trust in the Word of God which promises that Jesus will come again to take us to heaven. We must also not let down our guard as we struggle to fight the good fight of faith until Christ comes.
Gospel – Luke 19:11-27
What happened immediately upon the king’s return? (See 9:15.)
The newly appointed king called each to account as soon as he returned. The servants who made more minas for their master were given credit, each in proportion to what they had earned.
What should the last servant have done, instead of burying his talent? (See 19:22.)
He should have put it on deposit, to increase its value. The king did not accept his flimsy excuses.
How does the unfaithfulness of the last servant show in our time?
The last servant shows up when people entrusted with the Word of God claim to be too busy to do the work of God. They neglect it. They say it will not profit them.
