My wife and I have been reading through “The Gospel According to John” (4th book of the New Testament in “The Holy Bible”). I halted after reading John 5:24.
Here, John (the Apostle not the Baptizer) is recapping the aftermath of Jesus healing a man that had been ill for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda performed on the Sabbath. Jesus stated the following to the Pharisees, the followers with Him, and anyone listening. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (link)
Wow! Talk about the Good News. I have ‘learned’ many things about “The Judgement Seat of Christ” and what it means for believers and non-believers a like, but what I thought I knew, I didn’t completely understand. Honestly, I always pictured it that all of my sins I committed will be recapped to me, but it sounds more like my character, behavior, and His works through me, will be discussed. (Random thought: wouldn’t it be cool, if we were to be shown the actual people of who was impacted because of Christ’s work through us?!)
When you step back and think about it, it makes sense that we, as Christians, will be undergoing a different kind of judgement. Maybe more like a hearing. As Christians that are actively striving to be more Christ-like, our salvation is not in judgement, Jesus already won that for us. (If you want more on salvation, read “How To Be Saved and Have Eternal Life”.)
There will be judgement for everyone when it is time (which the timing is unknown, so don’t wait to make the most important decision for your eternity). The circumstances and setting all depend on your belief in regards to Jesus Christ [a historically (outside of the Holy Bible) proven individual]. The other judgement is that at the “great white throne” described in Revelation and determines eternity for unbelievers based on whether or not they had been exposed to the Truth, their character, and their works.
A Christian is judged based on his/her character, works in Jesus’ name, and endurance and suffering for the cause of Christ to determine his/her Heavenly reward or inheritance, often called a ‘crown’.
- The Imperishable Crown
- The Crown of Rejoicing
- The Crown of Righteousness
- The Crown of Glory
- The Crown of Life
I had to share my findings with my wife because I was so excited about learning and getting what I was taught straightened out. She let me know that our friend & neighbor mentioned this very topic and his confusion a day earlier. So, he was a part of the catalyst of really wanting to do a deep dive into this subject. I encourage you to do your own research and not to take my word for it because there is a lot more to go over in this rabbit hole. Benefit from hours of research and continued prayer by continue reading on below my signature.
God bless and thank you for your time,
I organized the information into tables to connect the information in the most linear fashion I could. Any text outside a table is a note from me. The incomplete picture below is the beginning of the flow of cross-referenced verses starting with the catalyst verse of John 5:24. I will have to say that I have a great amount of respect for Biblical scholars after barely scratching the surface of this.
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | John 5:24, |
NKJV Verse | “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” |
Annotation | ‘Shall not come into judgement’, judgement to decide a person’s eternal destiny is no longer possible for the one who has already been given eternal life [the Christ-follower]. However, all believers will stand before the judgement seat of Christ, not for punishment of sin, but to determine inheritance in Messiah’s kingdom. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Romans 14:10; |
The next two (2) verses that were cross-referenced in John 5:24, but based on the continued research beyond this point, I have expanded on the verses that were originally cross-referenced.
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Romans 14:10-12, |
NKJV Verse | “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” |
Annotation | Paul addresses the weak and the strong. The weak are not to ‘judge’, and the strong are not to show contempt, the same word that is rendered ‘despise’ in verse 3. ‘All’ believers are accountable to their Master, Jesus Christ, for they will all appear before Him. At the ‘judgement seat of Christ’, every believer’s life will be evaluated to determine his or her reward. ‘Every knee’, One day everyone will submit to God’s authority. He will judge all people before His great throne. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Romans 14:3; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; Revelations 20:11-15 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 2 Corinthians 5:8-11, |
NKJV Verse | “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” |
Annotation | After the parenthetical thought of verse 7, Paul resumes where he left off in verse 6. He was not only confident that he was going to be with the Lord, he was ‘pleased’ that he would be ‘with the Lord’ after his death. This is one of the passages in the New Testament that indicates where believers will go immediately after their death; they will be with Jesus in heaven. Jesus’ promise to the repentant criminal on the cross next to Him indicates this: ‘Today you will be with Me in paradise.’ |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Luke 23:43 |
NKJV Verse | “Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” |
Annotation | Wanting to be with Christ produces the ambition to please Him. We strive to please the Lord not only because we know we will be with Him, but also because He will evaluate our work – ‘whether good or bad’ – and reward us accordingly. The person unconcerned about doing good deeds shows a great lack of vision. ‘Appear’ means ‘to make visible’ or ‘to make known’. Here it may refer to nothing more than an appearance, such as appearing in court before a judge. Or it may mean believers will stand before the Lord with their true character revealed. ‘Receive’ means ‘to receive back’, ‘to get an equivalent’, or ‘to get one’s due’. The believer will be either approved or ashamed. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 2 Corinthians 5:3; Luke 19:11-26; 1 Corinthians 3:14-15; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 John 2:28; 2 John 7-8 |
Also included in the Study Bible’s annotations for this section is a table.
What does it involve? | Only believers will appear before the judgement seat of Christ. The “great white throne” judgment described is for unbelievers. | Revelations 20:11-15 |
What is it? | At this judgement seat, Jesus will determine a believer’s faithfulness to Him and reward each person appropriately. This will not be a determination of one’s eternal destiny; that issue is decided the moment a person believes in Christ. | 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 |
Who will preside? | The risen Christ. | n/a |
Where will it occur? | Heaven. | 2 Corinthians 5:8 |
When will it occur? | The Scriptures do not specify when this will occur. It is obviously at a time when all Christians are gathered in heaven. | n/a |
What is the nature of these eternal rewards? | Some commentators consider the various “crowns” mentioned in the New Testament as the rewards. These will eventually be placed before the throne of God. | 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelations 2:10; Revelations 4:10 |
Others point to the parable of the minas and see the prospects of serving and ruling in eternity as being directly tied to our faithfulness on earth. | Luke 19:11-27 | |
We do not know the exact nature of the “new heavens and new earth” or “the kingdom of God”, but the Scriptures do seem to imply that eternity will involve serving and reigning. | Matthew 25:21,23; Revelations 22:3,5 | |
Why is this doctrine significant? | Knowing that in the future we will stand before Jesus Christ and face a review of our lives should motivate us to live righteously and faithfully in the present. | n/a |
How can we prepare for our eternal “audit”? | Walk by faith, not by sight. Develop a longing for heaven. Make it our chief aim in life to please the Lord. Keep the judgement seat of Christ in view. | 2 Corinthians 5:7-10 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Romans 14:3, |
NKJV Verse | “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.” |
Annotation | The strong are not to ‘despise’ the weak, that is, to treat them with contempt. The weak are not to ‘judge’ the strong by attempting to place excessive prohibitions on them. |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, |
NKJV Verse | “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” |
Annotation | Paul had established the church at Corinth on the ‘foundation’ of Christ. |
NKJV Verse | “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,” |
Annotation | ‘Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw’, these building materials refer to the quality of work done by the Corinthians, and possible also to their motivations or the kinds of doctrines they were taught. |
NKJV Verse | “each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” |
Annotation | ‘The day’ speaks of the time when Christ will judge the merits of His servants’ work, not whether they receive forgiveness of sin. Likewise, ‘fire’ does not refer to the ‘eternal fire’ of damnation, but to the evaluation of believers’ works. Fire proves the quality of gold, but it consumes wood, hay, and stubble. Some ‘good work’ is actually self-centered aggrandizement (the act of making something appear greater than is actually warranted by the facts). The true value of such ‘service’ will become obvious to all in the day of God’s judgment. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelations 20:10; Revelations 2:18-19; Revelations 3:17-18; Revelations 22:12 |
NKJV Verse | “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.” |
NKJV Verse | “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Revelation 20:10-15, |
NKJV Verse | “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” |
Annotation | When the final rebellion is put down by the Lord, ‘the devil’ will join ‘the beast and the false prophet’ in torment ‘forever’ in ‘the lake of fire’. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelation 20:8-9; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 14:10-11; Isiah 66:22-24; Mark 9:48 |
NKJV Verse | “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.” |
Annotation | The ‘great white throne’ is a picture of God’s holy rule and judgement. The One occupying the throne may be God the Father or both the Father and the Lamb (Christ), as in the new Jerusalem. ‘The earth and the heaven fled’ is a poetic way of describing the burning up of this creation and its related works, as described in 2 Peter. There is ‘no place’ for this sin-polluted creation in the new heaven and new earth. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 22:1,3; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1 – 22:5 |
NKJV Verse | “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” |
Annotation | ‘The dead’ called ‘the rest of the dead’ in verse 5, are made to stand before God’s throne of judgement. To some, the first resurrection includes only martyrs, so that both believers and unbelievers will stand before the great white throne. Others point to the broad promises to Christians in the Book of Revelation of ruling with Christ as evidence that all Christians will experience the first resurrection and thus will not have to endure the great white throne of judgement. ‘Books’ refers to the record of all ‘works’ done in this life. Since all have sinned and fall short of God’s standard, the opening of these books would certainly lead to eternal sentences in the lake of fire. ‘The Book of Life’, God’s register of those who are saved, is also opened. So, although no one will be judged acceptable based on works many will be saved by God’s grace received by faith in Jesus Christ. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelation 20:4-5; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 2:26-27; Revelation 5:10; Romans 3:23; Revelation 17:8; Ephesians 2:8-9 |
NKJV Verse | “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” |
Annotation | ‘The sea’ is the resting place of the unburied bodies. ‘Death and Hades’ refers not only to dying, but to existence beyond the grave. The picture here is of all intermediate abodes of human bodies giving them up to God’s judgement. While unbelieving humanity is judged ‘according to’ its ‘works’, Death and Hades, the Lord’s final enemy, is also destroyed by being ‘cast into the lake of fire’. ‘The second death’ is spiritual and eternal, the just punishment of the wicked. The first death is physically dying. Both are included in the overall meaning of the death that came upon the human race because of Adam and Eve’s sin. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelation 1:18; Revelation 6:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12 |
NKJV Verse | “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” |
Annotation | Only God’s select, those whose names are ‘written in the Book of Life’, will escape ‘the lake of fire’. The rejection of the eternal Gospel results in eternal condemnation. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelations 14:6-7 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 1 Corinthians 9:24-25,27, |
NKJV Verse | “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” |
NKJV Verse | “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” |
Annotation | A careful distinction should be made between ‘the prize’ and the ‘gift’. The free gift of justification cannot be the result of good works. However, the prize or ‘crown’ is the reward for endurance and suffering for the cause of Christ. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Matthew 6:19; 1 Peter 1:4 |
NKJV Verse | “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” |
Annotation | ‘I myself should become disqualified’, the Greek word for ‘disqualified’ means ‘disapproved after testing’. Although some have cited this verse as evidence that Christians can lose their salvation, this clause most likely does not refer to salvation. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Romans 4:1-8; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:12 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 2 Timothy 4:8, |
NKJV Verse | “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” |
Annotation | Paul understood the potential of a lifetime of faithful service to Christ. Jesus would return with rewards for those who stick it out over the long haul. ‘The crown of righteousness’ is a special reward given to those who serve God faithful on this earth. There will be as many crowns as there are runners who finish the race well. ‘All who have loved His appearing’ are those believers in Christ who have lived faithfully in the hope of His return. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Matthew 5:10-12; Titus 2:11-15; 1 John 2:28; Philippians 3:20 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 1 John 2:28, |
NKJV Verse | “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” |
Annotation | John has been urging his readers to let what they have heard from the beginning abide in them. Here he advises them to ‘abide in’ Christ Himself. If we abide in Christ, we will avoid embarrassment when He returns. ‘ashamed’, The shame is a result of not having had a lifestyle of obedience when Christ returns. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 John 2:24-27 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | James 1:12, |
NKJV Verse | “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” |
Annotation | The believer who ‘endures’ trials demonstrates that he or she loves Jesus; therefore, ‘will receive the crown of life’ at the judgement seat of Christ. The Bible describes the believer’s reward under various vivid images such as precious metals, garments, and crowns. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelation 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12; 1 Corinthians 3:8-14; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 3:18; Revelation 19:7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:52; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:11 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 1 Peter 5:4, |
NKJV Verse | “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” |
Annotation | ‘Chief Shepherd’, elsewhere Jesus is called ‘the Shepherd’, ‘the good Shepherd’, and ‘the great Shepherd’. ‘Crown of glory’, God guarantees that those ministers who service Him faithfully, in accordance with the guidelines of verses 2-3, will receive an eternal reward in Christ’s coming kingdom. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 Peter 2:25; John 10:11,14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:2-3; Acts 7:55-56; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 48:11; Galatians 1:5; Romans 8:18 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Revelation 2:10-11, |
NKJV Verse | “’Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” |
Annotation | ‘You will have tribulation ten days’ has been understood as ten short outbreaks of persecution during the New Testament era, but more likely it means suffering for 10 actual days, or a brief period. ‘The crown of life’ may be the ‘victory wreath’ of the martyr, following the normal Greek use of ‘crown’ for the garland given to winners in athletic events. James 1:12 also promises the crown of life to believers who persevere under trial. Such perseverance will result in the ultimate enjoyment of life in God’s kingdom. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | James 1:12 John 4:10; John 6:35; John 10:10; 1 John 2:25; Hebrews 12:2 |
NKJV Verse | “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’” |
Annotation | ‘He who overcomes’ by faith need not fear the unending torment of the unbeliever in the lake of fire, ‘the second death’. Some understand this statement to imply that those believers who do not overcome will be harmed by the lake of fire in the sense that when their works are tried by fire, they will suffer loss of reward. However, this promise is best understood as a figure of speech where the positive idea is stated by negating its opposite. The ’second death’ refers to the experience of eternal death in the lake of fire. No believer will experience the second death; the overcomer will suffer no loss whatsoever. The believer who is faithful to death is promised the crown of life, a wonderful experience of life in the hereafter. Thus, there is not only deliverance from the second death, but an experience of life to a rich degree. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 John 5:3-5; Revelation 20:14-15; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Revelation 4:10, |
NKJV Verse | “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.” |
Annotation | The elders ‘cast their crowns before the throne’, symbolizing the willing surrender of their authority in light of the worthiness of God as Creator. Because no one but God can create, He alone should be worshipped and recognized as sovereign. |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Revelation 22:3-5, |
NKJV Verse | “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” |
Annotation | ‘No more curse’ means that the affliction of sin, especially on the human race and creation, will be erased. As ‘God’ had fellowship with Adam and Eve before their fall into sin, so the Lord will again be with His ‘servants’ eternally. In turn, His servants will worshipfully ‘serve Him’. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Genesis 3:14-19; Genesis 3:8; Romans 12:1 |
NKJV Verse | “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” |
Annotation | The believer’s hope today is to ‘see’ the Lord ‘face’ to face, something neither Moses nor any other human was previously allowed to do. The ‘name…on their foreheads’ is both in contrast to the mark of the beast and in fulfillment of the promise to the faithful believers at Philadelphia. It may also extend the imagery of the 144,000 in Revelation 14:1. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 Corinthians 13:12; Exodus 33:20; Revelation 13:16-17; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 14:1 |
NKJV Verse | “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” |
Annotation | ‘No night…no lamp’ fulfills Christ’s proclamation of Himself as “the light of the world”. The eternal inhabitants of the New Jerusalem ‘shall reign forever’ with the lord, as implied in Revelation 1:16 and stated in Daniel 7:18 & 7:27. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:46; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 1:16; Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:27 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Matthew 25:21-23, |
NKJV Verse | “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” |
NKJV Verse | “He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’” |
NKJV Verse | “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” |
Annotation | The first two servants received the same reward, even though they had received different amounts of money. The reward was based on faithfulness, not on the size of their responsibilities. The smallest task in God’s work may receive a great reward if we are faithful in performing it. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Matthew 10:42 |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | Luke 19:11-27, |
NKJV Verse | “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.” |
Annotation | Evidently the disciples believed that Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem would signal the arrival of the ‘kingdom of God’. Jesus’ parable in Luke 19:12-27 was designed to dispel this misconception. Note that the disciples raised the same question in Acts 1:6. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Luke 19:12-27; Acts 1:6 |
NKJV Verse | “Therefore, He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” |
Annotation | This parable is similar to Matthew 25:14-30, but the occasion is probably different. The story parallels in par what happened to Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great, who came to power in 4 B.C. The people disliked Archelaus, and they appealed to Augustus Caesar not to give him authority. Jesus is not retelling the story of Archelaus, but the historical events meant that the parable had a well-known plot. A significant detail is that the kingdom is received during the journey away from the land to be ruled. This corresponds to Jesus’ leaving this earth to ‘receive’ the ‘kingdom’ following his resurrection. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Matthew 25:14-30 |
NKJV Verse | “So, he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’” |
Annotation | ‘Do business till I come’: This detail shows that Jesus’ return would not be immediate. The ‘servants’ represent Jesus’ followers. They are to serve faithfully until Jesus returns. ‘Ten minas’: each servant received one mina, or about 4 months’ wages for the average worker. The master, symbolizing Jesus Himself, wants to see fruit, or dividends from his investment. Did his servants put the money they received to good use? |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Luke 19:11 |
NKJV Verse | “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’” |
Annotation | ‘His citizens hated him’: This is a sperate group from the servants and refers to those who reject Jesus outright. |
NKJV Verse | “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” |
Annotation | ‘How much every man had gained’: Having returned with authority to rule, the nobleman asks the servants to give an account of their labor in his absence. |
NKJV Verse | “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’” |
Annotation | The first servant earned ‘ten’ times the amount he was given originally. |
NKJV Verse | “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’” |
Annotation | ‘You were faithful…have authority over ten cities’: Faithfulness is commended and rewarded with greater opportunity. The authority given to the servant represents a role in administering Jesus’ kingdom. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 2:26-28; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 20:1-6 |
NKJV Verse | “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’” |
NKJV Verse | “Likewise, he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’” |
NKJV Verse | “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.” |
NKJV Verse | “For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’” |
Annotation | ‘I feared you’: The unfaithful servant’s excuse for failure reflects a negative view of the nobleman. If the servant had really feared the master, he would have done something with the money. |
NKJV Verse | “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.” |
NKJV Verse | “Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’” |
Annotation | Even putting the ‘money in the bank’ would have yielded ‘interest’. As it was, the servant failed to respond to the nobleman at all or even to understand him. |
NKJV Verse | “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’” |
NKJV Verse | “(But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)” |
NKJV Verse | “‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” |
Annotation | ‘What he has will be taken away from him’: Unfaithfulness results in loss of reward. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | Revelation 3:11 |
NKJV Verse | “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ” |
Book, Chapter, Verse, Title | 1 Thessalonians 2:19, |
NKJV Verse | “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” |
Annotation | In spite of persecution and satanic opposition, Paul looked beyond the present trials to the jo of being ‘in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ’ and being with the Thessalonian Christians who had found the Lord through him. The Thessalonians would be Paul’s ‘crown’ (the wreath presented to the winner of Greek athletic contests) because they would prove the genuineness of his work for Christ. |
Verses Cross-Referenced | 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 4:4; Luke 15:7; Revelation 21:4 |
God bless and thank you for your time,
Volume 15 Issue 02 (64)
Works Cited
- Holy Bible, New King James Version | Thomas Nelson, 1982.
- NKJV Study Bible 3rd edition, New King James Version | Thomas Nelson, 2018.
EXCELLENT study!!
Thank you!