The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Reflection:
Jesus goes from directly teaching about the end times to telling another parable to illustrate what it will be like when Jesus returns. He uses the illustration of the the bridegroom getting ready for a marriage celebration. In those days the bridesmaids attending the bride would provide a lighted way for the bridegroom to meet the bride on their wedding day. 10 is an important number, as in the Jewish law 10 witness were needed to establish something. In this case though the 10 virgins are used to illustrate if we are ready for Jesus, the bridegroom, to return to take His bride, the Church home to heaven.
It is interesting that the number five is used which represents a significant amount of the bridesmaids, 50% to be exact. This is a sober number to consider, although we don't necessarily have to take it literally to mean that half of the people will be ready when Jesus returns and half won't. In another passage in Matthew 7 it says, many will say to me Lord, Lord, and I will say I never knew you. We need to keep this in tension with the verses that God desires all men and women to be saved. Cf. 2 Peter 3:9
The bottom line with all these "end times" passages is the sobering reality that at Jesus' return the judgment will be swift and final. The writer of Hebrews says, "It is appointed once for a man to die and than face judgment." Hebrews 9:27 As we process these "warning" passages, we must remember it is God's desire that all people would be saved. That is why He sent His one and only Son to die for all people, the just and the unjust. One of the reasons one gives a warning is in hope that people will heed the warning. Just as we have warning signs all around us to protect us from getting hurt. Sometimes in our human nature we don't respond unless we are challenged to come out of our spiritual malaise. Many people rationalize, "I will deal with my relationship with God later!"
Today Jesus tells us a story that we would do well to consider that relationship sooner than later. The virgins with the extra oil were ready should the bridegroom delay. Sometimes we might be tempted to think, "Well Jesus hasn't returned yet, what is to worry!" In the end God loves us too much to not give us ample warning of what will happen when Jesus comes again. I see it as less of a threat and more of a speaking the truth in love!
So that being the case might I ask you in love, are you ready for our Lord's return? Really? Our readiness is based in our full trust and faith in what God has done for us in Christ, and then leading lives worthy of that calling. Amen.
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Reflection:
Jesus goes from directly teaching about the end times to telling another parable to illustrate what it will be like when Jesus returns. He uses the illustration of the the bridegroom getting ready for a marriage celebration. In those days the bridesmaids attending the bride would provide a lighted way for the bridegroom to meet the bride on their wedding day. 10 is an important number, as in the Jewish law 10 witness were needed to establish something. In this case though the 10 virgins are used to illustrate if we are ready for Jesus, the bridegroom, to return to take His bride, the Church home to heaven.
It is interesting that the number five is used which represents a significant amount of the bridesmaids, 50% to be exact. This is a sober number to consider, although we don't necessarily have to take it literally to mean that half of the people will be ready when Jesus returns and half won't. In another passage in Matthew 7 it says, many will say to me Lord, Lord, and I will say I never knew you. We need to keep this in tension with the verses that God desires all men and women to be saved. Cf. 2 Peter 3:9
The bottom line with all these "end times" passages is the sobering reality that at Jesus' return the judgment will be swift and final. The writer of Hebrews says, "It is appointed once for a man to die and than face judgment." Hebrews 9:27 As we process these "warning" passages, we must remember it is God's desire that all people would be saved. That is why He sent His one and only Son to die for all people, the just and the unjust. One of the reasons one gives a warning is in hope that people will heed the warning. Just as we have warning signs all around us to protect us from getting hurt. Sometimes in our human nature we don't respond unless we are challenged to come out of our spiritual malaise. Many people rationalize, "I will deal with my relationship with God later!"
Today Jesus tells us a story that we would do well to consider that relationship sooner than later. The virgins with the extra oil were ready should the bridegroom delay. Sometimes we might be tempted to think, "Well Jesus hasn't returned yet, what is to worry!" In the end God loves us too much to not give us ample warning of what will happen when Jesus comes again. I see it as less of a threat and more of a speaking the truth in love!
So that being the case might I ask you in love, are you ready for our Lord's return? Really? Our readiness is based in our full trust and faith in what God has done for us in Christ, and then leading lives worthy of that calling. Amen.
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