“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
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.’ 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.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:1-13
As we delve into this passage, we will focus on three main points: Preparation for His return, Proclaiming His message, and Permitting the Holy Spirit's work. But before we do, let's bow our heads in prayer.
Preparation for His Return
In the parable we just read, we see a group of ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. The wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps, while the foolish ones did not. This is a clear illustration of the importance of being ready for the return of Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom.
The oil in the lamps can be seen as a symbol of our faith and the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. The wise virgins had an ample supply, indicating their preparedness and their deep, abiding relationship with God. They were ready for the bridegroom's arrival, no matter at what time it happened. The foolish virgins, on the other hand, were not prepared. They had lamps, but no oil. They had a form of godliness, but they were lacking the power thereof. In other words, they called themselves Christians but were not.
The first aspect we can glean from this is the importance of personal responsibility in our spiritual lives. Each of us is responsible for our own relationship with God. We cannot rely on the faith of others to sustain us. The foolish virgins asked the wise ones for some of their oil, but the wise ones refused, not out of selfishness, but out of the understanding that faith cannot be borrowed or transferred. Each of us must have our own oil, our own faith, our own relationship with God. Spiritual readiness is deeply personal and cannot be outsourced.
The second aspect is the importance of vigilance. The bridegroom's arrival was delayed, and they all became drowsy and slept. But the wise virgins were still prepared when the cry came out that the bridegroom was here. They were able to trim their lamps and go out to meet him. This teaches us that we must always be ready, always be vigilant, for we do not know the day or the hour of Christ's return.
Metaphorically, to trim one’s lamp signifies maintaining spiritual readiness and purity. This involves spending time with God, reading scripture, and being sensitive to spiritual guidance. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared and living a life aligned with spiritual values.
The third aspect is the importance of genuine faith. The foolish virgins had lamps, but no oil. They had the appearance of faith, but not the substance. They were like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but inside full of dead men's bones. This teaches us that it is not enough to merely look the part. We must have a genuine, living faith, a faith that is filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.
The fourth aspect is the finality of Christ's return. When the bridegroom arrived, the door was shut. The foolish virgins were left outside, knocking and pleading, but it was too late. This teaches us that there will come a time when it will be too late to prepare. There will come a time when the door will be shut, and those who are not ready will be left outside.
This parable reminds me of two other times when a door was closed on those who were unprepared and/or disregarded the preaching of the Word of God: Noah, when God closed the door of the ark, preventing anyone else from seeking His salvation, after they had been preached to by Noah. The other is the parable of the great supper, where people were invited but made excuses…to them the door was closed as well. In each of these cases it shows that God closed the doors. So, we need to understand that Christ will return, and we need to be found being about the Father’s business.
Proclaiming His Message
As we continue to reflect on the parable of the ten virgins, we find ourselves drawn to the actions of the wise virgins. They were not just prepared; they were also bearers of a message. Their readiness was not silent; it was a proclamation. It was a message that spoke volumes, not just to their fellow virgins, but to all who would hear their story centuries later.
In their readiness, they were proclaiming a message of wisdom. Wisdom, in this context, is more than just knowledge or understanding. It's a practical application of knowledge, a readiness to act appropriately in different situations. The wise virgins didn't just know they needed oil; they acted on that knowledge. They didn't just understand the importance of being prepared; they lived it out. Their actions were a sermon in themselves, a sermon that proclaimed the value of wisdom in the kingdom of heaven.
Their readiness was also a proclamation of faithfulness. They were faithful to their duties, faithful to their responsibilities, and faithful to the bridegroom. Their lamps were not just tools; they were symbols. Symbols of their faithfulness, symbols of their dedication, symbols of their commitment. They were not just waiting for the bridegroom; they were waiting faithfully, being prepared, knowing that He would come. Their faithfulness was a message, a message that echoed through the ages, a message that still speaks to us today.
Finally, their readiness was a proclamation of hope. They were not just waiting; they were waiting with hope. Hope for the arrival of the bridegroom, hope for the wedding feast, hope for the joy that was to come. Their lamps were not just sources of light; they were beacons of hope. Their hope was not just a feeling; it was a declaration. A declaration that resonated with every flicker of their lamps, a declaration that still resonates with us today.
In the original Greek, the word used for 'wise' in this passage is 'f????µ??' (pronounced: fron'-ee-mos). This word is used in various other passages in the New Testament. For instance, in Matthew 7:24, Jesus uses the same word to describe the man who built his house on the rock. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus instructs his disciples to be 'f????µ??' as serpents and innocent as doves. In each of these instances, the word carries a connotation of practical wisdom, of understanding coupled with appropriate action.
As we continue to reflect on the actions of the wise virgins, we find that their readiness was not just a preparation; it was a proclamation. It was a proclamation of the kingdom values, a proclamation of the kingdom culture. Their readiness was not just a personal trait; it was a kingdom trait. It was a trait that was expected of all who belonged to the kingdom, a trait that still expected of us today.
Lastly, their readiness was not just a response; it was a responsibility. It was their responsibility to be ready, their responsibility to have enough oil, their responsibility to keep their lamps burning. Their readiness was not just a requirement; it was a duty. A duty that was entrusted to them, a duty that is still entrusted to us today.
Permitting the Holy Spirit's Work
Permitting the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is akin to opening the door and inviting a dear friend into our home. It's an act of trust, of surrender, and of obedience. It's recognizing that we are not the masters of our own lives, but rather, we are vessels designed for a divine purpose.
The Holy Spirit, often referred to as the 'Helper' or 'Comforter', is God's presence in our lives today. The Spirit is our guide, our teacher, and our source of power for living a life that is pleasing to God. But how do we permit the Holy Spirit to work in our lives?
The first step is to acknowledge our need for the Holy Spirit. We must understand that we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength. We need the Spirit's power to transform us, to guide us, and to empower us to live in a way that glorifies God. This is not a passive process, but an active one. It's a daily decision to yield to the Spirit's leading, to listen to His voice, and to obey His promptings.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:30-32
To grieve the Holy Spirit is to resist His work in our lives, to ignore His guidance, or to live in a way that is contrary to His will. When we permit the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we are choosing to live in a way that is pleasing to God, and that brings joy to His heart. In turn, we have a more joyful life.
The second step is to cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit. This means spending time in prayer, reading and meditating on God's Word, and seeking to know Him more deeply. It's about developing a sensitivity to the Spirit's leading and learning to recognize His voice. Honestly, most of His voice comes to us through the reading of His word.
In his book, "The Pursuit of God," A.W. Tozer wrote, "The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people." This quote underscores the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. It's not an optional extra, but an essential part of our walk with God. This is what the wise virgins had, and this is what we who call ourselves Christians must have.
The third step is to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit. This means putting into action what the Spirit reveals to us through God's Word and through His promptings in our hearts. It's about making choices that align with God's will, even when it's difficult or goes against our natural inclinations. It’s like times when we have something important to do and your friends or family call you to go to a party…which one do you do?
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:16-17
When we walk by the Spirit, we are choosing to live in a way that reflects God's character and values, rather than our own. It's a daily decision to say 'yes' to God and 'no' to our own desires, preferences, and our friends.
The final step is to bear the fruit of the Spirit. When we permit the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we will begin to see the evidence of His work in our character.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:22-26
The fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-26, includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not qualities that we can produce in our own strength, but they are the result of the Spirit's work in our lives, and it says that in those verses, because it says that it happens when we are in Christ.
Permitting the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is not a one-off event, but a lifelong process. It's a journey of growth, transformation, and increasing conformity to the image of Christ. It's about learning to live in a way that reflects God's character and values, and that brings glory to His name.
So, let's take a moment to reflect on our own lives. Are we permitting the Holy Spirit to work in us? Are we acknowledging our need for the Spirit, cultivating a relationship with Him, walking in obedience to His leading, and bearing the fruit of His work in our lives? If not, let's make a commitment today to open the door of our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit in. Let's permit Him to do His transformative work in us, so that we can live a life that is pleasing to God and brings glory to His name.
Conclusion
As we close our time together today, let's remember that God's love is a light that never goes out, a beacon in our darkest hours. It's a love that reaches deeper than our deepest despair, a love that never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on us. We've been reminded today of the importance of being prepared, of proclaiming His message, and of permitting the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.
We're not just called to keep our lamps filled, but to shine His light in the world. We're not just called to hear His Word, but to share it. We're not just called to receive His Spirit, but to let it transform us. So, let's go out into the world, not as strangers passing by, but as brothers and sisters, united in Christ's love, ready to add our unique character to His divine masterpiece.
Let's bow our heads for a closing prayer.
Dear Lord, as we leave this place, let Your Word remain in us. Let it be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Help us to be prepared for Your return, to proclaim Your message and to permit the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. May we always remember that Your love is deeper than any pit we may find ourselves in.
And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forevermore. Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord with gladness, and let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. God bless you all.
