Keeping Watch-Part III Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13

Keeping Watch-Part IIIKeeping Watch-Part III

Parable of the Ten VirginsParable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 24:42Matthew 24:42

Jesus-“Therefore, keep watch, because Jesus-“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Lord will come.”



-like the wise steward-like the wise steward




-like the one who kept watch for -like the one who kept watch for thievesthieves




-like the one who kept watch for thieves-like the one who kept watch for thieves

-like the wicked steward, we can easily -like the wicked steward, we can easily lose that attitude of ‘keeping watch’.lose that attitude of ‘keeping watch’.

Matthew 25:1-13Matthew 25:1-13““At that time the kingdom of heaven will At that time the kingdom of heaven will

be like ten virgins who took their lamps be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 2 Five of them were foolish and five were Five of them were foolish and five were wise. wise. 3 3 The foolish ones took their lamps The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. but did not take any oil with them. 4 4 The The wise ones, however, took oil in jars wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. along with their lamps. 5 5 The The bridegroom was a long time in coming, bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.asleep.

6 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’him!’

7 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. trimmed their lamps. 8 8 The foolish The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’some for yourselves.’

10 10 “But while they were on their way to “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.the door was shut.

11 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’know you.’

13 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.do not know the day or the hour.

Jesus uses this story from His culture Jesus uses this story from His culture to illustrate truths about His second to illustrate truths about His second comingcoming

Jesus uses this story from His culture Jesus uses this story from His culture to illustrate truths about His second to illustrate truths about His second comingcoming• He is the Bridegroom who will appear He is the Bridegroom who will appear

unexpectedly to claim His bride, the unexpectedly to claim His bride, the Church.Church.



• John the Baptist is the friend of the John the Baptist is the friend of the bridegroom who announced His coming.bridegroom who announced His coming.




• Some will be prepared, others will not be.Some will be prepared, others will not be.




• Some will be prepared, others will not be.Some will be prepared, others will not be.

• To those not ready, Jesus will say, “I don’t To those not ready, Jesus will say, “I don’t know you”, and the door will be closed for know you”, and the door will be closed for eternity.eternity.

Who is Jesus confronting in this Who is Jesus confronting in this story?story?

• Unlike the wedding story of Matthew Unlike the wedding story of Matthew 22, this story isn’t aimed at those 22, this story isn’t aimed at those who outright reject His message.who outright reject His message.

Who is Jesus confronting in this Who is Jesus confronting in this story?story?

• Unlike the wedding story of Matthew Unlike the wedding story of Matthew 22, this story isn’t aimed at those 22, this story isn’t aimed at those who outright reject His message.who outright reject His message.

• It is aimed at religious seekers who It is aimed at religious seekers who are attracted to His message, but are attracted to His message, but only to the degree that suits their only to the degree that suits their own agenda.own agenda.

Key Question: What does Key Question: What does the oil represent?the oil represent?

Key Question: What does Key Question: What does the oil represent?the oil represent?

• The impartation of God’s Holy SpiritThe impartation of God’s Holy Spirit

• The illumination of the SpiritThe illumination of the Spirit

Charles SpurgeonCharles Spurgeon““A great change has to be wrought in you, far beyond A great change has to be wrought in you, far beyond

any power of yours to accomplish, before you can go any power of yours to accomplish, before you can go in with Christ to the marriage. You must first of all be in with Christ to the marriage. You must first of all be renewed in your nature, or you will not be ready. You renewed in your nature, or you will not be ready. You must be washed from your sins, or you will not be must be washed from your sins, or you will not be ready. You must be justified in Christ’s ready. You must be justified in Christ’s righteousness, and you must put on His wedding righteousness, and you must put on His wedding dress, or you will not be ready. You must be dress, or you will not be ready. You must be reconciled to God, you must be made like unto God, reconciled to God, you must be made like unto God, or you will not be ready. Or, to come to the parable or you will not be ready. Or, to come to the parable before us, you must have a lamp, and that lamp before us, you must have a lamp, and that lamp must be fed with heavenly oil, and it must continue must be fed with heavenly oil, and it must continue to burn brightly, or else you will not be ready. No to burn brightly, or else you will not be ready. No child of darkness can go into that place of light. You child of darkness can go into that place of light. You must be brought out of nature’s darkness into God’s must be brought out of nature’s darkness into God’s marvelous light, or else you will never be ready to go marvelous light, or else you will never be ready to go in with Christ to the marriage, and to be forever with in with Christ to the marriage, and to be forever with Him.Him.

Jesus message to religious Jesus message to religious seekers:seekers:

1) 1) Seeking Him isn’t enough. To Seeking Him isn’t enough. To get into the wedding feast get into the wedding feast (heaven) you need oil.(heaven) you need oil.

1) 1) Seeking Him isn’t enough. To get into the wedding feast Seeking Him isn’t enough. To get into the wedding feast (heaven) you need oil.(heaven) you need oil.

2) 2) Spiritual preparedness for Spiritual preparedness for Jesus’ coming isn’t Jesus’ coming isn’t transferable.transferable.

1) 1) Seeking Him isn’t enough. To get into the wedding feast Seeking Him isn’t enough. To get into the wedding feast (heaven) you need oil.(heaven) you need oil.

2) 2) Spiritual preparedness for Jesus’ coming isn’t transferable.Spiritual preparedness for Jesus’ coming isn’t transferable.

3) Lost opportunities to receive 3) Lost opportunities to receive Jesus cannot be re-gained.Jesus cannot be re-gained.

Alfred Lord TennysonAlfred Lord Tennyson(virgins) (virgins)

Late, late, so late! And dark the night and chill!Late, late, so late! And dark the night and chill!

Late, late, so late! But we can enter still.Late, late, so late! But we can enter still.

(Jesus)(Jesus)

Late, late, so late! Ye cannot enter now.Late, late, so late! Ye cannot enter now.

(virgins)(virgins)

No light had we; for that we do repent;No light had we; for that we do repent;

And learning this, the bridegroom will relent.And learning this, the bridegroom will relent.

(Jesus)(Jesus)

Late, late, so late! Ye cannot enter now.Late, late, so late! Ye cannot enter now.

(virgins)(virgins)

No light; So late! And dark the chill the No light; So late! And dark the chill the nightnight

O let us in, that we may find the light!O let us in, that we may find the light!

(Jesus)(Jesus)

Too late, too late; Ye cannot enter now.Too late, too late; Ye cannot enter now.

(virgins)(virgins)

Have we not heard the bridegroom is so Have we not heard the bridegroom is so sweet?sweet?

O let us in, tho’ late, to kiss His feet!O let us in, tho’ late, to kiss His feet!

(Jesus) No, no, it’s too late. Ye cannot enter(Jesus) No, no, it’s too late. Ye cannot enter

now.now.

Documents

Keeping Watch-Part III Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13