Matthew 25:1-13

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. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Hereʼs the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“ ‘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.’
“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.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I donʼt know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

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Jesus continues His teachings to the disciples about the end. Matthew 25 is a series of parables all illustrating what the end is like and how the church should respond. The first parable is about ten virgins. Five are prepared. Five are not. They are waiting to join a wedding feast, but the groom is taking a very long time to arrive. They must wait with their oil lamps burning. The unprepared nearly ran out of oil and had to go buy more. While they were gone searching for more oil, the doors to the wedding feast were closed and they were not allowed admission. The groom refused them, saying he did not know them. Of course the message is be prepared by being watchful and faithful.

Matthew 25:5 says,
"The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they became drowsy and fell asleep."

Isn't that the sad possibility for the church? We can fall asleep at the wheel and fail in our sacred mission to transform the world with the love of Christ. Apparently Matthew's community was having trouble with the second coming of Christ predictions. Jesus promised to return and take the faithful to paradise, but 2000 years later we're still waiting. It's enough to make anyone question the validity of the promise. The problem is implied in the previous chapter in the parable of the wise and foolish servants.

But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’
Matthew 24:48 NIV

Peter also addresses the church's concern over the long wait for Christ's return. Many had died and yet Christ had still not come.

They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter 3:4 NIV

If the return of Christ is called into question, perhaps all claim of ultimate justice is a religious sham. If then there is no God to judge us, and there's no divine plan or purpose, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. As people drift from hope their morality often slips, as well as their commitment. In the parable of the Ten Virgins the reaction to the long wait is to fall asleep. In the parable of the wise and foolish servants the reaction is wickedness, to abuse others and get drunk.

How might we be sleeping instead of watching for the bridegroom to return? When Christ returns will we be ready? Will we be prepared to join in the festal throng? Or will we be looking for something else?

The parable of the Ten Virgins simply urges us to keep watch. Keeping watch means to live holy and godly lives, doing the things that contribute to the reign of God's love. Witness to Christ. Welcome strangers in fellowship. Teach the Way of Christ. Live no longer for yourself or the desires of the flesh. Live for God and obey the direction of the Spirit.

Oh Husband to the church, we wait upon You with patient hope and ask for grace to keep the lamp lights within our hearts burning only for You. Amen.