Be Watchful - Wise/Foolish Virgins
Be Watchful – Wise/Foolish Virgins
We continue to look at the signs of the end and the soon return of Jesus Christ our Lord. In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us pointers but said ““Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Mathew 24:36
Jesus shows us the urgency for readiness towards His return in three parables of the faithful and wicked servants (Matthew 24: 45-51); the ten wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13); and the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30). In all, Jesus is looking for our faithfulness and obedience to the voice of His Holy Spirit.
Last week, we studied the faithful and wicked servants. Today we are studying the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. This one is a very sobering and worth a lifetime of meditation because of the similarities of the ten virgins though there are major differences. We will focus on their difference which is having or not having oil for their lamps. Oil of the Holy Spirit?
Let’s read it:
Matthew 25:1-The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.
For the people of Jesus’ audience, they can identify with the welcoming wedding train of virgins. It was a Jewish custom. Jesus goes beyond the usual to divide the virgins into two – wise and foolish. As I have meditated on this passage, what troubles me is that both were looking forward to meeting the bridegroom. What this means is that we are looking at the church crowd. These are those who profess the name of Christ or claim to know Him. This similarity makes this parable very sobering for every one of us.
Is it possible that the 50% ratio is what we have in our churches of today? Is it possible that 50% are wise in the church and 50% are foolish? I am hoping that is not the case but listen to Jesus: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and [d]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.
The major difference between the wise and the foolish virgins is having oil for their lamps. Vs 3 and 4. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3. The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Godhead. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit or he/she is an imposter.
It is my personal believe that many in the church who identify Jesus as their savior do not know Him as Lord. You can quickly dismiss the words of a savior but not your Lord. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.
The will of the Father is made plain to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. If you can’t hear Him, how will you do His will? If you hear him, you must do what he says.
We have been commanded to “be filled with Holy Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.There are no substitutes for the Holy Spirit. Are you filled (immersed into) the Holy Spirit? When we live in the Spirit, the Spirit produces life of the Spirit through us – love, joy etc. (Galatians 5:22-23).
The presence of the Holy Spirit keeps us watchful because He is the Spirit of God. He will lead us into all truth and take from Jesus and reveal to us.
The foolish virgins did not have oil from the beginning so it is hard to say they were in honesty, looking forward to the bridegroom coming. The foolish virgins are the ultimate hypocrites. These people are those who are playing church and just there for the fun of it. They are only interested in what the hands of God can give and not interested in embracing the heart of God.
Do you have the oil of the Holy Spirit? May we hear His voice and do what we hear on a daily basis. We may not like some of what we hear but the Father knows best and we must obey. There is always suffering for the sake of Christ. Let’s embrace suffering with joy.
Let's be watchful for the coming of the bridegroom. Don't let the "foolish virgins" talk you out of what you already have and from obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. See the wise virgins' response in verse 8.
Are we watching? The signs are all around us. This week, USA embassy was established in Jerusalem contrary to all the world's opinions. It is worth noting and it is not a coincidence nor a political move.
Jesus can come today and in our lifetime. Let's keep watching and praying for His grace to continue to be sufficient for us. Tell some one to be ready by introducing them to Jesus and His gospel. Amen.
We continue to look at the signs of the end and the soon return of Jesus Christ our Lord. In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us pointers but said ““Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Mathew 24:36
Jesus shows us the urgency for readiness towards His return in three parables of the faithful and wicked servants (Matthew 24: 45-51); the ten wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13); and the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30). In all, Jesus is looking for our faithfulness and obedience to the voice of His Holy Spirit.
Last week, we studied the faithful and wicked servants. Today we are studying the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. This one is a very sobering and worth a lifetime of meditation because of the similarities of the ten virgins though there are major differences. We will focus on their difference which is having or not having oil for their lamps. Oil of the Holy Spirit?
Let’s read it:
Matthew 25:1-The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.
For the people of Jesus’ audience, they can identify with the welcoming wedding train of virgins. It was a Jewish custom. Jesus goes beyond the usual to divide the virgins into two – wise and foolish. As I have meditated on this passage, what troubles me is that both were looking forward to meeting the bridegroom. What this means is that we are looking at the church crowd. These are those who profess the name of Christ or claim to know Him. This similarity makes this parable very sobering for every one of us.
Is it possible that the 50% ratio is what we have in our churches of today? Is it possible that 50% are wise in the church and 50% are foolish? I am hoping that is not the case but listen to Jesus: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and [d]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.
The major difference between the wise and the foolish virgins is having oil for their lamps. Vs 3 and 4. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3. The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Godhead. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit or he/she is an imposter.
It is my personal believe that many in the church who identify Jesus as their savior do not know Him as Lord. You can quickly dismiss the words of a savior but not your Lord. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.
The will of the Father is made plain to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. If you can’t hear Him, how will you do His will? If you hear him, you must do what he says.
We have been commanded to “be filled with Holy Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.There are no substitutes for the Holy Spirit. Are you filled (immersed into) the Holy Spirit? When we live in the Spirit, the Spirit produces life of the Spirit through us – love, joy etc. (Galatians 5:22-23).
The presence of the Holy Spirit keeps us watchful because He is the Spirit of God. He will lead us into all truth and take from Jesus and reveal to us.
The foolish virgins did not have oil from the beginning so it is hard to say they were in honesty, looking forward to the bridegroom coming. The foolish virgins are the ultimate hypocrites. These people are those who are playing church and just there for the fun of it. They are only interested in what the hands of God can give and not interested in embracing the heart of God.
Do you have the oil of the Holy Spirit? May we hear His voice and do what we hear on a daily basis. We may not like some of what we hear but the Father knows best and we must obey. There is always suffering for the sake of Christ. Let’s embrace suffering with joy.
Let's be watchful for the coming of the bridegroom. Don't let the "foolish virgins" talk you out of what you already have and from obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. See the wise virgins' response in verse 8.
Are we watching? The signs are all around us. This week, USA embassy was established in Jerusalem contrary to all the world's opinions. It is worth noting and it is not a coincidence nor a political move.
Jesus can come today and in our lifetime. Let's keep watching and praying for His grace to continue to be sufficient for us. Tell some one to be ready by introducing them to Jesus and His gospel. Amen.
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