The Preparation for the Kingdom

This parable illustrates what it means to be a wise servant at the time of Jesus’ return as Jesus had just mentioned.

Interpretation in historical, grammatical method. What did it mean to those who heard it?

Part of the Olivet Discourse. Last sermon to his disciples.

Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience about the 70th week of Israel, the coming of the promised Jewish King to set up the Millennial Jewish kingdom.

Matthew 24:45 NASB95

45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?

We see that the 5 wise virgins were prepared. To be wise is to be prepared. 5 were professing believers because the were unprepared and 5 were possessors of faith because the were prepared.

The Setting of the Kingdom (1-4)

Matthew 25:1–4 NASB95

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

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“Then” — at that time that is the time referred to in chapter 24

Lamps—torches with a long stick and a metal mesh at the end with cloth stuffed into it soaked with oil.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμος, ου

79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμοςe, ου m: to cause something to be beautiful by decorating—‘to beautify, to adorn, to decorate, adornment, adorning.’

κοσμέω: λίθοις καλοῖς καὶ ἀναθήμασιν κεκόσμηται ‘it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings’ Lk 21:5; οὕτως γάρ ποτε καὶ αἱ ἅγιαι γυναῖκες … ἐκόσμουν ἑαυτάς ‘for the devout women of the past … used to adorn themselves in this way’ 1 Pe 3:5.

κόσμοςe: ὁ ἔξωθεν ἐμπλοκῆς τριχῶν καὶ περιθέσεως χρυσίων ἢ ἐνδύσεως ἱματίων κόσμος ‘the outward adorning consisting of the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold jewelry, or dressing up’ 1 Pe 3:3

Believer’s Bible Commentary H. Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1–13)

The five wise virgins represent true disciples of Christ in the Tribulation. The lamps speak of profession, and oil is generally acknowledged to be a type of the Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins represent those who profess to hold the Messianic hope but who have never been converted and thus do not have the Holy Spirit. The bridegroom is Christ, the King; His delay symbolizes the period between His two Advents. The fact that all ten virgins slept shows that outwardly there was not much to differentiate them.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμος, ου

79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμοςe, ου m: to cause something to be beautiful by decorating—‘to beautify, to adorn, to decorate, adornment, adorning.’

κοσμέω: λίθοις καλοῖς καὶ ἀναθήμασιν κεκόσμηται ‘it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings’ Lk 21:5; οὕτως γάρ ποτε καὶ αἱ ἅγιαι γυναῖκες … ἐκόσμουν ἑαυτάς ‘for the devout women of the past … used to adorn themselves in this way’ 1 Pe 3:5.

κόσμοςe: ὁ ἔξωθεν ἐμπλοκῆς τριχῶν καὶ περιθέσεως χρυσίων ἢ ἐνδύσεως ἱματίων κόσμος ‘the outward adorning consisting of the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold jewelry, or dressing up’ 1 Pe 3:3

The Coming of the Kingdom (5-6)

Matthew 25:5–6 NASB95

5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

matthew 25:

The Crisis of the Kingdom (7-9)

Matthew 25:7–9 NASB95

7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

Trimmed:

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμος, ου

79.12 κοσμέω; κόσμοςe, ου m: to cause something to be beautiful by decorating—‘to beautify, to adorn, to decorate, adornment, adorning.’

κοσμέω: λίθοις καλοῖς καὶ ἀναθήμασιν κεκόσμηται ‘it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings’ Lk 21:5; οὕτως γάρ ποτε καὶ αἱ ἅγιαι γυναῖκες … ἐκόσμουν ἑαυτάς ‘for the devout women of the past … used to adorn themselves in this way’ 1 Pe 3:5.

κόσμοςe: ὁ ἔξωθεν ἐμπλοκῆς τριχῶν καὶ περιθέσεως χρυσίων ἢ ἐνδύσεως ἱματίων κόσμος ‘the outward adorning consisting of the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold jewelry, or dressing up’ 1 Pe 3:3

Why were they foolish?

Matthew 5:22 NASB95

22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Matthew 7:26 NASB95

26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

spiritually, what they need to enter the kingdom is free

Isaiah 55:1–2 NASB95

1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

The Closing of the Kingdom (10-12)

Matthew 25:10–12 NASB95

10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

There is a terminus, a cut off that no can extend or ignore

Matthew 7:21–23 NASB95

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The other virgins may have know who they were, but they had no relationship to the bridegroom.

The Caution of the Kingdom (13)

Matthew 25:13 NASB95

13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1–13 NASB95

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Principles for Us Today

1. It is hard to tell the difference between a professing believer and a possessing one

Matthew 13:24–26 NASB95

24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

Matthew 13:30 NASB95

30 ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

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2. We in the church need to be ready to meet Jesus in the air at the rapture.

3. Each believer is responsible for his/her own relationship to Jesus.