The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 25
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Parables
Western interpretation
Bridegroom = King Jesus
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
I. Background of Jewish Wedding.
II. The Ten Virgins
III. The Coming of the Groom
IV. Conclusion
I. Background of a Jewish Wedding
In those days when a man took a fancy to a young woman, he approached her father to ask for her hand in marriage. A brief negotiation followed where the price he was required to pay as compensation for the family’s loss of their daughter was determined. It was called the bride price. If acceptable, and if the daughter agreed to become the man’s wife, they were officially betrothed and he went away to build a home for them next to his father’s house. This could take some time, and the couple rarely met again until the father of the groom pronounced the newly built home fit for habitation. Only then was the date set, and the man given permission by his father to go collect his bride for the wedding.
During this time the young woman was to watch and wait. She and her bridesmaids were to maintain a constant state of preparedness, since the wedding date would not be known to her until the bridegroom actually appeared. For his part, the groom would usually try to show up unexpectedly to surprise her, carrying her off suddenly “like a thief in the night” when no one would see them. When the bridesmaids discovered the bride had been “snatched away” there would be a great torch-lit procession, announcing to the whole town that the wedding banquet was about to begin. This was typically a seven day celebration during which the bride and groom were hidden away in their private rooms while the whole town made merry. The father of the groom picked up the tab for the festivities.
II. The Ten Virgins (Bridesmaids)
bridesmaid = see to it that bride remains faithful
Number 10
Number 10 has significance in Jewish traditions.
Examples:
Requires 10 men to hold a synagogue
Requires 10 to be present at a marriage contract
Boaz had 10 witnesses at his marriage
Old Testament
There were 10 commandments
So there were ten virgins, 5 were wise and 5 were foolish.
The word for wise is prudent.
The word used for foolish is the word from which the English word moron.
So the 10 bridesmaids were waiting for the coming of the bridegroom but in verse 5
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
All were virgins
All had lamps
They became tired of waiting for the bridegroom.
All had oil in the beginning
There are Christians who so anticipate the coming of the Lord:
If you were part of the first century church, their greatest hope was the second coming of Jesus. They faced severe hardships..
All were waiting
Maranatha
Maranatha was a blessed cry.. Aramaic word which means “our Lord cometh”.
22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
1 Corinthians 16:
Maranatha actually became a greeting among the saints and it replaced the Jewish greeting of Shalom.
We do not have that kind of expectation or excitement anymore in the church.. today we greeted one another..
Did anyone greet someone with “The Lord comes soon”, or I “hope the Lord comes tomorrow!”
Passive greetings of how are you (present)?, past: how was your week?
No one asks “are you excited, Jesus is coming soon?”
Actually may be more than half of the church wants Jesus to delay. Why? Because there is still so much that the world wants to offer..
double the value of my business
help me realize my dreams
I have goals to meet, things on my bucket list to check off
I have a house to build (let me at least see it, or live a few years in it)
the Lord is not telling us to throw all these things away..
Priorities.. are we being wise and godly?
What happens with an ungodly set of priorities ?
By prioritizing the things of the world, we are putting off the things of the Kingdom.
The Lord is asking “why not now?”
My experience (visitation)..
All were asleep..
If there are Christians who are not excited about the coming of Jesus, there are those who are overly excited..
Jesus said we will observe the signs of His coming..
But the exact hour no one knows..
Blood moon, planetary alignment..
There was an abundance of unfulfilled prophecies, to some of these Christians, they just got tired of waiting..
Slumber is what describes the church today.
Asleep in the light..
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
III. The Coming of the Bridegroom
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
Matthew
The groom comes unexpectedly, this is a picture of the sudden coming of Jesus.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
WHat is the oil?
Wise
In the Bible oil always represents the Holy Spirit or the Anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Foolish = Moron
First Interpretation: The 5 Virgins are saved and the other 5 are not.
5 people saved, 5 unsaved, hanging around the church
Problem is the oil.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Oil, refers to the anointing but what matters is:
Is the Fire of the Holy Spirit Burning in Us?
Second Interpretation: Five has the Holy Spirit’s Anointing. Five ran out.
5 have the Holy Spirit burning, 5 do not
5 are on fire doing the work of the Lord. Five are not engaged, their priorities just aren’t right, they are cold..
Fire of the Holy Spirit guiding them, they understand the scripture, they are circumspect and wise when Jesus came they knew exactly where they would find Him..
The others are lost in the dark.
My problem here is that the these 5 were completely shut out:
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Know = no intimate relationship with the Lord.
“I never knew you, depart from me.”
If these are Christians, then does that mean the Lord will take back the gift of salvation, because they lost their zeal?
Goes back to the doctrine of works and not grace.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Third Explanation: foolish virgins refer to the nation of Israel and the wise are the gentile nations.
Gentiles grafted in by the Holy Spirit
Jewish branch declined
CHurch prepared
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
Fourth Interpretation: The Five wise virgins are the church that will overcome in the tribulation and the five foolish ones are those that will not.
The bride has already been spirited away.
Remember The bride represents the church. When was the bride spirited or taken away?
Rapture.
What is the role of the Holy Spirit?
During the Church Age or the dispensation of grace, the Holy
Spirit is sealed within believers as a guarantee of our inheritance.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
But no such guarantee is mentioned for Tribulation believers..
But no such guarantee is mentioned for Tribulation believers..
But no such guarantee is mentioned for Tribulation believers..
12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
:!2
IV.Conclusion
In conclusion, I don’t want to be dogmatic about these teachings, but if we are going to take away something from this parable it will be these three things:
Three Takeaways:
Be Vigilant.
Be Busy.
Be Ready.
- Be Vigilant. Watch and Pray.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
-. Be Busy for the Kingdom.
Don’t sleep. But don’t be idle either.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- Be Ready.
3. Be Ready.
With excitement!
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
Like a bride waiting for a groom that will come at anytime.
Like a bride waiting for a groom that will come at anytime.
Don’t be bogged down with the times..
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-
Our Bridegroom Jesus is preparing a place for us...
Say Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus!
Prayer:
Teach us Lord to
be vigilant.
to be busy.
to be ready.
