The Parable Of The 10 Virgins Series

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

June 16, 2024

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

Matthew 25:1-13

For the last five days, we have spent the evenings here looking at the doctrines of Jesus' imminent return and the signs that are happening in the world today for the rapture of the church and his second coming. Throughout the New Testament, the Church is exhorted repeatedly to watch and be ready for the Rapture of the Church and the subsequent second coming. During the Mount Olive discourse, Jesus uses several parables to show how believers must be constantly ready for his return. Four times in Matthew 24, we are told not to know the day or hour but to be ready.

“And behold, I am coming soon [suddenly]. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 7:12)

While we may not know the day or the hour, that does not mean we cannot discern the signs and the seasons. In fact, Jesus commanded us to be watchful of the seasons. Such as was the case with the Parable of the Fig Tree. Jesus described these signs as birthing pains. He also said that we can know the season we are in by looking at the signs, the same way one can look at a tree. All of this points to the imminent Rapture of the Church and the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ seven years later after the Great Tribulation.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The Bible continually exhorts believers to be continually prepared for the end of the age. There is a mandate for preparedness. These are signs that should keep us awake. They should spur us toward holy living and righteousness. They should encourage pastors and churches to be singularly focused on the mission of the Church, The Great Commission. They should hasten us from worldly living and divisions in the Church and toward unity.

The Church in Laodicea was rebuked by the Lord Jesus Christ for their indifference and spiritual apathy. Jesus said that their spiritual coldness was enough to make him want to vomit them out of his mouth. Then he gives an image that should motivate every pastor and leader to be passionate about their work: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20). He’s talking about knocking on the church's door that is spiritually dead. The reality is that there are churches today that are absent from Christ. They may do religious things but are not alive in the Lord. He is on the outside, wanting to come in.

“Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

This is the condition of many churches and many in the churches today as we look around the world at the signs of the times. This is the reason for the Parable we are going to look at today:

“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 you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. 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 25:1-13).