Preparation

August 20, 2006

Mt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Mt 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Mt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Mt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Mt 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. {gone out: or, going out}

Mt 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Mt 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Mt 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Mt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Travis Johnson - Woven into our scripture lesson is the Eastern custom of a wedding. This parable opens at the point where some of their friends are waiting to join the procession & go in w/him to the marriage feast. There does not seem to be much difference in their external appearance.

They were all virgins; they all took their lamps; they all slept while they waited; & they all went forth to meet the bridegroom. Yet there was once vital & essential difference between them: Five of them were wise & five of them were foolish. Five of them were prepared; five were unprepared.

Bob Deffinbaugh - In response to the disciples’ request to know what sign would signal our Lord’s coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), Jesus spoke to them about the last days. He made it clear that the end would not come immediately, but only after considerable time and troubles (Matthew 24:4-31). Our Lord issued various warnings (Matthew 24:4-5, 10-11, 23-28), because during these troubled times there would be many interlopers, who would seek to turn men’s attention and affections away from Jesus, the true Messiah.

1. The Five Foolish and Five Wise

2. The Unforeseen Delay

3. The Festivities Begin

4. The Future result is up to us

1. The Five Foolish and Five Wise

a. Mt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Mt 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Mt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Greg Buchner - in Jewish thought and writing, oil was symbolic of good works.

Barnes - And five of them were wise. The words wise and foolish, here, refer only to their conduct in regard to the oil. The one part was wise in taking oil, the other foolish in neglecting it. The conduct of those who were wise refers to those who are prepared for the coming of Christ--prepared by possessing real piety, and not merely profession. The conduct of those without oil expresses the conduct of those who profess to love him, but are destitute of true grace, and are unprepared to meet him.

Bob Deffinbaugh - Firemen are trained and equipped to fight fires. They know there will be fires, but they don’t know when. And so they are in a constant state of readiness, even when they sleep. Their clothing is all laid out so they can quickly dress and get to the fire. You might see the firemen in the store, buying food. But they also have their portable radios in hand, ready to rush out if word of a fire is received.

All ten of the bridesmaids were waiting; five were unprepared for the unforeseen delay

2. The Unforeseen Delay

You along with me have heard all of our lives; the second coming of Jesus is close. The key point is to not fall asleep while we are waiting for the second coming. We must be busy about the Father’s business.

b. Mt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

c. Barnes - The bridegroom tarried. That is, while they waited for him. It was uncertain at what time he would come. He delayed longer than they expected.