The Wedding Invitation

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.