Matthew 25:1-13
“Ten Virgins and a Bridegroom”
By: Rev. Ken Sauer, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Soddy Daisy, TN www.graceumcsd.org
Immediately before this passage Jesus is talking about His Second Coming.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father…Who then is the faithful and wise servant…”
Jesus asks, and then continues that it will be good for that person whose master finds him or her doing the Lord’s work when he returns.
The parable of the Ten Virgins is meant to help explain what Jesus is talking about.
The virgins represent those who call themselves Christians and await the bridegroom who is Jesus.
The bridegroom’s delay alludes to the fact that Jesus has not returned as soon as many folks had hoped.
The marriage feast symbolizes the life in the age to come, and the closed door stands for the last judgment.
Much less certainty surrounds the meaning of the key element in the story: the extra oil that the wise virgins have and the foolish virgins do not have.
Martin Luther claimed that the oil represents faith.
Others say the oil that causes the lamps of the wise virgins to continue burning brightly is enduring love.
But the explanation which is most often put forth and which I believe kind of sums up the other explanations is that the oil stands for good works.
Can good deeds burn out before the final judgment?
Can they be bought at the store?
This parable refers to you and to me—ordinary followers of Jesus who must persevere in our doing and being…in our faith, hope and love…until Jesus comes, no matter how long the delay may be!!!
And when faith, hope and love are real—they lead to action!!!
What have you done lately for the Kingdom of God?
What have you done lately in order to help push back hate and bring forth love for God, love for enemies, love for neighbors?
It is my belief that we Christians are the ones who must be known for our love for everyone—no matter what!
If we are working within God’s will we will do nothing to cause another of God’s beloved to feel less than human but only most sacredly loved!!!
We will do all that we can to make sure no person is hurt by the evil of hatred, prejudice and unequal treatment.
The Christian Church must be known as the place where everyone is welcome—no matter what!!!
We must not lobby to legislate morality, but instead love persons by our words and deeds.
That is one of the things I love most about Grace United Methodist Church—I think this is where we are at…or at least heading…
…and that ROCKS!!!
As many of you know, I spent most of this past week at a conference in Richmond, Virginia.
Yesterday, as I got on my computer and was checking out facebook for the first time in several days I read what another minister wrote on the wall of a group I am part of.
I must tell you, I have never been so humbled in all my life.
I don’t believe I have ever heard anyone say such things about me—ever!
“I have just spent a whole week with Ken Sauer and let me tell you he’s nutz!!!
He has a vision and a love for Jesus.
He also is a skateboarder and that’s cool for a preacher to do!!
I want all of you to know it takes all kinds to spread the word and expand the kingdom.
Ken has the power to reach those who most think are unreachable!!
I have tried hard to be an off the wall preacher and I can’t hold this guy a LIGHT!!
I am proud to be called friend by Ken because he’s my friend.
You go Kenneth Sauer.
Go out and expand the kingdom one weirdo at a time and I’ll go right beside you!!!!!!!!”
Best compliment I have ever received as a minister—hands down, and I know the same can be said of YOU!!!
What an awesome future we have at Grace!
In any event, we Christians must, like Jesus Christ—Fall in Love with the Streets because there does appear to be a separation between church and neighborhood.
And talk without action—plays a part in this divide.
People who most need the church are sitting outside, waiting to feel worthy enough to come.
It doesn’t have to be this way!!!
We are in a most privileged position.
We are in a position to change the perception the world has of the followers of Christ—and that will happen if we become radical in our love, faithfulness, and action toward those whom others have written off, or to those who have written themselves off!!!
The book of Matthew is really focused on putting one’s faith into tangible action!
It’s not so much about the religious dogma we claim—it’s the love we embody!
In Matthew Chapter 7 Jesus proclaims:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
That pretty much stacks up with what Jesus is saying in the parable of the ten virgins.
In verse 11 of our Gospel Lesson for this morning the foolish virgins come knocking on the door of the Kingdom party: “Sir! Sir!’ they said. Open the door for us!’
“But the [bridegroom] replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”
Again, in Matthew Chapter 7 Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he [or she] who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
We might want to ask ourselves: “What is the will of the Father?”
Paul tells us in Romans Chapter 2 that “it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”
And what is the law?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
And who is your neighbor?...
…my neighbor?
Is it not the rich, the poor, the mentally healthy, the mentally disabled, the black, the white, the straight the gay, the republican the democrat, the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the friend, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned…
…and the list could and does go on and on and on…
My neighbor, your neighbor is everyone!!!
And we are called to love them, not with words only—but with action!
I believe this is what the wise virgins were doing when the bridegroom arrived.
Is this what you will be doing?
Is this what I will be doing?
James tells us in his letter:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says…
…What good is it, my [sisters and] brothers, if a [person] claims to have faith but has no deeds?
Can such a faith save [that person]?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
In other words…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is like an oil lamp that has no oil…it is extinguished…useless…worthless…
…it does more harm than good.
A major new research project, unveiled in the Book: UnChristian What A New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why it Matters tells us that, “It is clear that Christians are primarily perceived for what they stand against.
We have become famous for what people we oppose, rather than who we are for…
…people feel minimized—or worse, demonized—by those who [claim] to love Jesus…
In our national surveys with young people, we found the three most common perceptions of present-day Christianity are anti-homosexual (an image held by 91 percent of young outsiders), judgmental (an image held by 87 percent of young outsiders), and hypocritical (an image held by 85 percent of young outsiders).”
Those are the top three perceptions of Christianity held by young people today…
It’s not—“they love one another.”
It’s not—“they humbly serve the world.”
It’s not—“they feed the hungry.”
It’s not what Jesus was about at all!!!
Again, I am glad to be part of Grace United Methodist Church in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee…
…how about you?
We are called by Jesus the Christ—the Son of the Living God to take “oil in jars along with [our] lamps.”
We are called to love the unloved.
We are called to welcome the marginalized.
We are called, not to judgmentalism, but to unconditional love!
We are called to be Christ to the world!!!
We are called to burn bright with the love God has for every person!!!
1st John Chapter 3 puts it like this:
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.”
Jesus, the Bridegroom is coming.
No one knows the day or hour.
I want to be ready when He does come!!!
I don’t want to miss that wedding banquet for anything in the world!!!
How about you?
