Jesus Is Coming Back, Be Prepared (5 Of 5) Series

“Jesus is coming BACK, BE PREPARED”

Week 5 of 5

Matthew 25:1-13

Credit: Steve Shepherd, Troy Borst, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

Please stand for the reading of God’s Word: Matthew 25:1-13

“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.”

Jesus is coming BACK, and we need to be PREPARED…..

This week I discovered beprepared.com on the internet.

This website sells items you might need, in a disaster event

It is TARGETING survivalists,

And those who desire to be prepared for anything

You can buy a:

30 day supply of food, that stays fresh for 30 years.

For $7.95 you can buy a candle that will burn for 100 hours

For $40.00 you can get a 24 pack of canned emergency water

They have a 3 day emergency back pack for $89.99, but sorry they’re sold out

(https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/b-y-o-o-bring-your-own-oil-troy-borst-sermon-on-parable-ten-virgins-83959?ref=SermonSerps)

That website has many cool products but:

none of them will PREPARE you for the 2nd coming.

And there will be Hell to pay for the unprepared.

Our passage from Matthew 25:1-13 is all about being prepared:

For eternity

For the Day of the Lord

The return of Jesus and the Judgement

Since Jesus can come back at any time,

We must be ready ALL THE TIME

Our text today is about preparing for the wedding banquet:

The parable is meant to convince us to stay prepared

Not for any earthly banquet, but for the banquet in heaven.

Both sets of virgins fell asleep at night before the Groom arrived

They did nothing wrong in sleeping,

Sleeping wasn’t the problem

Unpreparedness was kept five foolish virgins from enjoying the WEDDING BANQUET

All ten knew they’d NEED oil, but only 5 ACTUALLY brought sufficient oil

We usually talk about SINS of COMMISSION, wrong things we do.

Here we are talking about the SIN OF OMISSION, failing to do what we ought to do

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17

Being a bridesmaid was a great honor:

To be chosen was an honor to enjoy, but also came with responsibilities

To not be prepared for the wedding could ruin the wedding day

To ruin a wedding day would be a TRAVESTY and INSULT

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” Matthew 25:1

Weddings were held toward evening: (GRAPHIC OF TORCH)

and torches were used as part of the celebration,

which focused on a procession leading the bride to the groom’s house.

These torches may have been sticks wrapped with oil-soaked rags.

The wedding feast occurs at night after a day of dancing:

the bridesmaids leave the bride,

and go out and find the groom with torches.

They then bring him back to his bride,

and they go together to the groom’s home.

By now it’s dark and they need their torches,

so they can find the Grooms house

“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.” Matthew 25:2–7

Torches like these:

could maybe only burn fifteen minutes