Watchtower Study, Week of November 25-December 1, 2024, “One Will Be Taken and the Other Left,” Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, November 25-December 1, 2024, “One Will Be Taken and the Other Left,” Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Answer

Celeste: Extra Points

“One will be taken and the other will be abandoned” (MAT. 24:40).

1. What will Jesus do soon?

WE LIVE at a pivotal moment in history. Soon Jesus will judge all who live on earth. How do we know that this period is near? Because Jesus gave his disciples a prophecy that would serve as a “sign” of his invisible presence and of “the conclusion of the system” (Matt. 24:3). We can read this prophecy in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Mark chapter 13, and Luke chapter 21.

2. What are we going to see in this article, and why?

2 To help us prepare, Jesus told three parables, or parables that serve as warnings: the parable of the sheep and the goats, the parable of the 10 virgins, and the parable of the talents. Each one highlights certain aspects of a person's behavior that Jesus will take into account when judging him. In this article, we'll review them and see what they teach us. Let's start with the parable of the sheep and the goats.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS

3. When will Jesus judge people?

3 Jesus taught that when the time comes for each person to be judged, He will consider whether he accepted the good news and stood by his anointed brothers (Matt. 25:31–46). When will Jesus decide whether each person is a sheep or a goat? During the “great tribulation,” just before Armageddon (Matt. 24:21). Just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, Jesus will separate those who faithfully stand by the anointed from those who do not.

4. According to Isaiah 11:3, 4, why can we be sure that Jesus will judge people fairly? (See also images.)

 4 Jehovah appointed Jesus as a judge, and the Bible assures us that Jesus will judge righteously. (Read Isaiah 11:3, 4.) He watches what people think, say, and do, including how they treat his anointed brothers. (Matt. 12:36, 37; 25:40) He will know who supported the anointed ones and the work they did. One of the most important ways to support them is by preaching. Those who support them will be considered “righteous” and will have the chance to live forever on earth. (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 7:16, 17) What a wonderful reward for being faithful! If you remain loyal during and after the great tribulation, your names will remain “written in the book of life.”—Rev. 20:15.Books of Jehovah

ILLUSTRATION

Jesus sits on a throne high above the earth, looking down at two groups of people. Images of brothers and sisters serving Jehovah: 1. A sister looking up at the sky with a tablet in her hand. 2. A married couple reading the Bible. 3. A group of brothers and sisters building a Kingdom Hall. 4. A brother praying in a cell. 5. An elderly sister commenting at a meeting. 6. A sister in a hospital bed offering a tract to a nurse. 7. A brother studying with his wife and son. Images of men and women acting against Bible principles: 1. A man praying in a casino. 2. A man beating a woman. 3. A violent demonstration. 4. A man pulls out a gun as he follows a woman in a parking lot. 5. A religious leader praying for soldiers. 6. A woman using drugs. Soon, Jesus will judge each person to decide whether he or she has proven to be like a sheep or a goat. (See paragraph 4.)

5. What does the parable of the sheep and the goats teach us, and who should pay attention to it?

5. Prove yourself faithful and loyal. The parable of the sheep and the goats applies primarily to those who hope to live forever on earth. They prove themselves faithful and loyal not only by supporting Christ’s brothers in the preaching work, but also by following the instructions of the small group of anointed ones that Jesus has selected (Matt. 24:45). Now, those who hope to live in heaven must also heed the warning in this parable. Why? Because Jesus is paying close attention to what they do, think, and say. So they too must prove themselves faithful. This brings us to the other two parables, which we can also read in Matthew chapter 25 and which contain specific warnings for the anointed. Let’s continue with the parable of the 10 virgins.

THE 10 VIRGINS

6. How did five of the virgins show that they were wise? (Matthew 25:6-10)

6 In this parable, Jesus spoke of 10 virgins who went out to meet a bridegroom (Matt. 25:1–4). They all wanted to go with him to the wedding banquet. Jesus said that five of them were “wise” and the other five were “foolish.” The wise virgins were prepared and attentive. They were willing to wait for him as long as necessary, even if he arrived late at night. So they brought oil lamps to give them light in the darkness. They even brought flasks of extra oil in case the bridegroom was late. This made sure their lamps would not go out (read Matthew 25:6–10). When the bridegroom came, the wise virgins went with him to the wedding banquet. Something similar will happen to anointed Christians. Those who prove faithful and remain vigilant until the bridegroom, Jesus, comes will be able to enter his heavenly Kingdom with him (Rev. 7:1–3). b And the five foolish virgins?

7. What happened to the five foolish virgins, and why?

7 Unlike the wise virgins, the five foolish virgins were not ready when the bridegroom arrived. According to the parable, when they heard that the bridegroom was about to arrive, they realized that their lamps were about to go out. And since they had no extra oil to refill them, they had to go buy more. When the bridegroom came, they had not yet returned. Then “the virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut” (Matt. 25:10). Later, the foolish virgins returned and wanted to go in, but the bridegroom said to them, “I do not know you” (Matt. 25:11, 12). They had not prepared to wait for the bridegroom as long as necessary. What lesson does this parable teach the anointed?

8, 9. What does the parable of the 10 virgins teach the anointed? (See also the images.)

8 Demonstrate that you are prepared and alert. Jesus did not mean that there would be two groups of anointed people—one group that would be prepared to wait until the end of the system and the other group that would not. Rather, he was explaining to the anointed people that if they were not prepared to faithfully endure to the end, they would not receive their reward. (John 14:3, 4) What a serious matter! Whether we hope to live in heaven or on earth, we all need to heed the warning in the parable of the 10 virgins: We must always be watchful and prepared to endure to the end. (Matt. 24:13)

9 As we have seen, in the parable of the 10 virgins Jesus emphasized the importance of always being prepared and vigilant. Immediately afterward he told the parable of the talents, in which he stressed the importance of being hard-working.

ILLUSTRATION

A brother is watching the news and comparing the news to what he has read in the Bible. Circled inside is Jesus' parable of the 10 virgins. It is important for all of us to heed the warning in the parable of the 10 virgins and be prepared, alert, and ready to endure to the end. (See paragraphs 8 and 9.)

THE TALENTS

10. How did the first two slaves prove they were faithful? (Matthew 25:19-23)

10 In this parable, Jesus told of two slaves who were faithful to their master and one who was not (Matt. 25:14–18). Before traveling abroad, their master entrusted them with a few talents—a large amount of money. The first two slaves proved they were faithful by being hard-working and trying hard to produce profits for their master. As a result, when their master returned, they had doubled the amount they had received. Then the master congratulated them and said to each of them, “Come and share your master’s happiness” (read Matthew 25:19–23). And what did the third slave do with the money his master had given him?

11. What happened to the lazy slave, and why?

11 The master gave the third slave a talent with the intention that he would also use it to make a profit. But this slave was “lazy,” so he dug a hole in the ground and hid it. When the master returned, the slave simply gave it back. Instead of apologizing for not making a profit, he showed that he had a bad attitude and unfairly accused his master of being “a demanding man.” As a result, the master rebuked him, took the talent from him, and threw him out of his house. —Matt. 25:24, 26-30.

12. Who do the two faithful slaves represent today?

12 The two faithful slaves represent faithful anointed Christians. Jesus, the master, says to each of them, “Come and share your master’s happiness.” In other words, he gives them their heavenly reward, the first resurrection (Matt. 25:21, 23; Rev. 20:5a). On the other hand, the bad example of the lazy slave is a warning to the anointed. Let’s see why.

13, 14. What does the parable of the talents teach the anointed? (See also the images.)

13 Show that you are hardworking. In the parable of the talents, Jesus was not saying that the anointed would become lazy. Rather, as in the parable of the 10 virgins, He was giving a warning. He was explaining what would happen if they ever lost their enthusiasm: They would fail to “make their calling and selection sure,” and they would not be able to enter the heavenly Kingdom (2 Pet. 1:10).

14 With the parables of the 10 virgins and the talents, Jesus made it clear that all anointed Christians need to be prepared, vigilant, and hard-working. But those were not the only warnings Jesus gave to the anointed. We find another in Matthew 24:40, 41. Let’s analyze these verses.

ILLUSTRATION

An anointed sister teaches a Bible class to a woman. Inside the circle is Jesus' parable of the talents. Jesus wants the anointed to show that they are hard workers. (See paragraphs 13 and 14.) 

WHO WILL BE TAKEN AWAY

15, 16. According to Matthew 24:40, 41, why is it important for the anointed to remain vigilant?

15 Before telling the three parables, Jesus spoke of two men working in the field and two women grinding at a hand mill. In each case, it seems that the two are doing the same thing. But Jesus said, “One will be taken and the other left” (see Matthew 24:40, 41). In the next verse, he told his disciples, “Be on the watch always, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42). Jesus said something very similar at the end of the parable of the 10 virgins (Matt. 25:13). So the two statements seem to be related. Jesus was explaining that a time would come when it would be revealed which anointed ones had been approved. Only those who are truly anointed and remain faithful will be “taken”—that is, welcomed by Jesus into the heavenly Kingdom (John 14:3).

16 Demonstrate that you are vigilant. If an anointed one does not remain spiritually vigilant, he will not be gathered to the “elect” (Matt. 24:31). Of course, all who have the hope of living on earth must also heed Jesus’ warning and remain faithful and vigilant.

17. If Jehovah has decided to anoint some of his faithful servants in recent years, why does that not cause us concern?

17 We know Jehovah well, so we have complete trust in his decisions. So if Jehovah has decided to anoint some faithful servants in recent years, we are not worried. We remember what Jesus said in the account of the vineyard about the workers who were hired at the last hour of the day . (Matt. 20:1-16) Those who started working later received the same pay as those who started working earlier. Similarly, all faithful anointed ones will receive the reward of going to heaven regardless of when they were chosen.

PAY ATTENTION TO WARNINGS

18, 19. What lessons and warnings have we seen in this article?

18 What have we seen in this article? The parable of the sheep and the goats shows that it is very important for those who have the hope of living forever on Earth to remain faithful and loyal, both now and in the great tribulation. When that time comes, Jesus will decide who are faithful and therefore “will go to eternal life” (Matt. 25:46).

19 We have also reviewed two parables that contain warnings for the anointed. In the parable of the 10 virgins, five of the virgins demonstrated that they were prepared and attentive. They were wise and ready to wait for the bridegroom as long as necessary. Because the others were foolish and unprepared, the bridegroom did not allow them to enter the wedding banquet. Lesson? We must be ready to wait as long as necessary until Jesus brings an end to this system. In the parable of the talents, we saw that two of the slaves were hard workers. Because they were faithful and worked hard to earn a profit for their master, they won his approval. However, the lazy slave was thrown out. Lesson? We must remain very active in Jehovah’s service until the end. Finally, we have seen that Jesus taught that the anointed must remain vigilant in order to be taken to the heavenly Kingdom. They earnestly look forward to the time when they will be “gathered” to Jesus in heaven. After the war of Armageddon, they will be the bride who will marry Jesus at “the wedding of the Lamb” (2 Thess. 2:1; Rev. 19:9).

20. What will Jehovah do if we heed his warnings?

20 Jesus’ judgment is just around the corner, but we need not be afraid. If we are faithful, our loving heavenly Father will give us “power beyond all reason” so that we can “stand before the Son of Man.”​—2 Cor. 4:7; Luke 21:36. So whether we hope to live in heaven or on earth, let us heed the warnings Jesus gave in his parables. If we do, we will have our Father’s approval, and because of his great goodness, each of our names will be “written in the book” of life.​—Dan. 12:1; Rev. 3:5.

WHAT LESSONS DO THESE PARABLES TEACH US?

The one with the sheep and the goats

We all, both anointed and other sheep, must be aware that Jesus is paying close attention to what they do, think and say. So they too must prove that they are faithful.

It is not about pretending to be faithful in front of others, but rather about being and remaining faithful even when others do not see us.

The one with the 10 virgins

Jesus emphasized the importance of always being prepared and vigilant. 

Whether we hope to live in heaven or on earth, we must all be ever vigilant and prepared to endure to the end.

The one with the talents

Jesus wants the Anointed Ones to prove that they are enthusiastic workers. We must remain very active in Jehovah's service until the end.