M a t t h e w  25  v1-13

This parable is to Western eyes strange, it may be thought it was made up, but in fact it was a natural story which could happen in a Palestinian village

 A village wedding was a great and special occasion, for the whole village would be involved. They would turn out to accompany the couple to their new home, by taking the longest possible way that everyone in the village would be able to see them and receive the good wishes of as many as possible.

In this wedding, ten maidens would be gaily clad, playing musical instruments and   they would dance to keep the bride company until the arrival of the bridegroom. 

 The time of the wedding was not always known, it could be days ahead, and could be at any time.  The bride would wait for the groom to come from his house, may be in the middle of the night. He was supposed to have a man walk along the street and shout,  ‘behold, the bridegroom, is coming’ and the bridal party would go out to meet him. People who go out into the streets had to carry a lighted lamp, and when the bridegroom comes all go into the house and the door is shut.

 The ten bridesmaids took their lamps out, but five of them were foolish for they did not have any oil; the other five did and took enough oil to keep the lamps burning. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  At midnight they were aroused by the shout that the groom had come. and they were invited to come out to meet him.

 All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.  Then the foolish ones asked the others if they could give them some oil because the lamps were going out. But the others replied that they didn’t have enough to give for all of them, and advised them to go out and buy some. While they were away to buy oil, he bridegroom came.  Those who were with him went into the marriage feast, the door was locked.  Later, when the other bridesmaids returned, they stood outside calling, open the door for us.  The answer was believe me I don’t know you.

 The parable was told by Jesus when speaking on the Mount of Olives.  From first to last, there is a continual reference to the second coming of Jesus, and the end of the world.  The Lord uses His own coming, as a subject for watchfulness. The lessons are solemn and awakening.

 When Jesus comes, He will find the Church a mixed body, with evil and goodness. The professing is compared to the ten bridesmaids, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. All of them had lamps, but only five were .admitted. All of them were said to have one object in view, but only five were wise and the others foolish. 

 The Church of Christ is in the same condition, all have been baptized in the name of Christ, but all  do not hear His voice and follow Him. All are called Christians, and profess to be in the Christian religion, but not all have the grace of the Spirit in their hearts, and not really are what they profess to be.  This is obvious to us that this is so.  The Lord Jesus tells us that it will be so when He comes again. Despite our preaching and praying, there will be found  some dead in sins.  The unbelief of human wickedness is a subject about which  there is much to learn.

 We see secondly, the coming of Christ, whenever that may be, will take people by surprise. There is a truth set before us in the parable of a striking manner.  At midnight when the bridesmaids were sleeping there was a cry.  The bridegroom has come, go and meet him. it will be so when Jesus comes to the world.  he will find the majority of mankind unbelieving unprepared.  He will find a bulk of his

Believing people,  in a poor state of mind.  Business will be in full swing in town and country just as it is now. Politics and other activities taking place, and plenty of self- pleasuring to fill people’s attention. Rich people will be satisfied, the poor complaining  Churches will have division as now, with false teaching replacing true doctrines. The startled world will stand before the King with things fully wrong.

When he Lord comes again, many will find the value of finding  saving religion too late.

 The parable tells  us when the bridegroom came, the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise, give us some of your oil for our lamps have gone out. We are told further, that as the wise had none to spare, the foolish  went out to buy oil.  When they came back the door was shut, and they asked for admission, but in vain. They asked again, without success. Take heed, that you do not find your eternal place in vain.

 We may settle in our minds, that there will be an entire change of opinion one day as to the need for Christianity.  At present, we must be well aware the majority of  professing Christians care nothing at all about it.  They have no sense of sin. They have no proper love of Christ. They do not understand the meaning of the phrase ‘born again’.   Repentance, faith, grace holiness, are just words to them. But all things come to an end one day.  Knowledge, conviction. The value of a soul, the need of a Savior, shall burst on our minds like a flame of  lightning. But alas too late

It will be too late to go buying oil when the Lord returns. Mistakes will not be retrievable.

We get mocked because of our beliefs, and deemed foolish for our Christianity. Listen patiently and pray for their persecutor. They do not know what they are doing.

Lastly, this parable tells, when Christ returns, true Christians shall receive  rich rewards, for all the suffering for their Lord’s sake.  We are told when the bridegroom came, they that were ready went with him to the marriage ceremony and the door was shut. True Christians shall be found ready at the second Advent

 Washed in the blood of atonement, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, renewed by the Spirit, they  shall be with their Lord, and sat at the table of the Lamb to go out no more.  They will be with Him who loved them, and gave His life for them, and carries them through their earthly  pilgrimage;  those who faithfully followed here on earth.  The door will be shut at last, shut on pain and sorrow.  

 Let us thank the Lord for all His care for us.

 May God’s Holy Name be Glorified.