THE WEDDING INVITATION
"Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:9.
There is a wedding feast and a marriage that we are all looking forward to. It will be the moment when Christ is finally united with the Church, His Bride. At His second coming, He will invite us to the celebration. It will be a time of great joy and jubilation, of everlasting love and eternal happiness. This great event will be a joyful and memorable one. Have you received your invitation? Are you prepared and ready?
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Matthew 25:1-13.
Background of the parable:
In response to the disciples’ request to know what sign would signal His return. Matthew 24:3. Jesus made it clear that the end would not come instantly, but only after a significant time and troubles. He also told them the parable in Matthew 25.
In the Jewish culture and tradition, wedding festivities are usually held in the evening and run into the night. The bridegroom would go to meet his bride in her father’s house with lamps, and the bridal train would proceed from the bride’s father’s house to the groom’s house, where a feast would be provided for the invited guests. It was against this backdrop that the Lord gave the parable of the ten virgins. In summary, the parable speaks of Jesus second coming and our readiness to receive Him.
THE TEN VIRGINS
Jesus compares the ten virgins with the believers that will be around in the time of His second coming. He classified the people His message was intended for into two group: the wise and the foolish. The virgins all waited. But the bridegroom delayed in coming. One by one they all fell asleep. But when they heard the bridegroom had returned, they woke up. But five of them realized their lamps were going out.
The five wise virgins are prepared; they planned ahead and anticipated the delay. They had extra oil to add to their lamps. The remaining five virgin are really foolish. They had no oil in their lamps and requested, but the wise ones refused to give them. They urged them to quickly go out and buy. While they are gone, the bridegroom arrived and the five wise virgins and the rest of the wedding party went in to the banquet hall. And the door was shut. When the five foolish virgins came back, they found the door locked. They begged for someone to open the door for them, but sadly the bridegroom replied, "I tell you the truth. I don't know you." The time for prayer had passed.
Many Bible scholars have described the ten virgins as "the expectant believers or the Christian community" (see The Expositor's Bible Commentary). All believers in the Lord Jesus today are certainly expecting the returning Messiah. The bridegroom is Jesus Christ. He is pictured as the bridegroom of the Church. Ephesians 5:25-32.
WHAT MESSAGE IS THE LORD JESUS COMMUNICATING THROUGH THIS PARABLE?
1. All the virgins had been invited to the wedding banquet and all had responded positively. They had invitation cards to the marriage celebration, and expected to be at the wedding. A virgin is one who keeps herself pure for her future husband. She does not have intercourse with the world. We are God’s people in the world but not of the world. The ten virgins are not sinners or unbelievers, they are the redeemed of the Lord. All had their lamps with them and waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom.
The difference between the two group of virgins is that, some are wise and some foolish. A wise person will seek advice and listen to correction, but fools ignore advice and resent correction. Proverbs 10:8;14:16. A wise person ignores insults and exercises self-control, yet a fool reacts to situations with immediate anger. Proverbs 12:16. A wise person is willing to listen to counsel, but fools are always right in their own eyes and are fully convinced about their own opinions. Proverbs 12:15. A wise person consider the implications of his actions and strives to avoid troubles, but fools do not anticipate their actions and thus repeatedly ends up in trouble. Proverbs 22:3.
The five foolish virgins knew the Bridegroom was coming. They were given the invitation cards, just like everyone else. They were given every information they needed to know about the wedding. But the five choose to ignore what they know. They were not ready. Are you ready for the Lord's return? Is your name in the Book of Life? Are you saved? You could be a pastor, evangelist, bishop, prophet, apostle, but the question is, are you ready for the Second coming of Jesus? Be wise! Be expectant.
2. All ten had gone out to wait for his coming. They were eager to see him.
"Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20. If Jesus Christ come back today, would you be available and ready to go with Him?
3. All the ten virgins had oil in their lamps at the beginning. Revelation 2:1-7.
When a person receives Christ as his Savior, he experiences the joy of first love for the Lord. Sadly, after a while many fall away. The zeal, love and fire with which they served God when they first became saved have since faded. The consecration, dedication and commitment are no longer the same. The Lord Jesus is saying today, remember your first love. Repent, and do the things you used to do in the beginning.
4· They all fell asleep while waiting for the Bridegroom. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9.
Sleep is a period of rest during which the sleeper loses the awareness of his surroundings. So, the danger in sleep is the loss of awareness. Some people are in spiritual coma. Some believers have the call of God and He has told them where to go but they have slept off like Jonah. Some are like Peter and the disciples, they are asleep because of weariness. Some are like Samson asleep on the thighs of Delilah. Are you in a spiritual sleep? Repent and wake up! Watch and pray-before its too late.
5. The ten virgins were awakened by the midnight cry. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Trumpets are instruments of war in the Bible. Numbers 10:9. They are also used in worship and celebration. Leviticus 25:9. In the New Testament, the sounding of trumpets is in relation to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The trumpet shall sound so loud as to wake up the dead in Christ. Then those that are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him for ever.
6. All the ten virgins appeared to be equally prepared for the bridegroom’s coming. But the foolish ones are not ready. There's a subtle difference between readiness and preparedness. Preparedness is to have made all the arrangements so that when the time comes you will have everything ready. Readiness is being prepared and 'ready to go.'
To be ready is to be watchful. We do not watch with fear and trembling, but we watch with joy and gladness. To be ready is to be spiritually prepared. It is to have the heart of a bride whose husband is away and she is waiting and longing for him to return. To be ready is to purify yourself. It is to obey God's commands. To be ready is to turn away from sin. It is to live in righteousness. To be ready is to fix your heart upon the Lord every day. Are you prepared and ready for the return of the King of kings?
SALVATION IS PERSONAL.
One notable thing in the parable is the refusal of the wise to give the foolish some of their oil. This may seem harsh unless you understand the situation of the wise virgins. To loan the oil would mean that no one would have enough oil.
The point is this. No one can “borrow” another person’s salvation. Every person has to make his or her own preparations for Christ's coming. You can’t get into heaven by living near a saved person. You can't gain entrance into heaven just by being the spouse, children, and relatives of a saved person. We shall all one by one stand before God to give account of our lives. Salvation is always a personal affair. It cannot be loaned, shared, given to or borrowed. You must experience salvation personally. You must believe in Jesus on your own, for yourself, not relying on the salvation of others.
THE CLOSED DOOR:
Today, the door of salvation is wide open to everyone to come in. When you die in your sin, the door is closed. When Christ comes and you are still living in sin, the door will close. When you stand before God on the day of judgement, the door is closed.
THE MOST TRAGIC WORDS EVER SPOKEN:
The five foolish virgins begged: “Let us in, sir. You invited us. We’re sorry we were late. We didn’t realize you would be late in coming. Please let us in.”
From inside comes the solemn reply: “I never knew you.” What a terrible plight to be in! “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" Matthew 7:21-23.
BE READY.
The question is this: are we like the five wise virgins who were prepared? Is your lamp burning? Are you living for heaven or pursuing the things of this world? When He comes, will He find you doing what He has called you to do? When the Bridegroom comes, will He find you eager to see Him? When the Lord comes, will He find you ready for His return? When the Lord Jesus appears in the clouds, will your heart rejoice with exceedingly great joy? Are you ready to one day meet Christ?
Today's the day of salvation. Today's the day to examine your heart. The door of salvation is wide open now. Someday it will be closed forever. Don't delay! Be prepared and ready! Behold He comes. May the Holy Spirit draw each of us into greater depths of intimacy with Jesus until the day our bridegroom returns.
If you are willing to repent and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, then pray this prayer right now: LORD Jesus, I come to You right now. I know I am a sinner, please forgive me my sins. With my mouth, I declare that Jesus, from today, I accept You as the LORD of my life. Change my heart from a disobedient heart to a heart that will obey You. With my new heart, I believe that it is because of me that You came into this world; You died for my sins, take away my problems, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, write my name in the Book of Life, and make me brand new in Jesus mighty name.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, teach me to watch and pray, in Jesus name.
2. Make me ready for the rapture, O Lord, in Jesus name.
3. When the trumpet shall sound, let me be found doing Your will, in Jesus name.
4. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life will not deny me of making heaven, in Jesus name.
5. Lord Jesus, help me to be always conscious of Your second coming.
6. I overcome any sin that can make me to miss heaven, in Jesus name.
7. I shall make heaven; I shall not end my journey in hell, in Jesus name.
Give Me Oil In My Lamp - Hymn Lyrics
Give my oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give my oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning ’till the break of day.
Chorus
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King!
