“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25: 1-12 ESV
Matthew 25: 1-12 Lamps Without Oil
We just left off in the last post discussing how no one knows the hour or the day of Christ's return, and how many would fall into complacency about this. Jesus will continue to drive home these concepts just like in the first major sermons of His ministry, the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7. Here in the Olivet Discourse He continues with the signs of His coming and the complacency of that age. These are the kind of sermons that use to thunder from the pulpits of Spurgeon, Edwards and Whitefield, but are strangely lacking in most churches today.
…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23
Will be like ten virgins - These are all outwardly the same, 10 young women.
Who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom - Okay, so in the context of Christ's return, which has been the discussion of the previous chapter, and of those who were not prepared for their Lord's return, along with those who were found doing their Master's work, we now have another word picture. Remember last chapter He discussed the servants' stewardship, and now He gives a very simple picture of something all too familiar to His audience, that of a wedding. In those days there was, as part of the wedding ceremony, bridesmaids, and here we have ten of them. They would carry these oil fed lamps in a procession at night, and they would go out to meet the bridegroom. Now again, outwardly, these all are women, with lamps, and identifying as those who are waiting for the Bridegroom. This means that they intend, and or also identify as being in, part of the wedding.
“When the bridegroom came, the bride-maids, who were attending the bride, went forth to meet the bridegroom, with lamps lighted, to conduct him and his companions into the house, and to her who was to be the bride.” (Poole)
ii. Some ask why Jesus described ten virgins and not another number. Reportedly, Talmudic authorities said there were usually ten lamps in a bridal procession. It was a common size of a wedding party. - E Word
Five of them were foolish - Jesus lets us in on something, and you probably think, why would the bride pick them for bridesmaids then? The answer is easy, outwardly, like the people in Matthew 7 above, they identify themselves as with the bride. This is no different than the church today, many say they are Christians, just like in the parable of the wheat and the tares, and the parable of the seed and the sewer, Jesus brings up this issue a lot. They identify outwardly as being Christians, as being part of the body of Christ, as those waiting for His return. You and I see mostly outward, yet God looks at the heart, and so there is never a time when He is confused about where someone stands, but you and I can be duped, and it hurts.
…27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.… Romans 2: 27-29
Five were wise - So he distinguishes between people and groups of people, and it is quite literally as simple as saying some were stupid and some were not. A sign of our day is that no one wants to be corrected, no one wants to hear anything that isn't positive, until someone builds a bridge and it falls under the weight of someone's car who was special to them, and then they think, "you know what, maybe we should raise the bar back up to it's place, maybe there should be a standard or something."
They took no oil with them - What does Romans 2 say? Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit. These lacked the Spirit, they identified verbally with the bride, and they had lamps, but when He, the Bridegroom comes, His fire will either cause the oil in the lamps to ignite, or what else to be consumed before it? It is the Spirit that gives life, and these have been tares, even a plant that grows up, but where is the fruit of the Spirit? They are now going to be made known even to the rest of the church, those that could not detect them before. These are unregenerate. They acknowledged the bride, have sat with her group, attended to her by some degree, were waiting for the Bridegroom, yet not prepared for His coming. Paul and the other Apostles also admonished those who claimed to believe, listen to this, and where is this warning from our pulpits today, who will admonish like this?
…4For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.… 2 Corinthians 13: 4-6
…7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.…
…10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.… 2 Peter 1: 7-12
But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps - They were filled with the Spirit, born again.
…5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’… John 3: 5-7
They all became drowsy and slept - Just like marriage, eating and drinking, sleeping is not bad in itself and believe me you will go crazy without it, so it's not that they slept, in fact it says, "they all". Both the stupid and the wise slept, but the difference is one group had their flasks filled with oil before they went to bed. It's like knowing that the thief is coming you need to be prepared.
Here is the Bridegroom - It's sudden right, like a thief in the night, and now your waking up, rubbing the sleep boogers out of your eyes, and the last thing you want to do is have to think. There is no time to prepare, you need to just fill the lamp and go meet the Bridegroom. The wedding procession has started.
Give us some of your oil - It's an impossible request, and this is the way of salvation, I can be saved, but what I have to give you is the gospel, that which points you to Christ, what He says, and that is the power unto salvation. I can't save you though. When you seek comfort like that from a man and he acts as though he is the gate, rather than acknowledging that Jesus is the gate, that there is only One Way, and that is Christ, not popes, not counsels, not religious rites of passage, you are looking to come in some other way. There is a conversation I had with an old woman, and it went the way it should, and for that I am grateful, because she pleaded with me, to hear it from me that she was saved, and I admit, it's a difficult thing to not appease people in this. All I could tell her was, "would you rather hear it from me or from God?" Ultimately I don't know what she finally came to, but verbally she stated, "God, because in the end that's all that really matters." We tell the gospel that all have sinned, and that all need to examine themselves and come to the light of this that they are sinners in need of a Savior. We beg all men to repent and be made right with God through the Only Way that He provides, His Son, Jesus Christ, Whose atoning blood and righteous acts are applied to believers by the Holy Spirit through faith. I can't give you the Holy Spirit and you sure can't buy it from me. Salvation is of the Lord.
…19“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.… Acts 8: 19-21
Buy for yourselves - I can't give you my oil, I can't sell you my oil, I need my oil lest I be unprepared for the wedding as well. It's an impossible request. They could only direct them to where to get it. Some lie to their children and tell them how good they are, or to their friends and so that such great men have nothing to worry about. I know a woman who thinks her children are saved because she dabs olive oil on them, claiming to anoint them with the Spirit and "read there rites" over them, insuring that they are saved by her works and words over them. Meanwhile they don't believe much of anything, and she obviously believes in another Christ, different from the One giving this sermon here in Matthew 25. Your mom is not going to stand in your place, and God doesn't call your friends or your children good, you need the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ Jesus, the only One Who lived a truly righteous life before God. You need what He has, and He is willing to take away what you have.
1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! 2Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.… Isaiah 55: 1-2
21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…
…24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.… Romans 3: 21-26
While they were going to buy the Bridegroom came - Remember the procrastinators from before, people who thought the Lord tarried too long, and they got caught up in the cares of this life, like the seed amongst the thorns, or that tread upon in the path, or that which fell in the shallow, rocky soil? It only took good, deep root, and brought forth fruit in the soil that was prepared. "Oh, someday I will think about religion, or someday I will decide for Christ, because sadly some already know He's the only way, but they have made an idol out of something else.
The door was shut - Remember the ark with Noah, he preached for 120 years, and then the flood came as promised, but the door was shut.
Open to us - He answers, "I do not know you". Don't be so stupid as to think there is time, you have no idea if there is time, I don't know for sure that I will have time to finish this post, you just don't know.
12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.… Hebrews 3: 12-14
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