Everyone loves a good story and a good storyteller.

But there is no storyteller like the Lord Jesus,

and there are no greater stories told than the ones Jesus shared.

In this study, spiritual stories, we consider the parables Jesus told and their

application to us. These are truly the greatest stories ever told, and the Lord has something

he wants to say to you through them. Let's join Scott Pauley now.

When you're studying the Word of God, chapter and verse divisions are helpful in finding a place in Scripture,

but they can also give an artificial division. If you're not careful, a chapter and verse divisions, which were not

inspired, were not given when the scripture was originally given, can also hinder your full

understanding. You have to read through the divisions to get the full picture, to get the rest of

the story. We've come to one of those passages today as we begin Matthew chapter number 25.

Now, you'll remember we've just finished in Matthew 24,

and if you're looking at your Bible, you'll see that it is our Lord speaking when Matthew 24 closes,

and it is our Lord speaking when Matthew 25 opens.

We are in the same sermon.

We're in the same discourse.

It's commonly referred to as the Olivet discourse, just like the sermon on the Mount was the opening message of his public ministry early on.

The Olivet discourse is considered to be the closing message given near the end of his public ministry and at the Mount of Olives, thus the Olivet discourse.

Well, these chapters in Matthew's Gospel record are very plain about prophecy, the tribulation age,

and there's so much detail woven into these chapters, it all goes together.

It is one continuous message. One key to that is the

first word of Matthew 25. It begins this way, then. All right? What is the word then? It means a

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