Matthew
The Kingdom at that Time, Be Wise
Ten virgins, all good girls waiting for the Groom
All were the same except for one thing
The wise had jars of oil to refill their lamps and the foolish did not
We are left to imagine what the oil is and how to obtain it
But we are told the point of the story
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today
Just because the Groom has taken a long time
Does not mean you have tomorrow to get ready
The Kingdom of God is for those who are watching and ready
Is your Lord asking you to do something today?
Don’t be a last-minute shopper for the anointing that gives you light
Stock up on what is important
The Kingdom at that Time, Be Wise
Jesus in Matthew 24 had just described
what it will look like in the end days.
Like the days of Noah…
Life looks normal eating
and drinking and starting new families.
Matthew 24:36-41
Watch your house – protect it
Matthew 24:42-44
You’re in charge – Serve with integrity
Matthew 24:45-51
Now in Matthew 25 Jesus says…
“At that time”
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1
"Again, (or At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like) it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. Matthew 25:14
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
Matthew 25:31
Jesus gives three descriptions
of the Kingdom of Heaven…
“At that time”
"At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be
like ten virgins who took their lamps
and went out to meet the Bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1
I think the most beautiful image God gives us
of the Kingdom is the Bride and the Groom.
Why?
The story of a Bride and Bridegroom is a story of love.
Song of Soloman
It is a story of commitment and lasting covenant.
It is a story of preparation to do life together.
Jesus tells the story of ten virgins.
All ten virgins had never been given to another man.
All ten virgins were looking for One Man.
All ten were waiting for the Bridegroom.
They all wanted to be married to Him.
They all loved Him.
Jesus says five were foolish
and five were wise.
All ten had lamps…
But only five took jars of oil for the lamps.
We should note…
The Bridegroom was a long time in coming.
Matthew 25:5
All ten became drowsy and fell asleep.
It was the middle of the night…
The time of darkness between two days.
There is a midnight cry…
'Here's the Bridegroom!
Come out to meet Him!'
All ten virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
All wicks after a long time in use
get a crusty top and need to be trimmed
to get a good flame and brighter light.
Oil in a lamp over time burns
and needs to be refilled.
The five wise virgins carried only
enough extra oil for themselves.
The five foolish virgins could not borrow oil…
But had to go out to buy more.
Sadly, the five foolish virgins did not
have enough time to buy more oil
and make it back to the Bridegroom.
They spent a long time waiting
before the door of opportunity was closed.
Timing is everything.
The five wise virgins had obtained
their jars of extra oil before the night fell.
The five foolish virgins did not
make preparations like the five wise.
The five foolish were virgins…
Looking and waiting for the Groom.
But they did not worry about the oil
beyond what their lamps could hold.
The foolish did not have jars of oil
like the five wise.
Because the five foolish did not
have jars of oil…
Their lamps went out
and when they got oil…
They knocked on the door
of the Groom and were told…
'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
We are left to imagine what
the oil is and how to obtain it.
But we are told the point of the story…
“Therefore keep watch,
because you do not know the day or the hour.
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Just because the Groom has taken a long time…
Does not mean you have tomorrow to get ready.
The Kingdom of God is for
those who are watching and ready.
Is your Lord asking you to do something today?
Don’t be a last-minute shopper
for the anointing that gives you light.
Stock up on what is important.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 "At midnight the cry rang out:
7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
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