BIBLICAL EVANGELISM: WARNS OF THE DANGER OF DELAY
MATTHEW 25:1-13
A MAJOR QUESTION THAT WE ARE OFTEN FACED WITH IS WHETHER OR NOT TO DELAY AN ACTION OR CHOICE. SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO WAIT, WHILE STILL OTHER TIMES WAITING CAN BE CATASTROPHIC. TO DELAY MEDICAL TREATMENT CAN LEAD TO DEATH. TO DELAY FILLING YOUR CAR WITH GAS UNTIL THRUSDAY MAY MEAN SAVING A CENT OR PAYING AN EXTRA ONE, NOT THAT BIG IN THE SCOPE OF LIFE.
THERE IS ONE DECISION THAT IF WE DELAY MAKING, COULD HAVE EVERLASTING CONSEQUENCES FOR US, AND THAT IS THE DECISION TO MAKE JESUS OUR LORD, AND ACCEPT HIM AS SAVIOR. OUR LIVES ARE SHORT, LONGEVITY IS NOT FOR CERTAIN, AND THIS DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME. ONCE WE ENTER ETERNITY OUR FATE IS SEALED.
THIS IS THE GOAL OF BIBLICAL EVANGELISM. BIBLICAL EVANGELISM STRESSES THE NEED OF ACCEPTING CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND MAKING HIM OUR LORD. IT ACCEPTS THE BIBLE AS THE WORD OF GOD, AND IT TEACHES THERE IS A HEAVEN TO GAIN AND A HELL TO SHUN.
BIBLICAL EVANGELISM TEACHES THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS, AS THE RESULT OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE, AND AS A RESULT, WE ALL HAVE A DESTINY OF GOING TO HELL, SHOULD WE NOT TURN TO CHRIST.
BIBLICAL EVANGELISM STRESSES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST WHILE ON THIS EARTH AS LORD OF OUR LIVES. IT STRESSES THAT WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT WE WILL HAVE RENEWED RELATIONSHIP WITH OHER CHRISTIANS IN HEAVEN, THAT THE REAL BLESSING OF HEAVEN WILL BE OUR ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
BIBLICAL EVANGELISM TEACHES THAT THERE IS A LIMITED TIME TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-2:
“AS GOD’S CO-WORKERS WE URGE YOU NOT TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE IN VAIN. 2 FOR HE SAYS, “IN THE TIME OF MY FAVOR I HEARD YOU, AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Z I TELL YOU, NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.
ONE REASON THAT THIS DECISION IS SO IMPORTANT IS OUR OWN FINITENESS. WE DO NOT KNOW OUR LIFE SPAN. ANOTHER REASON TO MAKE THIS DECISION ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE RELATIONSHIP WE CAN HAVE WITH CHRIST WHILE IN THIS WORLD.
A THIRD COMPELLING REASON, AND THE ONE WHICH I WILL SPEAK ON TODAY, IS THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT KNOW THE TIME THAT THE LORD IS GOING TO RETURN FOR HIS CHURCH. JESUS SAID THIS CONCERNING THE TIME OF HIS RETURN AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
MATTHEW 24:36-42:
36 “BUT ABOUT THAT DAY OR HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, NOT EVEN THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN, NOR THE SON, BUT ONLY THE FATHER. 37 AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, SO IT WILL BE AT THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. 38 FOR IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD, PEOPLE WERE EATING AND DRINKING, MARRYING AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE, UP TO THE DAY NOAH ENTERED THE ARK; 39 AND THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY. THAT IS HOW IT WILL BE AT THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. 40 TWO MEN WILL BE IN THE FIELD; ONE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT. 41 TWO WOMEN WILL BE GRINDING WITH A HAND MILL; ONE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT. 42 “THEREFORE KEEP WATCH, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ON WHAT DAY YOUR LORD WILL COME.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WILL COME SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE WORLD WILL CARRY ON JUST AS IT ALWAYS HAD, AS THIS PASSAGE SAYS, AND THEN ONE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT.
I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A GREAT INCREASE IN EVIL BEFORE THE LORD COMES BACK. IF YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE PUNISHMENTS THAT GOD INFLICTED ON THE ISREALITES WAS INFLICTED BECAUSE THEY DID EVIL, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE GOOD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WORLD IS IN FOR GREAT EVIL, LIKE WE HAVE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE, AND THIS MAY VERY WELL HAPPEN BEFORE THE RAPTURE.
SO AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST BE READY AT ALL TIMES TO PRESENT OUR CASE TO THE WORLD. PREPARATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT UNCERTAINTY. THIS IS WHAT THIS PARABLE IS TALKING ABOUT.
BACKGROUND:
WE MUST CONSIDER THE PARABLE IN THE LIGHT THAT JESUS IS CONTINUING HIS TEACHING ABOUT HIS SECOND COMING IN CHAPTER 24. THE LESSON THAT HE REALLY WANTS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THE NECESSITY TO BE READY FOR WHEN HE COMES BACK. SPIRITUALLY IT DOESN’T MATTER WHEN CHRIST RETURNS IF YOU ARE READY NOW BY ACCEPTING HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
THE IMAGERY OF THE PARABLE ACCURATELY REFLECTS TYPICAL CUSTOMS OF FIRST-CENTURY PALESTINIAN WEDDING FESTIVITIES. A WELCOMING PROCESSIONAL ESCORTS THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE FROM THE BRIDE’S HOME TO A GREAT BANQUET AT THE BRIDEGROOM’S HOME, SOME UNSPECIFIED TIME AFTER THE LEGAL NUPTIALS HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED. TORCHES LIGHT THE WAY IN THE DARKNESS, SO ALL THE BRIDESMAIDS HAVE TO TAKE ENOUGH OIL TO KEEP THEM BURNING FOR AS LONG AS MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
THE TWO GROUPS OF WOMEN ARE DESCRIBED AS EXACTLY ALIKE IN EVERYTHING EXCEPT THEIR PREPARATIONS. JESUS IS TEACHING US THAT WE ARE ALL ON AN EQUAL BASIS IN OUR NEED OF THE LORD.
NOTE ALSO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE BRIDESMAIDS. PARTHENOI (“VIRGINS”) REFERS TO YOUNG WOMEN OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE. THE WORD IS CHOSEN NOT TO POINT OUT THEIR LACK OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY BUT THEIR INTIMATE RELATION TO THE BRIDE. WE WOULD RELATE IT TO A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH A RELATIVE.
JESUS WANTS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH US. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT IS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. THIS PARABLE WILL ALSO SHOW US THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO IT.
GOD IS FREQUENTLY PICTURED AS A BRIDEGROOM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
ISAIAH 54:4-6:
4 “DO NOT BE AFRAID; YOU WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME. DO NOT FEAR DISGRACE; YOU WILL NOT BE HUMILIATED. YOU WILL FORGET THE SHAME OF YOUR YOUTH AND REMEMBER NO MORE THE REPROACH OF YOUR WIDOWHOOD. 5 FOR YOUR MAKER IS YOUR HUSBAND— THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS HIS NAME— THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL IS YOUR REDEEMER; HE IS CALLED THE GOD OF ALL THE EARTH. 6 THE LORD WILL CALL YOU BACK AS IF YOU WERE A WIFE DESERTED AND DISTRESSED IN SPIRIT—
A WIFE WHO MARRIED YOUNG, ONLY TO BE REJECTED,” SAYS YOUR GOD.
JESUS IS IN SOME WAY EQUATING HIMSELF WITH GOD. HE USES THE ILLUSTRATION OF HIMSELF AS THE BRIDE-GROOM AND THE CHURCH AS THE BRIDE. THE FACT THAT THE BRIDE IS NOT PRESENTED IN THIS PARABLE HELPS US TO REALIZE THAT THE LESSON WE ARE TO FOCUS ON IN THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION AND BEING READY.
THE WAIT PROVES LONGER THAN ALL HAVE ANTICIPATED, AND EVERYONE FALLS ASLEEP. ON THE THEME OF THE DELAY, SEE UNDER 24:48.
HOW SATISFYING MUST HAVE BEEN THE SLEEP OF THE BRIDESMAIDS WHO WERE PREPARED. WHEN THE SHOUT WOULD ARISE, “THE BRIDEGROOM COMES” THEY WERE READY. THEY COULD REST IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAD PREPARED.
INTERESTINGLY THOUGH, THE FIVE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS WERE SLEEPING SOUNDLY AS WELL. THEIR LACK OF PREPAREDNESS WAS OF NO GREAT CONCERN TO THEM. WE ARE SO LIKE THESE BRIDESMAIDS, NO CONCERN ABOUT BEING PREPARED FOR ETERNITY UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.
FINALLY AT 12:00 A.M., PERHAPS WHEN LEAST EXPECTED, THE SLEEPERS AWAKEN TO A CRY THAT THE GROOM IS COMING (V. 6). THE CRY PARALLELS THE TRUMPET BLASTS OF 24:31; 1 COR 15:52; AND 1 THESS 4:16 (WHICH CONTAINS BOTH TRUMPET AND SHOUT).
THE ISSUE IS THAT SOME WERE NOT WATCHFUL ENOUGH TO HAVE SUFFICIENT OIL. SOME SUGGEST THAT THE TORCHES COULD BURN ONLY FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE BEING REWRAPPED WITH MORE OILED CLOTH. IN TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN WEDDINGS, MESSENGERS MAY REPEATEDLY ANNOUNCE THE BRIDEGROOM’S COMING, YET IT CAN BE DELAYED FOR HOURS). DELAYS OCCUR WHILE THE BRIDE’S RELATIVES HAGGLE OVER THE VALUE OF PRESENTS GIVEN THEM, EMPHASIZING THE BRIDE’S GREAT VALUE AND THUS THE WISDOM OF THE GROOM’S SELECTION
AT THIS POINT THE FIVE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS REALIZE THEIR MISTAKE AND BEG THE OTHERS TO SHARE THEIR OIL WITH THEM (VV. 7–8). THE FIVE WISE YOUNG WOMEN REFUSE, SINCE THEY REALIZE THAT THEN ALL MAY RUN OUT OF OIL, LEAVING EVERYONE IN THE DARK (V. 9A
ON FESTIVE NIGHTS SUCH AS THIS, THE SHOPS STAYED OPEN AS LONG AS PEOPLE MIGHT NEED THEM, SO THE GIRLS SHOULD GO THERE AND PURCHASE EXTRA OIL FOR THEMSELVES. JESUS APPARENTLY WANTS TO TEACH THAT SPIRITUAL PREPAREDNESS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL TO ANOTHER. ALL PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES.
THIS EXTRA ERRAND, HOWEVER, TAKES TOO LONG. THE FIVE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS MISS THE GROOM, THE PROCESSIONAL, AND THE ARRIVAL AT THE BANQUET. THE DOOR TO THE GROOM’S HOME IS CLOSED AND PROBABLY LOCKED TO KEEP OUT ANY INTRUDERS (V. 10). BUT THE BRIDEGROOM REFUSES TO LET THEM IN.
ALTHOUGH THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION, THEY DISPLAYED A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM THROUGH THEIR NEGLECT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO COME PREPARED. THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR UNWORTHINESS OF THE HONOR OF PARTICIPATING IN THE CELEBRATION. THE FAITHLESS WILL NOT ENTER HEAVEN. BY THEIR LACK OF PREPARATION IN THIS LIFE, THEY REVEAL A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE MESSIAH. HOW A PERSON SEES JESUS IS THE KEY TO HIS OR HER ETERNAL DESTINY.
THE FIVE WISE BRIDESMAIDS DEMONSTRATED THEIR RESPECT AND LOVE FOR THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM BY COMING WELL PREPARED WITH OIL TO KEEP THEIR TORCHES BURNING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESSION. SIMILARLY, THE FAITHFUL WILL ENTER HEAVEN. BY THEIR PREPARATION IN THIS LIFE, THEY REVEAL A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE MESSIAH.
WHEN THE FIVE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE WEDDING BANQUET, THEY BEGGED TO BE ALLOWED IN. BUT THE BRIDEGROOM, OFFENDED AT THEIR LACK OF RESPECT, DENIED THEM ENTRANCE. HIS I TELL YOU THE TRUTH IMPLIED THAT THERE WAS NO NEGOTIATING; HE WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS MIND. THE TIME HAD PASSED. AND HIS WORDS, I DON’T KNOW YOU, DISOWNED ANY PAST OR FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIVE. HIS RESPONSE CUT THEM OFF FROM HIM AND HIS BRIDE FOR LIFE.
THUS THE FOOLISH VIRGINS WERE NOT EXCLUDED SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS LOCKED), NOR BECAUSE THE HOST ACTUALLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THEM, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD INSULTED THE BRIDE AND GROOM AS WELL AS ALL THEIR RELATIVES! THEY WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO FORGET SUCH AN OFFENSE. TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR FRIEND’S WEDDING WAS A GREAT HONOR; AS VIRGINS, THESE YOUNG WOMEN WERE IN A SENSE PRACTICING FOR THEIR OWN IMPENDING WEDDINGS AROUND THE AGE OF TWELVE TO SIXTEEN. TO HAVE SPOILED THE WEDDING FOR THEIR FRIEND BY FAILING TO DO THEIR PART WAS A GREAT INSULT TO EVERYONE ELSE AT THE WEDDING. THAT THEY WOULD BE SHUT OUT OF THE FEAST IN PUNISHMENT SUITS THEIR CASE, BUT THE LANGUAGE USED TO DEPICT THIS NIGHTMARE POINTS BEYOND ITSELF TO SEVERER, ETERNAL JUDGMENT, PROBABLY ECHOING THE SAYINGS IN 7:21–23. WEDDING FEASTS EPITOMIZED JOY (AS IN JN 3:29); THE TRANSGRESSORS HAVE BEEN SHUT OUT
AN ORDINARY GROOM WOULD LET THE GIRLS ENTER, BUT THIS LORD REFUSES ADMITTANCE AND DENIES EVEN KNOWING THEM (V. 12). ON THIS MOTIF OF IGNORANCE COMBINED WITH THE CLOSED DOOR, CF. LUKE 13:25. THE MORAL OF THE STORY PROCEEDS (V. 13) AND ECHOES 24:36, 42, 50. “KEEP WATCH” MEANS BE PREPARED AND NOT NECESSARILY STAY AWAKE.
CONCLUSION:
TO DELAY AS THE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS DID LEADS TO A LIFE OF WASTED OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTUALLY A WASTED LIFE. EVERY MOMENT THAT IS LIVED WITHOUT CHRIST IS THAT MUCH OF LIFE THAT IS WASTED.
MATTHEW HENRY WAS CONVERTED AT ELEVEN AND NOT SEVENTY.
JONATHAN EDWARDS WAS CONVERTED AT EIGHT AND NOT EIGHTY.
RICHARD BASTER WAS CONVERTED AT SIX AND NOT SIXTY.
THOSE WHO LIVE WITHOUT CHRIST MISS THE REAL JOYS OF LIVING. IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD, TOTAL THE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE AND WRITE UPON THEM “WASTED.”
AT THE END OF A SUNDAY MORNING REVIVAL SERVICE, AN ELDERLY MAN GAVE HIMSELF TO CHRIST. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE HE LOOKED SAD AND WAS ASKED ABOUT IT. WAS HE NOT HAPPY THAT HE HAD ACCEPTED CHRIST?
HE REPLIED: “OH, YES, I’M GLAD THAT MY SOULD IS SAVED, BUT I’M SO SORRY THAT MY LIFE IS LOST.”
THE THREE POINTS OF THE PASSAGE MAY NOW BE SUMMARIZED:
(1) LIKE THE BRIDEGROOM, GOD MAY DELAY HIS COMING LONGER THAN PEOPLE EXPECT.
(2) LIKE THE WISE BRIDESMAIDS, HIS FOLLOWERS MUST BE PREPARED FOR SUCH A DELAY—DISCIPLESHIP MAY BE MORE ARDUOUS THAN THE NOVICE SUSPECTS.
(3) LIKE THE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS, THOSE WHO DO NOT PREPARE ADEQUATELY MAY DISCOVER A POINT BEYOND WHICH THERE IS NO RETURN—WHEN THE END COMES IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO UNDO THE DAMAGE OF NEGLECT.”
PHILIP BLISS WROTE A POEM THAT I WANT YOU TO THINK REALLY CAREFULLY ABOUT
ALMOST PERSUADED, HARVEST IS PAST
ALMOST PERSUADED, DOOM COMES AT LAST
ALMOST CANNOT AVAIL
ALMOST IS BUT TO FAIL
SAD SAD THAT BITTER WAIL
ALMOST, BUT LOST”
