Wise and foolish virgins - Matthew 25:1-13
Summary
TLDRIn this script, a speaker recounts a personal anecdote about catching an embarrassed couple due to predictable timing, paralleling it to Jesus' teachings on the unpredictability of His return. The sermon focuses on the Parable of the Ten Virgins, emphasizing the importance of being prepared and vigilant in faith and obedience, as the delay of Jesus' return tests believers' readiness. The message warns against complacency and encourages perseverance in good deeds, highlighting the need for continuous spiritual preparedness.
Takeaways
- 🙏 The speaker starts with a prayer for openness to God's voice and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
- 🕒 The story of working as a security guard introduces the concept of predictability and the importance of being at the right place at the right time.
- 😳 An anecdote about finding a couple in an inappropriate situation highlights the theme of being caught unprepared and the consequences of neglecting one's duties.
- 📖 Jesus' teachings in Matthew 24 and 25 are discussed, emphasizing the unpredictability of his return and the need for vigilance and action.
- 🕯 The parable of the ten virgins illustrates the importance of being prepared for the unexpected return of the bridegroom, symbolizing Jesus' return.
- 🔦 The wise virgins had enough oil for their lamps, representing readiness and preparedness in spiritual terms.
- 😴 Both the wise and foolish virgins fell asleep, indicating that the delay of the bridegroom was long, and even the prepared can become complacent.
- ⏰ The bridegroom's arrival at an unexpected hour underscores the lesson that one must always be ready, as the time of his return is unknown.
- 🛒 The foolish virgins' request for oil from the wise and their subsequent attempt to buy more signifies the realization of unpreparedness too late.
- 🚫 The door to the wedding feast being closed to the unprepared virgins symbolizes exclusion from the kingdom of God due to lack of readiness.
- 📣 The final call to 'keep watch' emphasizes the need for continuous faithfulness and wisdom, as the day and hour of Jesus' return are uncertain.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the parable of the ten virgins?
-The main theme of the parable of the ten virgins is the importance of being prepared for the unexpected return of Jesus, emphasizing the need for vigilance and readiness in the face of His coming.
What is the significance of the lamps and oil in the parable?
-The lamps and oil symbolize the readiness and preparation of the individuals waiting for the bridegroom. The wise virgins have enough oil to keep their lamps lit, representing their preparedness for Jesus' return, while the foolish ones run out, showing their lack of preparation.
Why did the foolish virgins go to buy more oil when their lamps were going out?
-The foolish virgins went to buy more oil because they were not prepared with enough oil to keep their lamps lit for the entire duration of the wait, which signifies their lack of preparedness for the bridegroom's return.
What does the bridegroom's late arrival signify in the parable?
-The bridegroom's late arrival signifies the unpredictability of Jesus' return, teaching that it will occur at an unexpected hour, and thus, followers should always be prepared.
What is the consequence faced by the foolish virgins for not being prepared?
-The consequence faced by the foolish virgins is exclusion from the wedding feast when the bridegroom arrives. They are unable to enter because they were not prepared when the time came.
How does the parable relate to the concept of 'watchfulness' taught by Jesus?
-The parable illustrates the concept of watchfulness by showing that even though all the virgins were waiting, only those who were prepared (wise) were able to participate in the wedding feast when the bridegroom arrived, emphasizing the need to stay alert and ready for Jesus' return.
What does the response 'I do not know you' from the bridegroom imply?
-The response 'I do not know you' implies a rejection based on the lack of genuine preparation and relationship. Despite the foolish virgins' plea, their lack of readiness and understanding of the importance of preparation leads to their exclusion.
How does the parable connect to the broader teachings of Jesus about His return?
-The parable connects to Jesus' broader teachings about His return by emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and faithfulness. It reiterates the message that His return will be sudden and at an unexpected time, and followers must be prepared at all times.
What is the role of the wise virgins in the parable, and what does it symbolize?
-The role of the wise virgins is to be prepared with enough oil for their lamps, symbolizing their readiness and faithfulness in waiting for the bridegroom. It represents the believers who are vigilant and prepared for Jesus' return.
How does the parable of the ten virgins relate to the concept of obedience in the Christian faith?
-The parable relates to the concept of obedience by illustrating that those who are obedient to God's call to be prepared for His return (the wise virgins) are the ones who will be welcomed into the kingdom. Obedience here is tied to the wisdom of being prepared.
What is the lesson for believers regarding the delay of Jesus' return as depicted in the parable?
-The lesson for believers is to not be discouraged or grow weary by the delay of Jesus' return. Instead, they should continue to be vigilant, obedient, and prepared, as the timing of His return is unknown and can come at any moment.
Outlines
🙏 Reflecting on Vigilance and the Parable of the Virgins
The speaker begins with a prayer for open hearts and a plea for the kingdom of God to manifest on earth. They recount their experience as a security guard, highlighting the predictability of their rounds and the unexpected encounter with a couple, using this to draw a parallel to Jesus' teachings on being prepared for his return. The sermon transitions into a discussion of Jesus' words on the signs of his coming, emphasizing the unpredictability and the need for vigilance. The parable of the ten virgins is introduced as a lesson on the importance of readiness and faithfulness during the delay of Jesus' return.
🕯 The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
This section delves into the specifics of the parable of the ten virgins, contrasting the preparedness of the wise with the folly of the unprepared. The lamps symbolize belonging and readiness, with the oil representing the necessary resources for participation in the kingdom's celebration. The delay of the groom and the subsequent falling asleep of the virgins illustrate the long and unpredictable wait for Jesus' return. The sudden arrival of the groom at an unexpected hour underscores the lesson that preparation must be continuous and cannot be deferred until the last moment.
⏰ The Consequences of Unpreparedness
The narrative continues with the foolish virgins' realization of their lack of oil and their plea to the wise for assistance, which is denied to preserve the wise ones' own readiness. The refusal to share oil is explained not as a lack of compassion, but as a necessity to maintain the function of the procession. The foolish virgins' attempt to purchase oil during the groom's arrival highlights the futility of last-minute preparations. The story concludes with the exclusion of the unprepared, emphasizing the irreversible nature of missed opportunities for readiness.
🚫 The Finality of Exclusion and the Call to Watchfulness
The summary of the parable's conclusion is presented, with the foolish virgins being denied entry to the wedding feast due to their lack of preparation. The groom's statement 'I do not know you' signifies a profound rejection, not based on recognition but on the lack of genuine preparedness and relationship. The summary connects this to the broader theme of Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God, where being prepared is not just about actions but about a true and living faith that endures until his return.
🌟 The Imperative of Endurance and Faithfulness
The final paragraph focuses on the application of the parable's lessons to the lives of believers. It emphasizes the importance of enduring in faith and good deeds, despite the challenges and the temptation to grow weary. The speaker encourages the congregation to remain vigilant and prepared, drawing on the broader biblical teachings that call for a life of faithfulness in anticipation of Jesus' return. The summary ends with a call to action, urging the listeners not to give up in their spiritual journey, but to continue in their efforts to live righteously.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡parable
💡preparedness
💡vigilance
💡delay
💡faithfulness
💡obeisance
💡wedding feast
💡exclusion
💡oil
💡watchfulness
Highlights
Prayer for open hearts and kingdom realization
Experience as a security guard and the importance of being at the right place at the right time
The story of an embarrassed couple caught due to predictable timing
Jesus' message on being prepared for his return and not getting caught out
The disciples' questions about the signs of Jesus' coming and the end of the age
Description of the deceptive, dangerous, and sudden nature of the end times
The impossibility of knowing the exact time of Jesus' return
The demand for vigilance and action from those awaiting Jesus' return
The parable of the ten virgins and the importance of being prepared
The long delay of Jesus' return and its impact on followers' faithfulness
The significance of lamps and oil in the parable as symbols of preparedness
The difference between the wise and foolish virgins in terms of preparation
The consequences of being unprepared when the bridegroom arrives
The importance of having enough 'oil' or preparation for the long delay
The message that it will be too late for those unprepared when Jesus returns
The rejection of those who are unprepared despite their pleas
The final call to keep watch and not to know the day or hour of Jesus' return
Encouragement to persevere in faith and obedience despite potential weariness
The reminder that the delay will end and preparation time will be over
The warning against presuming on God's kindness and patience
The call to not grow weary in doing good, as the time to reap will come
Transcripts
thanks archie good morning
let's uh pray
lord grant to us today to hear your
voice and not harden our hearts
we pray your kingdom come your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven
in jesus name
amen
well i was at seminary i worked as a
security guard from four o'clock until
midnight uh i arrived shortly before
most people were leaving and then took
an old
it's called a detex clock and i did my
rounds now every two hours i walked a
predetermined route and there were keys
left in particular places in the
building and you took the key and you
put it in the clock and it left an
imprint on the piece of paper that
advanced as the clock ticked and this
meant that my employer could verify that
i was
where i was meant to be when i was meant
to be there
i was assigned this task every two hours
during the
the work shift and this means that
i was arriving at each location at a
predictable time so imagine my surprise
on one day at about 605
i entered a room to find an incredibly
embarrassed couple
hastily adjusting their clothing and
walking out without saying a word
and every time i remember that incident
i think they knew i was coming
in fact if they were at all observant
they would know more or less when i was
coming
how could they get caught out like that
how could they be found doing something
so inappropriate
now amongst other things jesus is saying
something similar not exactly but
something similar in answer to those
who ask when he will return and what it
will look like when he returns
he is saying don't get caught out
and don't neglect the things you should
be doing
there's some background questions that
are still at work from chapter 24. the
disciples have asked well when will this
happen and what will the signs of the
coming be
of your coming be and of the end of the
age
chapter 24 verses 5 to 35 then talk
about when it will happen it will be
deceptive dangerous distressing
dramatically sudden and discriminating
but you can't know when
chapter 24 verses 36 to 44 talk about
the signs
it will be disrupt disruptive and it
demands vigilance on your part but you
can't read the signs to discover when it
will
happen well so much for your questions
he tells the disciples and then he
starts to impose his own concerns as he
teaches them he already said that it
demands vigilance in 42-44 then in 45-51
he demands action of those who are
waiting for his return
in the story after the 10 virgins jesus
is going to speak of talents probably a
better known parable to most of us
and he talks about a master who goes
away on a long journey and settles
accounts when he returns after a long
time
so with that background let's turn to
these verses in chapter 25 verses 1-13
where jesus reiterates much of what he
has said in the previous discussion and
what he'll say in the rest of chapter 25
and it's really a story of five foolish
waiters and five wise waiters
we can't call them waiters because we
use that word for something else but we
should stress that jesus speaks of this
long delay
and the activity of his followers while
they wait
and we've just been told that we need to
be watchful verse 42 of the previous
chapter says therefore keep watch
faithfulness and wisdom is reflected in
watchful deeds of obedience
and we've been told that a key feature
relates to a long time and one of the
things jesus wants us to understand as
he says these things is that the delay
is so long
that it becomes ridiculous to try to
predict his return
and he again relates this to the
disciples question of when
that gives shape to the whole discussion
so i want to make three observations
directly from the parable the first is
that jesus will arrive in an unexpected
hour
25 1 says at that time jesus looks ahead
to when he will return from his long
time away to fully establish his kingdom
many will have misread or ignored the
signs of the end others will have failed
to watch
growing weary or losing faith
because of the long delay
his return is compared to a wedding the
bible doesn't speak in terms of being in
heaven or harps and choirs instead it
speaks of jesus returning here to
establish his kingdom
and jesus regularly uses this image of a
wedding feast of rejoicing of reveling
in the presence of the lord
now in the jewish wedding the groom goes
to the bride's home
and the formalities are performed there
and then
there is an after-dark procession that
conveys the bride to her new home with
the groom
that's where the week-long reception the
week-long wedding celebration takes
place so the friends of the bride would
be waiting outside the groom's house
with a view to going out to him and
ushering him and the bride into his
house
and since it's well past dark each
member of the procession would be
expected to carry a torch or a lamp
to be without one suggests that well
maybe you're a gate crasher
or worse maybe you're a robber trying to
get in in the confusion of the wedding
so that you can steal things that don't
belong to you
so the lamps aren't meant to be
interpreted allegorically
they simply indicate who belongs and who
doesn't
but belongings a big deal in jesus
parables of the jesus parables of the
kingdom the gospel is less a story of
universal celebration than of sins
forgiven of a relationship with the lord
through faith and a life of obedience
that receives its reward in eternity and
sometimes we might find it hard to hold
together obedience with our message of
salvation through faith alone
yet both sides are present throughout
the scriptures
i think they're both being taught here
verse 5
the groom has been delayed
we don't know why perhaps he's preparing
the home he's going to share with the
bride we simply don't know what we can
know is that the 10 young girls all
become drowsy which again is showing us
that the delay is long now this isn't
the occasional yawn or the bobbing head
that you sometimes notice when you're
preaching a sermon that they all fall
asleep
and we might be tempted to think that
following
falling asleep
is a problem in the next chapter of
matthew jesus asked three of his
disciples to accompany him to pray with
him in the garden
of gethsemane and he's disappointed when
he comes back and he finds them sleeping
and he says couldn't you keep watch with
me for one hour but this story isn't
about praying
and it certainly isn't about one hour
it together with other parables teach
that the delay
is long
so long that many find themselves
wavering
and in some cases doing foolish things
and it's clear enough that both the wise
and the foolish virgins are sleeping
in fact because it's so late i suspect
the virgins assumed that the the groom's
not coming today
wedding itself isn't going to be
happening until the next day so we don't
need to worry about a dwindling supplies
of oil
because surely he isn't going to arrive
this late
nothing to worry
about but here he is at midnight the cry
rang out
to add to the sense of delay we're told
the cry rings out at midnight
now bearing in mind that neither the
groom nor matthew is wearing a watch
we should probably understand midnight
not as 12 o'clock but as the middle of
the night
if you knock on my door at say 3 a.m
i'm going to say
what do you want it's the middle of the
night
now more realistically i'm going to say
to amy i can't believe it it's the
middle of the night
when this groom shows up it's a late
night appearance
it's not just an unexpected hour we
could add that it's an awkward hour
so the second thing that jesus teaches
us
is that it will be too late for those
who aren't prepared verses 7 to 12. then
all the virgins woke up and trimmed
their lamps the foolish one said to the
wise give us some of your oil our lamps
are going out
they trim their wicks
because otherwise they aren't getting in
that is all 10 wake up because all were
sleeping and this is what they've come
for
and they trim their wicks now i looked
up what it means to trim your wicks
apparently trimming a candle wick lets
the flame burn more clearly more
brightly
but jesus doesn't speak of wicks and
candles here a more direct translation
might be that they prepared their lamps
um
the niv here kind of has it both ways
they trimmed their lamps
these are oil burning
lamps or torches
and so they require
well oil
the five wise maidens were prepared in
advance
which in our lives means right now and
each day going forward until he returns
and they're prepared because they want
to celebrate the future feast with the
groom but the hard lesson and the point
of the parable is that some despite what
they wanted
and despite appearances were not
adequately prepared
now all ten had oil
but the wise ones had enough and the
foolish ones didn't
their first task was to light the way
for a wedding procession to not have oil
means you can't do the very thing you're
there to
do verse eight
the foolish one said to the wise give us
some of your oil our lamps are going out
no they replied from verse eight onward
we hear the foolish ones talking and the
response they receive they speak twice
both times they are told no
in verse 8 they ask the wise ones and
they're why is because they're prepared
for some oil in verse 9 the wise ones
say no they refuse to share and that
might strike us as uncaring and a bit
harsh doesn't the gospel call us to
share what we have
but the fact is the only task and tested
to these 10 that we know of lighting the
way as part of the procession
cannot be performed if they don't have
the necessary oil so the wise ones say
no lest none of them are able to light
the way
in verse 9
they tell
the foolish ones
go and buy some for yourselves
now i think there are some things to
bear in mind here first the focus isn't
really on oil
but on those who don't have it
many images would work if you're driving
in the desert you ought to have at least
a supply of water and some petrol
and there's no need to discuss what the
petrol represents in that story in this
story the five foolish virgins had oil
just not enough
that means we can't treat oil as an
allegorical stand-in for salvation or
the holy spirit or even good works it
simply points to being prepared during
the delay
second thing to notice uh look at
chapter 25 verse 10 while they were on
their way to buy oil the bridegroom
arrived
while they were out shopping the groom
shows up he's been announced now he is
present and where are the five foolish
virgins
well you might think the answer is that
they're at woolies or maybe it's
bunnings buying oil
but of course not
do you think the towns and villages of
first century palestine had late night
shopping
when we lived in england it was hard to
find anything that was open past
business hours and it hasn't changed
much so i googled uh what time do shops
in sheffield close and apart from
restaurants the latest dancer i could
find was 5 30 p.m
except on sundays when they close at 4.
even a bustling metropolis like
jerusalem with that say twenty thousand
or thirty thousand people didn't have
oil shops that were open at midnight or
three o'clock in the morning so these
five foolish maidens had to leave the
site of the wedding to purchase
something that wouldn't be available
until at the earliest the next morning
they could now contribute nothing to the
wedding
so as the story reaches its conclusion
the groom has arrived the five wise
virgins are admitted and the door is
closed in verse 10.
it happens while they are on the way the
five foolish virgins are not getting in
and this might strike you as a strange
security system
surely people didn't live in fear of
five young girls
but virtually every time jesus speaks of
the wedding feast he speaks of the door
being closed
and people being excluded
people who want to get in in some cases
desperately will not be allowed in
because the door has been locked the
point isn't that these girls are to be
feared but that they are too late
when it was time to spring into action
these girls weren't prepared
so that when it was time to enter the
wedding feast these girls spring into
action
the result was that they miss everything
verse 11 eventually they arrive
presumably the next morning after
they've completed their shopping spree
but the door is shut
lord lord they said
open the door for us
but the reply
truly i tell you i don't know you
do you think jesus loves everybody
do you think he loves everybody the same
way
be hard to know what that means
if he tells some
i don't know you
if it's now daylight the problem isn't
that the groom can't see the girls well
enough
maybe they're friends of the bride
maybe the groom himself has invited them
to the wedding
maybe he isn't getting it from the
banqueting table
in any case jesus says almost exactly
the same thing in matthew 7 23 to people
who perform miracles in his name
but don't quote do the will of the
father who is in heaven he says i don't
know you
like the wise girls who wouldn't share
their oil so the groom won't admit the
foolish girls
these are girls he presumably invited to
the wedding but he says he doesn't know
them these are girls who are anything
but lazy as they go to buy some oil and
then return to the wedding these are
girls who invested to the point that
they bought oil at least twice now
and possibly purchase the lamps that
they're burning it in and these are
girls who call out sir sir
with the same words translated almost
everywhere else as lord lord including
in matthew 7 verse 21 where jesus says
not everyone who says to me lord lord
will enter the kingdom of heaven
these are girls who seem to have it all
but they cannot enter the feast
so what distinguishes the wise from the
foolish
even before we answer in terms of oil we
need to
answer in terms of the bridegroom's
delay
the delay of the groom distinguishes the
wise from the foolish and causes some to
fall into strife
and it's not an unfeeling rejection of
those who build their lives around the
hope of entering the kingdom
it's a rejection of those who look like
they are ready
but in fact haven't really made
preparations for jesus return
they look just like us
therefore
verse 13
therefore keep watch
because you do not know the out the day
or the hour
in chapter 24 verse 36 jesus had said no
one knows that day or hour not even the
angels in heaven
nor the son but only the father then in
24 42 he says therefore keep watch
because you do not know on what day your
lord will come
after that he spoke for seven verses of
the faithful and wise servant
and then he gives
a discussion of five wise virgins all of
this is held together by the fact that
jesus followers need to be faithful and
wise in the time we wait for his return
that is we need to keep watch
so what's the point
well i think it's not this i've heard
verses like this been used to say don't
be caught doing something you shouldn't
when he returns will you be ashamed at
his appearance 1 john 2 28 and now dear
children continue in him so that when he
appears we may be confident and
unashamed before him at his coming
i think this is not despite the anecdote
i began with the main point of these
verses the language of shame at his
coming
isn't so much embarrassment when he
arrives
as the shame of being judged and found
wanting
so what is the point well i've got a few
things to offer first of all the delay
will eventually be over
and when it is the time of preparation
ends with it
it will be too late to rush around
getting ready jesus offers no hope that
he'll give in at that point don't
presume upon the kindness and patience
of god
now these girls
the foolish ones have an assurance that
they are not entitled to they seem to
think that if they get the oil and show
up at the door they'll be allowed in you
know jesus stands at the door and knocks
is he always letting
his time of standing knocking and
waiting will come to an end
and then the door will be closed
these girls may have enjoyed a prominent
position
for weeks or months in the lead-up to
the wedding but it's all worth nothing
when the wedding begins and they are
excluded
so will you grow weary of doing good
and staying alert
would you persevere in faith and
obedience both of which are tied to
wisdom through jesus teaching
and i think well
you know you probably will get tired of
the battle to resist sin
sins like sex and alcohol and pride and
greed
i think we all know that feeling when
we're not hungry and somebody offers us
something to eat and we partake and then
we can't stop eating
i wonder if sin works that way too
and i think we'll all get tired of being
different from the world around us
and this too often can result in an
avalanche of sin
maybe we'll get tired of knowing that
our brothers and sisters in christ and
other countries are dying for him and
yet he still delays
or maybe one day it won't be christians
overseas who are being arrested
or murdered or dying for christ
and maybe then you'll discover that you
haven't really counted the cost
so be prepared
jesus says therefore keep watch you
don't know the hour
but you do know the master is coming
what does you want you to do in the
interim
the surrounding parables give shape to
that but even more the entire bible
teaches us how to live in light of the
coming king
don't grow weary galatians 6 9 let us
not become weary
in doing good for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up
so what is god calling you to do
now you're growing weary as you do it
don't give up
don't give up
don't give up
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