Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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)

attehw

“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.

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 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.

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:

The Crisis of the Kingdom (7-9)

Trimmed:

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?

spiritually, what they need to enter the kingdom is free

The Closing of the Kingdom (10-12)

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

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

The Caution of the Kingdom (13)

Principles for Us Today

1.

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

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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.