One of the most powerful passages of scripture is found in Matthew 25. I believe these three parables give us an important look at the Kingdom of God. These truths, shared by Christ, are something that every believer needs to remain aware of. The passages discuss being alert as believers or suffering very dire circumstances if we aren’t. Let’s take a closer look.
The Parable of the Virgins
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
The moral of this story is spelled out for us, “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
We serve a savior who literally walked this same earth we live on. He literally rose up from the Mount of Olives and ascended into heaven. He will also literally return on a day and hour that no man knows.
What is the one thing he ask of all his followers? That we live lives ready to see him at any moment. They we live earnestly expecting our masters return. That we live with urgency, sharing the good news, living full, godly lives. That we excel in being like him!
He wants us to be like the virgins who had plenty of oil for our wait. Ready for the bridegroom at any moment. The passage says, “The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.”
The definition of ready is “prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action. Prepared for immediate use.”
Jesus is telling us that we, as believers, must always live in a state of readiness. Ready with a word, ready with the truth, ready with love…but most importantly ready for HIM!
There’s much more in this chapter. Look for the next lesson [A Look at Matthew 25: Parable of The Talents Pt. 2]