Mt 25:1-13
1. When will the Lord return? No one knows
- How are we to live until he does?
- Jesus answered that in his parables
2. Parables are exciting & challenging portions of Scripture
- Each has presented a challenge as search for truth
- Each has unique message to lead & enrich our lives
- Never left wandering or holding the bag
3. "Olivet discourse" Matt 24-25 Jesus deals with this matter
5. Key word is watch / be ready
24:42 "Therefore keep watch" v. 44 "Be ready" 25:13 "keep watch"
- Idea is to think ahead - what is coming - am I prepared
- Some folks have a problem with thinking ahead
- 2 fellows going duck hunting in Michigan, lakes frozen
- New Jeep Cherokee, lab retriever, guns, drove out onto ice
- Decided to try blowing hole in ice with dynamite to set decoys & place for ducks to light
- Lights fuse, throws dynamite
- What is primary characteristic of lab retriever? retrieve
- Yep, you guessed the rest of the story, yelled at dog, kicked him, scared him & ran under new jeep Cherokee
- Fine for illegal use of explosives, insurance would not pay for damage
- They did not think ahead.....
- To live without watchfulness is to invite disaster
a. Two extremes you can take regarding this command
a. Study & try to set date of return
b. Live as if the event was not going to happen
4. Ch 24- Jesus was sharing about two things
- The destruction of Jerusalem A.D. 70
- His second return to the earth so prepare/keep watch
- Other passages sound this same warning - think ahead
2 Peter 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
3. Ch - Jesus shares stories to emphasize need for preparation
v. 1-13 - The setting
A wedding feast is about to occur
Jewish wedding had three parts
First the engagement
Arranged by fathers of bride and groom
A contract of marriage in which couple had little to do
Second Period of betrothal
Exchanged vows in presence of family & friends
Considered bound together & only separated by divorce
Groom would establish himself in business
At end of bethrol period came the marriage feast
Sometimes lasted weeks
Began with groom & groomsmen going to brides house
Together the couple and their attendants would parade through the streets to attract attention
End of this period best man would place hand of bride in hand of groom & they would be left alone for first time
Jesus story begins with close of bethrol period
Focus is on the bridesmaids, groom & a final warning
Emphasis is on the final warning
The bridesmaids
v. 1 - "At that time"
The expected time of his coming
"the kingdom of heaven will be like"
Comparable to these 10 bridesmaids serving at the wedding
The assurance of his return is being emphasized
Each carrying a lamp
Torches on long poles - Oil soaked rags at top
Oil carried to pour on rags to keep them burning
Significance of the characters
Groom - Obviously Christ
Ten Bridesmaids - Professed believers - expecting his coming
Note all were in same group
Claiming to love the prospect of his appearance
Demonstrating an outward readiness to enter
Dressed appropriately, carrying torches, in procession
Lamps - Outward identity with Christ, expectation of his return
v. 2 - There is a difference - they are not alike
Looked same, carried torches, but 5 had no fuel to burn
torch without fuel obviously worthless
a form of godliness but no spiritual life or power to back it up
2 Tim. 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Proportion of prepared to unprepared is troubling
Theirs was partial preparation
- Maybe walked an aisle sometime & made profession/baptism
v. 5 - Bridegroom delayed - they slept
Reinforces an unexpected time of return
5 slept in confidence/secure -
5 slept in ignorance - unprepared inwardly
Life goes on, but be ready for his return at any moment
The bridegroom
v. 6 The midnight cry - He's coming
v. 7 Hurried trimming of their lamps
- cutting off ragged edges of cloth - Saturating with oil
v. 8 Realization of the predicament - Request for help
Too late - the prepared are helpless to provide oil for foolish
Spiritual life cannot be shared with someone else
v. 9 - Is only one source for the grace of God
- Come on, you've got to share - We're all in this together
- we all look the same - We've all been waiting together
- We've all got lamps only difference is you've got oil
- Somewhere along the way we ran out
- we just figured that the Bridegroom wouldn't care
- He wouldn't take this oil-thing so seriously
- What kind of wise virgins are you calling yourselves Christians? - - - You mean we're not good enough ?
Preparation must be done individually
Building on any other foundation means disaster
v. 10-12 - A closed door - Too late
The opportunity is passed - All hope is gone
They had been sham attendants - never part of the party
A moment of sheer terror when face a Holy God
Is the Lord being unfair?
- He never knew them!
v. 13 - The warning
Recognize the nearness by sign of the times
Exact hour is not known
Watch Therefore
This is the Lord's solemn warning to us
I'm coming but I choose to not tell you when
Stay prepared & watchful - no excuses
Being prepared is personal & not transferable
There are no second chances Close
Today the scene is transferred to this congregation
1. Two crowds - wise/foolish - prepared/unprepared WE ARE LIKE THE VIRGINS AWAITING THE BRIDEGROOM.. .
Some wise - prepared - anticipating
Some foolish - know the Lord is coming, but not prepared
UNPREPARED HAVE NO SECOND CHANCE...
not permitted to enter the wedding
2. Which Crowd are you in?
Remember child's game of "Hide and Seek"
- 16-17-18-19- 20 "Ready or not here I come!"
- Can you hear master of eternity counting?
2000 - 2001-2002-2003- 2004 "Ready or not here I come!"
Are you ready? You can be

- Pastor once attended funeral of a member's uncle
- Rural, backwoodsy, common folks
- Was not like any he had ever seen
- Pastor spoke with great conviction, pounding pulpit, firey speech
- "It's too late for uncle Joe! He might have wanted to get ready, but too late now, he is dead! Its all over, finished for him"
- Pastor thought how uncaring and upsetting for family
- Then preacher said, "But it ain't too late for you People drop dead every day, so why wait?! Make your life count, wake up and come to Jesus now!"
- On way home complained to wife how manipulative, cheap, and inappropriate it was!
- His wife agreed adding "And of course," she added, "the worst part of it all is that what he said was true." These words may seem just that way - but they are the truth!!