THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: The Bride's Friends

Matthew 25:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

25:3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

25:5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

25:6 And at midnight a cry was heard:
'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'

25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

25:8 And the foolish said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

25:9 But the wise answered, saying,
'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you;
but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,
And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding;
and the door was shut.

25:11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!'

25:12 But he answered and said,
'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

25:13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

REVIEW

Be observant and watchful for the return of the Lord. Get ready for the possibility of a long delay in the return of the bridegroom.

Earlier in our lessons of The Parables of Jesus Christ, we studied the Fig Tree; this parable instructed us to be watchful and on the alert for Jesus’ coming. Then later, there was the study of The Ten Virgins in which we were taught to be prepared for the possibility of a long delay in the return of the bridegroom. Both parables tell us that we will not know in advance the day nor the hour of His return. Although this parable occurs only in Matthew, there are three parables in which Jesus exhorts us to be ready and watchful for His return:

1. Parable from the Fig Tree: Matthew 24:32-42

2. Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25: 1-13

3. Parable of the Alert Slaves: Luke 12:35-48,

and Matthew 24: 42-51. Lastly, we have

The Parable of Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4. but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6. But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 7 .Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9. But the prudent answered, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” 10. And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11. Later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.” 12. But he answered, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” 13. Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

CONCLUSION

A closer look

The bridegroom is Jesus. And this parable is about His return. John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the bridegroom and even the Lord Himself makes personal reference to His status as bridegroom: He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:29-30. 3

And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Certainly there is a stark message in this parable for our times. One is either prepared for the return of the Lord, including anticipating the possibility of delay or he is not. If one is not prepared, let him prepare. If he is prepared, let him keep alert and watchful. There is no excuse for not being ready. Our good intentions are not enough. Knowing that the Lord will return is not enough. Good intentions must be converted into good preparations. The wedding feast proceeds without the foolish virgins.

When the Lord returns we will find people who started out waiting for His coming, but in the end were unprepared. We notice a similar theme in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,Lord,‟ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? ‟ And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.‟

Take not that there is a point in which the last minute scurrying to prepare is plainly too late. This can be seen in the parable in this sentence, “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.”

…Wow, this is deep…..Woe until me, if I preach not the gospel

The consequences of not being ready are enormous We can anticipate anything from immediacy to prolonged delays. Being piously ready is the key. And as the Lord Himself concludes:

Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.