Watch

During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke many parables. A parable is an earthly story communicating a heavenly truth. We’re going to examine a parable today from Matthew 25. May God speak to us with it.

Matthew 25:1-13

My title for this message is simply, “Watch.” That is the command given by Christ, and it is imperative for us still today.

Prayer

I. Historical Explanation

It is strange for us to imagine a wedding like this. Ten virgins, ten lamps, one bridegroom, a midnight arrival, and no bride mentioned? What’s going on here?

A. Wedding details

When it came time for a groom in Bible times to marry his bride, he would come to her house to get her, and there would be a large procession of family and friends to the groom’s house for the wedding and the celebration. The arrival time of the groom was not exactly known. And so the bride waited.

The bride often had friends who waited with her. These ten virgins are those friends. When the groom was seen to be on his way to get his bride, the virgins were to take their lamps out onto the road to meet him and light his way to the bride’s house. Once the groom had his bride, everyone would make their way in celebration to the groom’s house for the wedding. Once everyone in the procession entered the groom’s house for the wedding, the doors were shut to prevent distractions and uninvited guests. That is the event that the Lord is describing.

B. The bride’s “absence”

It’s interesting to note that the bride’s existence is assumed—that’s why there’s a wedding!—but she is not mentioned even once. The only two kinds of people mentioned are the bridegroom and the virgins! As the parable unfolds, we see that the most important person in the parable is the bridegroom. Keep this focus in mind as we examine this parable.

II. “Watch”

What’s the meaning and purpose of this parable? Jesus Christ tells us in verse 13.

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

One day, the Lord Jesus Christ is going to return to earth for His own!

1 Thess. 4:16-18

When He returns, He will only take those who are ready. What does it mean to be ready?

1 Cor. 15:51-57

Only those who have been given the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ will be taken when Christ returns! Only the saved will be ready for that moment. The lost will be unprepared and will be left behind. In fact, Christ was speaking of that very fact in the verses leading up to Matthew 25.

Matthew 24:35–42 KJV 1900

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Are you ready to meet Christ? Are you ready for Him to return? No matter your answer to that question, you and I are represented in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25.

III. Participants

A. Virgins

Matthew 25:1–4 KJV 1900

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

They were all equals — ten virgins (vs. 1)

They were not all the same — five wise, five foolish (vs. 2)

Their differences produced a different result (vs. 3-4)

These ten virgins had identical opportunity: they all had lamps, and they were all expected to welcome the bridegroom at his approach. But identical opportunity did not translate to identical choices.

B. The bridegroom

The bridegroom is the most important figure in the parable and in the marriage. He chooses the time, he takes his bride, and the virgins are to welcome and honor him. So it is with Christ! He is the Saviour, He has won the victory, and He will come to claim His saints!

IV. Choices — vs. 3-4

All ten virgins carried lamps that were lit, and that had oil in them. But only the wise virgins bothered to bring vessels with additional oil. What might have been some reasons why the foolish virgins didn’t bring extra oil?

“I didn’t think of it”

Ignorance or thoughtlessness didn’t avoid the choice’s consequences!

“Too much work”

Such a high price for laziness!

“I can get more later”

Procrastination or sincere belief? Our lack of power over circumstances puts these reasons on equal ground.

“I won’t need it”

Sincere or careless? Regardless, they end up the same.

Many folks may get caught up in their knowledge and reasoning about spiritual things, but God is concerned with our choices. No matter their reasons, it was the choices of these five foolish virgins that set them apart from the wise ones. They may have been articulate and logical in their reasons for taking no oil. But their choice revealed them to be fools.

V. Circumstances — vs. 5-6

These virgins all had good intentions, but they didn’t have control over circumstances. The bridegroom tarried: he delayed or waited, for reasons known to him. It became late, and the virgins were weary. It is likely they imagined things happening a little differently, otherwise they would have been awake and expectant when the cry went out!

God doesn’t operate on your timetable; He operates on His. You cannot control circumstances

When things don’t go as we expect, we don’t have the results we expect

VI. Dismay — vs. 7-9

I imagine these five foolish virgins beginning to panic when they realized that their oil was gone. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go! They were supposed to have plenty of oil! What were they to do?

They all arose and trimmed their lamps, but a trimmed lamp still cannot burn without oil. They tried to borrow oil from the wise/prepared virgins, but no one else can make you prepared to meet the Son of God. These virgins were undoubtedly dismayed, and frantically ran out to buy more oil.

When Christ got to this part of the parable, I imagine his listeners being amazed at the foolishness of these five virgins. Unlike us, the people in Christ’s day were familiar with how these weddings worked, and how they could go. It was obvious to them that extra oil was needed, and it was great folly to neglect to bring it. I imagine Jesus’ listeners thinking, “How could they be so foolish?”

VII. Rejection — vs. 10-12

As these foolish virgins attempted to make up for their past foolish choices, their time ran out. The bridegroom didn’t adjust his schedule to accommodate the foolish virgins. When the procession reached his house, the door was shut. When the virgins attempted to convince him to open it, he refused, because he knew them not. And this was true, for the foolish virgins were NEVER part of the wedding procession or the celebration! They excluded themselves by their foolish choices. The bridegroom merely reminded them of that fact.

VIII. Application

This is an unusual illustration for our Western civilization minds, but I hope we can understand the tragedy of this account. What led to this outcome for the foolish virgins? Did they fail to respect the bridegroom? Did they fail to respect the wedding? Were they confident, believing that they would have plenty of time to get more oil? Were they arrogant, assuming that the bridegroom would let them in without oil?

We aren’t told these answers, but we may make application to sinners today. The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, has told us how we may get to Heaven.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God has given mankind the Holy Scriptures, in order that we may have eternal life!

2 Timothy 3:15–17 KJV 1900

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV 1900

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The Jewish listeners probably marveled at the foolishness of the five virgins, who failed to provide for so important an occasion. To a much greater degree, those in Heaven must marvel at how foolish sinners are to fail to prepare for eternity!

Friend, only foolish people choose to be unprepared for Christ’s return! God has revealed in His Word “all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” as 2 Peter 1:3 tells us. The Word of God is being preached to you right now, and the Spirit of God is at work to bring sinners to Himself! Are you prepared to meet God? Are you ready for Jesus Christ to return?

You don’t have the ability to control your circumstances. You don’t have the power to plan to be ready at a later time. We don’t know when Christ will return, and we don’t know when death will come for us. It could be tomorrow when your life on earth ends. Or Christ could come back tonight. Are you ready?

It’s only in the parable that oil and lamps mattered. What matters for you and me? What matters is whether or not the Lord Jesus Christ knows us as His own.

John 10:27–30 KJV 1900

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

Does Christ, the Good Shepherd, know you? Sadly, there will be many one day whom He will reject.

Matthew 7:16–23 KJV 1900

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What do your choices—your fruits—reveal about you? Are you wise, or are you foolish? Does Christ know you as His child? Have you been saved by repenting of your sins and putting your faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you haven’t, you are still unprepared to meet the Lord. Watch! Seek the Lord! You don’t know when He is coming back.