Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 130       Isaiah 65:17-25           2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-10a, 13          Matthew 25:1-13

 

Prayer:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.           Amen.  [from Psalm 19:14]

 

 

In this last Sunday of the Church Year, the Sunday of the Fulfillment, Jesus uses a parable to teach what judgment will be like.  Today’s Gospel and the text for today’s message is the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25:1-13.  Jesus gives this parable, the Parable of the Talents, and the account of the sheep and the goats in conclusion to his final teaching of what his second coming is. 

 

First I will review what a parable is.  A Parable is the comparison of two objects for the purpose of teaching.  The two objects compared in this parable are the Ten Virgins waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom and God’s final judgment. 

 

The parable was a common form of teaching in New Testament times.  It is important to note that the only use of parables in the New Testament are those used by Jesus.  None of the apostles use this comparative form in their writing.

 

We know that Jesus is using a comparison as he states clearly the words, “will be like.”  In other passages we know when he is giving a direct explanation when he uses the words, “is” and “will be.”  As I explain this parable, please follow along in your copy of today’s Gospel from Matthew, the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

 

The custom of the day was for the bridegroom to be accompanied by the bridesmaids when he went to get his bride.  These bridesmaids were responsible to prepare the bride to meet the bride.  The bridegroom could not go to claim his bride until sent by his father.  Many times the bridegroom did not know the exact time this would happen.  He had to have the new home and all other preparations complete before his father would send him to get his bride.

 

As the bridesmaids we ask ourselves the question, are we ready to meet the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, either at earthly death or at his second coming?  There is no significance in the number ten or in equal numbers of those with or without enough oil.  What we do have here is further evidence that God is just.  He will do what he promises.  And that holds true for final judgment.  There will be no partiality for reasons other than faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, our Lord and Savior. 

 

In verse two we see evidence that when Jesus comes he will find these two types of people in the visible church, those ready to meet their Lord and those who are not ready on the basis of true faith.  Jesus tells us that this parable is a “wake-up call” for all.

 

In verses three and four we find that some took oil and others did not.  A good question is what does the oil symbolize?  Oil is the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith to believe the Gospel with the resultant strength to fight the flesh and live and die trusting and confessing in God’s forgiveness and promise of eternal life through Jesus.  We are told the source of faith in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

 

Those without oil are those who may have come to faith at one time in their lives, but have failed to maintain that faith through continuing in God’s word, both in public worship, receiving the sacraments, and devotion and Bible Study.  The Oil in our daily lives is God’s Word and Sacraments, that through them faith is established and continually nourished and strengthened.  Those who neglect staying in God’s word and sacraments are like the virgins who took no oil, there is no fuel to keep faith burning.

 

That is an important thing to remember by all who remain faithful as we remember and see those who are not so faithful, to be encouraging, inviting, and pray for their return to regular worship, Bible Study, devotion and prayer life as those activities keep one firmly in faith.

 

So, the wise virgins are the ones who took the oil with them, continuing throughout their awaiting Jesus’ return in a life of word and sacraments at all times replenishing, maintaining, and nurturing faith, overcoming the temptation to leave God’s word and promises behind.

 

The foolish virgins are those who leave word and sacraments behind in their lives, and find themselves when Christ comes again not having faith at that time to carry them through.

 

It is interesting that Jesus uses the comparison of a lamp, as he calls himself the light of the world.  He is our light and our salvation.  He comes to us in word and sacrament.  Without him, we have no light in this dark world of sin and at the day of judgment alike.

 

In verse five we find a delay in the bridegroom’s coming.  He does not arrive at a time we think he will, nor while we have the strength to stay “awake” for his coming.  Falling asleep means earthly death.  Being awakened from that sleep means the resurrection of all, both faithful and not.  We know from Jesus’ words earlier in Chapter 24 that some will still be alive when he returns as well.  Judgment will be the same whether he comes to take us with him at earthly death or when he physically comes again in judgment. 

 

The point Jesus is making is we do not know when we will “grow tired” and “fall asleep” just the same as we do not know the day or hour of his second coming.  While we are “awake” is the time to fill our own lamps with oil, the oil of faith.  As we read further we will see that there will be no other chances. 

 

At midnight, a time when the bridegroom is least expected, is used to tell us when Jesus will come.  At Jesus’ time, the wait had been long for the Messiah.  It had been over four hundred years since the last prophet, seven hundred years since Isaiah, a thousand years since David, two thousand one hundred years since God’s call and promise to Abram.  At the time of Jesus, many did not believe the words of the prophets but trusted in their own inclinations.  We find the same true today, many follow their own thoughts and perceptions of how they will be saved because they have seen the world continue on and on and have drifted away from trusting in God’s word alone and completely.  Just as God saved a remnant in the flood, in Abram’s seed, at the times of Elijah and Isaiah, he continues to save a remnant of those faithful to him today.  It is our purpose, as that faithful remnant, to be prophets, proclaiming the truth of Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of all to all in our community, nation and world, so that others are prepared with the oil of faith in their lamps too.

 

In verse eight the bridegroom finds the virgins just as they were when they fell asleep.  He will find all on this earth just as they died.  There will be no chance for change once earthly life is over.  Now we begin to see the desperation of the foolish, those who did not hold the oil of faith in their lives, those who are not ready for Christ today will not be ready then.

 

Verse nine shows the foolish virgins “after the fact.”  They are counting on the oil, the faith of others to work for them.  But that is not possible.  The “No” here is emphatic.  This portrayal shows us that:

• One’s condition of faith when Christ comes either at earthly death or judgment day is final, there is no room for change at that time,
• Now, when we are getting our lamps is the time of salvation.  This “now” ends at death or judgment day,
• One Christian cannot save another by his faith when the other has no faith.  The only means to save another is sharing the faith before the time when Christ comes.

 

In verse ten we see both God’s grace and his judgment.  Those faithful, with oil of faith, enter the eternal feast with the bridegroom (Christ).  Those not with the oil of faith find the door shut and no one to open it.  Judgment is final.  God’s grace is vast as we are alive today, but it has its limits.  Those who deny him to life’s end cannot and will not receive the eternal blessings he freely offers and gives to those who follow his commands.  And his commands are this, to believe in his Son Jesus Christ and to spread his word, making disciples of others. 

 

We read in today’s Epistle, Peter’s letter, that God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9).  That is why God gives us time on this earth, to come to repentance and faith, and to bring his message to others so they will too.  God just does not tell us when the end of that time will be.  Knowing that, we now know the urgency of getting the word of God out to others.  Knowing that, we now know the importance of witnessing in word and deed to others around us.  Knowing that, we now know the importance of even the smallest of our offerings in the work of proclaiming the Gospel world-wide.  Knowing that, we know the importance of evangelism in Des Plaines, a city of multiple cultures, languages and beliefs, many which are not in Jesus as our Savior.  Knowing that, we now know the importance of our own congregation remaining true to the truth God gives us in scripture, not bending and flexing to every “popular” belief and practice that tickles our ears and minds.

 

When Jesus says in verse twelve, “I don’t know you,” he strikes terror in the hearts of those who have despised him in this life, those who once knew him but threw him out of their lives, left faith due to carelessness, lack of watchfulness, chasing earthly desires, and those who ventured after other “gods” from day one.

 

That brings us to the last verse, “Therefore.”  It is because of this warning Jesus gives, he tells the faithful to always “keep watch,” being ready every moment of every day for Jesus’ return.  And the final message is the promise, that Jesus will come again to take all who believe in him to that eternal banquet, his making us his bride, one flesh with him, throughout all eternity.  Amen.

 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.          [Philippians 4:7]