Matthew 25:1-13

 

Today’s Scripture reading is a continuation of Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ question, back in chapter 24. Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, along with 150,000 other faithful Jews. The city was packed. They left the city to go to Bethany to spend the night. As they were leaving the city, the disciples remarked on the massive structure of the temple and Jesus responded with the buildings were indeed massive, but they were coming down! Can’t you just see the faces of the disciples? They had to have been looking at each other and thinking, “Finally, now we are getting somewhere.” Jesus was actually talking like the Messiah they had expected. He was talking about bringing down the temple of Jerusalem? 

Once they were out of the city limits and had stopped at the Mount of Olives for a rest, the disciples asked Jesus two questions in regards to His comment. 

 

1) When was the destruction of the temple going to happen?

 

2) What sort of signs would appear to let them know Jesus was going to take over and lead them to the end of the age? 

 

Recognize that at this point the disciples have both the destruction of the temple and the taking over and leading the Jewish nation to the end of the age at the same event. Remember, their idea of Messiah was for Jesus to be King of Kings. A king who would take over other kingdoms and reign supreme. These questions were imperative to the disciples being a part of that take over. 

When was the temple going down? And how would they know that Jesus was ready to take over and end their struggles? 

 

Jesus has already answered both questions. He told His disciples the temple would be destroyed in their generation and that He had no idea when He was going to take over. 

 

Last week we Jesus began telling His disciples how they should prepare for both events. Jesus told them to be faithful and ready. This week Jesus continues with providing a parable to explain what readiness looks like. 

 

He begins with a parable that uses an exciting event in a Jewish family as His scenario, a wedding. We need to again, remember the culture in which Jesus and the disciples lived. 

Traditional Jewish weddings are a bit different from American weddings. There are three distinct stages in a traditional Jewish wedding. Jesus’ parable has to do with the third stage. 

 

The first stage was engagement. This was not done by the man on his knees to the woman he loved. No, no, no. This would have been a formal agreement between fathers. 

 

The second stage was betrothal. This was a special ceremony where mutual promises were made. During this ceremony a man and a woman pledge themselves to a future union. The groom would provide a ring for the bride which demonstrates she was betrothed. Although not legally binding by secular law, it would be under canon law. 

 

The third stage was marriage. This would occur approximately one year later when the bridegroom came at an unexpected time for his bride. In the meantime the groom was preparing a home for his bride and the bride was tending to her personal preparations. There was a wedding garment to prepare and bridesmaids to choose. Part of the preparations was to make sure their oil lamps were ready just in case the groom came at night. The father of the groom would be the one to give the final approval for his son to collect his bride. 

 

When the bridesmaids heard the shofar (ram’s horn), they knew the groom was coming. If it was during night time they would take the lighted lamps to find him and show the way to his bride. There were usually ten lamps in a common sized bridal procession. The point that they were “virgin” is irrelevant, the fact there were ten of them, a nice round number, is more significant. 

In Jesus’ parable, five of these young women were wise and five were foolish because five were prepared and five were not. Note, Jesus didn’t say they were “good” and “bad.” The facts were, five had brought along oil with their lamp, and five did not. Also note, both the wise and unwise slept, that wasn’t the issue. The difference was, five were prepared and the other five weren’t.

 

Mind you, they all “looked” ready. Each of them had their lamps. However, five of them didn’t have the necessary ingredient in order to make their lamps work; they had no oil. 

 

Here’s the picture. The lamps described here were torch-like in nature. It was a wooden staff held in the hand, with a dish at the top, in which a piece of cloth or rope was dipped in oil or pitch. 

Rather like the Olympic torch. They would have held them up with their arms in procession. 

 

At midnight, the horn was heard. We read that immediately the bridesmaids get up and get their torches ready. 

 

Check in time - 

 

This was a direct warning to those who were following Jesus and to us. Jesus was saying that just because the bridesmaids were part of the wedding party, didn’t mean they would make it to the wedding. We too need to understand that just because we are part of the Church doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to make it heaven. When these ladies fell asleep all ten of them were expected to be at the wedding feast. It was a decision to not be prepared that divides the ready from the unready. 

 

Realizing their mistake, the five without oil turn to the five with oil and ask them to share. 

 

Here’s where an understanding of historical Biblical passages is needed. Oil is often used as an emblem to represent the Holy Spirit. In this parable, without oil, the wedding party is not ready for the bridegroom. In life, without the Holy Spirit, one is not ready for the return of Jesus. 

 

Theologian David Guzik offers some descriptions of how olive oil is a good representation of the Holy Spirit: 

 

- Oil lubricates - when used for that purpose

There is little friction and wear among those who are

lubricated by the Spirit of God.

- Oil heals - when used as a medicinal treatment in

Biblical times, such as in Luke 10:34 

The Spirit of God brings healing and restoration.

 

- Oil lights - when it is burned in a lamp

Where the Spirit of God is. There is light.

 

- Oil warms - when it is used as fuel for a flame

Where the Spirit of God is, there is warmth and

comfort. 

 

- Oil invigorates - when used to massage

The Holy Spirit invigorates us for His service. 

 

- Oil adorns - when applied as a perfume

The Holy Spirit adorns us and makes us more

pleasant to be around. 

- Oil polishes - when used to shine metal

The Holy Spirit wipes away our grime and smooths

out our rough edges. 

 

When we come right down to it, a key to Christian readiness is to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 

Ephesians 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

 

If you are like me, the first question you would ask is, “Yes, but how?” Jesus doesn’t answer that question in this parable, however, I found an excellent article by Campus Crusade International, which I put in this week’s “Pastor’s Pondering” where you can find the answer. Many Christians experience weakness, defeat and lethargy in their spiritual lives because they are not allowing the Holy Spirit to fill their lives. 

Jesus provides an even more stark realization, the penalty for the foolish maidens was they were not allowed to go to the wedding. 

Door shut. Go home. 

You do not get to celebrate and feast. 

 

And although God is a God of second chances, we read in this parable that even though the girls actually give an appeal, it is not accepted. The bridegroom’s response resembles what Jesus said in Matthew 7: 22-23,

 

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

 

Let's face it, this is a definitive rejection, not a mere statement of fact. There is a point where the door will be closed. Therefore we should heed verse 13, 

 

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

 

The point of this parable is simple. We need to be ready, and be prepared for the price of failing is too high. 

 

For many this message from Jesus may seem harsh. 

Come on, give the ladies a break, where is your compassion Jesus? 

 

The truth is, Jesus has warned us. We have read His Word and we need to take it as it is written. Why would we want to finagle a deal with Jesus anyway? Like we have some innate right? 

Humans have a propensity to turn things around so we look right and everything else is wrong. But according to this parable, that is not going to work. 

 

If you are not ready - you are not ready.

 

What does it take to be ready? 

 

Well, first we need to be waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, and be prepared for Him to arrive at any time.  That means -

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life

And allowing the Holy Spirit to take over all my life. 

 

Easier said than done. But as is our tradition, we offer the Lord’s Supper, once a month to bring us back to the basics.