Introduction

Good morning, family! There's a wonderful buzz in the air today. It's one of those Sundays where you can just feel that we're all here, ready to be filled with the Word of God. I want to start us off with a quote from one of my favorite Christian authors, A.W. Tozer. He once said, "A scared world needs a fearless church." That's a powerful statement, isn't it? It's a reminder that we, as a church, have a role to play in bringing comfort and courage to a world that often feels uncertain and afraid. And that's a big part of what today's sermon is all about.

But before we get into that, let's read the Scripture passage for today. It's from Matthew 25:1-13:

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the foolish ones asked the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, we don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return."

Understanding the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

The story we just read from Matthew 25 is a parable. Parables are stories that Jesus told to help people understand complex spiritual truths. They're like a mirror that reflects the kingdom of God in a way that we can understand. This particular parable is about ten bridesmaids, five of whom were wise and five who were foolish.

The bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so they could join the wedding feast. This was a common practice in Jewish weddings at the time. The bridesmaids would wait with lamps to light the way for the bridegroom when he arrived. But in this story, the bridegroom is delayed. All ten bridesmaids fall asleep while they're waiting.

When the bridegroom finally arrives, all the bridesmaids wake up and prepare their lamps. But the foolish ones didn't bring enough oil for their lamps. They ask the wise ones to share their oil, but the wise ones refuse. They tell the foolish bridesmaids to go buy more oil. But while the foolish bridesmaids are gone, the bridegroom arrives. The wise bridesmaids go into the wedding feast, and the door is locked behind them. When the foolish bridesmaids return, they find that they're too late. The door is locked, and they're left outside.

So, what does this story mean? What is Jesus trying to teach us through this parable?

Firstly, the bridegroom in the story represents Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. The wedding feast represents the kingdom of heaven. So, the bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom is like us waiting for Jesus to return.

Secondly, the lamps that the bridesmaids carry represent our faith. The oil in the lamps represents the Holy Spirit. The wise bridesmaids brought enough oil, which means they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were prepared for the bridegroom's arrival, no matter when it happened. The foolish bridesmaids, on the other hand, did not bring enough oil. They were not prepared for the bridegroom's arrival. They thought they could rely on the wise bridesmaids to share their oil, but they were wrong.

Thirdly, the fact that the bridegroom was delayed and that all the bridesmaids fell asleep represents the fact that Jesus' return may not happen as soon as we expect. It's easy to become complacent and think that we have plenty of time to prepare. But the truth is, we don't know when Jesus will return. We must always be ready.

Lastly, the locked door represents the finality of Jesus' return. Once He returns, there will be no second chances. Those who are prepared will enter the kingdom of heaven, and those who are not will be left outside.

This parable is a wake-up call for all of us. It's a reminder to always be prepared for Jesus' return. We need to keep our lamps filled with oil, meaning we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to live our lives in a way that honors God, so that when Jesus returns, we will be ready to join the wedding feast.

This parable also reminds us that we can't rely on others for our spiritual preparedness. Just like the foolish bridesmaids couldn't rely on the wise ones to share their oil, we can't rely on others to maintain our relationship with God. It's a personal responsibility that each of us must take on.

The Forgotten Promise of Christ's Return

As we continue to reflect on the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, we find ourselves drawn to the underlying theme of Christ's return ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO