Matt 25:1-13 Five Wise, Five Foolish Virgins I. Introduction A. The Jewish wedding (according to commentaries) 1. The bridegroom spent his wedding day away from his home. 2. After dark, the bride is escorted by young women & others to the bridegroom's house. 3. Later that night, the bridegroom is escorted home, by his friends 4. After the feast with invited guests, the bride and groom are united. B. The text: (Matt 25:1-13) 1. These young virgins "went forth to meet the bridegroom" Apparently in the story, these ladies were going to meet the bridegroom as he came back to his home, and accompany him to the feast and the marriage. 2. (V.5) They slept while the bridegroom tarried--he would not come until after dark--it would be late when he returned and they slept until then 3. (V.6) He came at midnight, and they were awakened then 4. (V.7-8) Lamps trimmed, needing oil--olive oil was a common source of fuel for lamps which burned oil using a wick. Without oil, of course, the lamp would go out. 5. (V.10) At the right time, the bridegroom comes, the invited guests enter, and the doors are shut. There apparently was a time beyond which no other "late guests" would be admitted (V.12) C. The lesson: 1. There was a right time and place for the virgins to escort the bridegroom into the marriage feast. 2. After that time, apparently no one was allowed in. 3. The lesson is one of PREPAREDNESS (V.13) II. Some thoughts on BEING PREPARED (MATTHEW 25:13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. A. We are to BE PREPARED FOR THE HOUR WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH... 1. (Matt 16:28) They would see Him coming in His kingdom... a) We know the Kingdom is the church (Matt 16:18-19) b) The Kingdom was coming in their lifetime (Mark 9:1) c) They had to be preparing for it... (Mark 1:3) John's message was one of PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM TO COME... --to prepare they were to REPENT (Matt 3:2) --They confessed their sins (Matt 3:6) --They were baptized with water unto repentance (Matt 3:11) --They were desiring REMISSION OF SINS through repentance d) When the church came, a lot of people were not prepared for it... (Acts 4:1-12) The rulers, scribes, sadducees 2. They would see Him coming in judgment on Jerusalem (Matt 24:29-34) In their lifetime they would see these things The son of Man would come in judgment in clouds (Matt 26:64) they would SEE HIM in this capacity (Mar 14:62) coming in the clouds of heaven They should have been ready... --Ready to recognize when it was coming (Matt 24:15-16) --(Matt 24:32-4) This was done by signs so they would KNOW WHEN... --(Matt 24:16-22) Ready to flee! 3. All will see Him coming in final judgment (Rom 14:10-12) Every tongue shall confess, every knee shall bow... (2Th 1:7-9) IN flaming fire taking vengeance... (1Th 4:16) A Shout, a Trumpet, the voice of the Archangel (this will be no SECRET appearance) (I Cor 15:52) The trumpet shall sound, the dead raised... (NOBODY will miss the significance of that day!) The question is--are we ready? B. There is a time when it will be TOO LATE TO PREPARE... 1. Surely there was such a time for the foolish virgins... 2. Jesus is teaching there WILL BE SUCH A TIME someday for all who wait until then to GET PREPARED FOR JUDGMENT... 3. Wouldn't it be AWFUL to be among those UNPREPARED at that time? A SINKING FEELING--A HOPELESSNESS--HOW SAD AND ALONE --I always had a dream while going to school of going into a class and finding out when I got there that they were having a BIG TEST that day and I had forgotten all about it--and I WASN'T READY...It made me study harder. --How much worse it would be to find Christ coming and knowing we hadn't made any preparations for that day... 4. God wants our service now--but then it will be TOO LATE TO SERVE... (Jn 9:4) The night cometh when no man can work 1. (Rom 12:1-2) Our acceptable service now is our bodies as a living sacrifice unto Him... 2. Then, no amount of service, offered or presented, will matter--(Matt 7:21-3) They argued SERVICE--but not according to His commands. 3. What kind of service AM I PREPARED TO GIVE TODAY? a) Some are confused, unconcerned (Matt 13:19) wayside b) Some are too unreliable to serve well (V.20) stony c) Some are too involved in other things (V. 22) thorns d) What if I am somewhere in that list? (John 15:2) A branch TAKEN AWAY AND BURNED! C. There will be a time when we will be DISOWNED BY CHRIST if we are among the unprepared... 1. He loves us and has made a way of salvation for us... --the greatest sacrifice ever made (Jn 15:12-14) No greater love than this 2. It HURTS to be rejected by people we love (Jn 12:48) "He that REJECTETH ME..." 3. If we HURT HIM ENOUGH, can we be SURPRISED when He comes to us with JUDGMENT that will be HARSH AND UNYIELDING? 4. (Matt 25:12) The bridegroom said, "I know you not" (Matt 7:23) "depart from me, I never knew you" (Matt 10:33) He promised to DENY some before the Father... 5. It will NEVER MEAN MORE TO US than to be OWNED BY CHRIST AT THAT MOMENT! D. They KNEW THE BRIDEGROOM WAS COMING, they just DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. 1. We know Christ is coming (Heb 9:27-8) Death, judgment so we know He is coming... 2. We DON'T KNOW WHEN...(2Pe 3:10) "as a thief in the night" 3. Preparedness must be IMMEDIATE and REAL... --the five wise virgins had their oil with them ALL THE TIME. E. Someone else's preparedness won't help me a bit. 1. The other virgins couldn't SHARE THEIR OIL... 2. No one had enough for ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES... 3. Jesus shows us SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTEOUSNESS is not going to benefit us... Much less HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS as some people falsely teach. F. It is POSSIBLE to BE PREPARED... 1. The virgins could ALL have brought extra oil... 2. We can all likewise get ready for the judgment... a) Deeds done in the body will be considered (2Co 5:10) b) To have treasure that day, must be living for the right things (Rev 3:11) Hold fast, not lose crown... c) We must DECIDE AHEAD OF TIME--make a DECISION NOW! III. Conclusion A. There is an important lesson Jesus has taught us through this parable-- B. It's up to us to do something about it. C. If you're like the foolish virgins, depending on SOMEONE ELSE to be prepared for JUDGMENT for you, it is time to ACT NOW to be ready yourself. D. Why don't you OBEY HIM NOW? MAKE PREPARATION WHILE YOU CAN!