THE PARABLES OF
JESUS, #041
A Chronological Study
"To Him who opened
His mouth in parables and|
uttered things hidden since the creation of the world."
Psalm 78:2
"The Ten
Virgins"
Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25 brings us to that time when Jesus speaks to
His disciples about two different returns from Heaven after His death and
ascension. History has taught us that God is focused upon the winning and
training of believers – and the returns of His Son will occur when the Father’s
plans for the Church Age have been completed. These two returns concern two
different groups of God’s People. Time-wise Jesus will return, in the air, just
before the Great Tribulation (pre-tribulation). He will come to rescue His
believers of the Church Age, both the alive and the dead, and take them back to
heaven with Him for the first-time gathering of all the Church Saints, and their
mass wedding to Jesus. That will be followed by a large and great Wedding Feast
(dinner). This takes place during the tribulation times on earth. Then, at the
end of those tribulation years, Jesus again returns, but this time to the earth.
He has two priorities: first is the judgment of the world’s unbelievers – both
Gentile and Jew (Hebrew – Children of Abraham). Second, will be the
establishment of a new Believing Nation of Israel that comes out of the results
of the disciplining of that nation during the Tribulation. Joining Jesus in His
return will be “The Bride of Christ,” Those who have come to Jesus and believed
Him and In Him as both members of His immediate family who will join Him in
ruling and reigning with Him in this new 1,000-year epic.
We’ll explore
these verses three times!
TWO
THE LESSON
Matthew 25:1-13
We’ll take it one
verse at a time.
We will immediately understand that the bridegroom spoken
of is Jesus. In the Old Testament God speaks of Himself as the “husband” of His
people, the Covenanted nation of Israel. This parable speaks of His return (as
mentioned earlier). This Old Testament expression of relationship leaves Israel
out of the understanding of this parable. Again, like mentioned earlier, the end
results apply to Israel, the Church, and the world in general. The fact that
Jesus speaks of the “Bride” and the “Bridegroom” leads us to understanding this
parable is ideally about Jesus (the bridegroom) and His Church (the bride).
In
the background of this parable is the Jewish customs involved in the marriage
ceremony. Briefly… The man and women are either brought together by family
arrangement or by mutual attachment. It was necessary back then that they get
engaged about a year before the actual marriage ceremony (physical relations
were expressly out of the picture). The engagement process sealed their
relationship, and the man went back to his father’s home (remember 2000 years
ago) and prepared a dwelling place – in his father’s house – for them both to
live following the marriage ceremony. A year later they became married.
Following the wedding everyone gathers together for “The Wedding Feast.” That
feast does not occur until
that night
when the Groom and the Bride consummate their marriage in the prepared dwelling
place. The best man stands at their door and at the right moment… announces that
the Wedding Feast can begin!
So,
here we are on
the night of the wedding
and the guests are arriving for the wedding and the feast. We’ll bring up each
verse again and just walk through what Jesus tells them. Then we’ll take the
verses again and shed some light on what Jesus is meaning and telling them.
This is an event that has to happen “On Time,” Following
the wedding is the consummation of the marriage, and then the great feast. Jesus
labels five of the girls “Wise,” and five “Foolish,” as He sets up His parable.
The five who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps, not knowing how
long they would need them. Following the wedding, the consummation, and the
feast… it could be many house… in the dark. The five who were foolish – just
didn’t think ahead for their needs.
It
is good to recognize that for whatever reason the bridegroom was delaying, they
ALL
became drowsy and began to sleep.
Midnight is definitely a late hour to begin a wedding –
and it will be good to remember that when we begin to “decode” this parable. The
alarm went out – “He’s here, come out to meet him.”
“Oh my, our lamps are running out of oil, what shall we
do – How about you give us some of your oil?” Consider the situation. You, the
foolish maid, have just been woken up from sleeping, only to find that your lamp
is already flickering its last light – and you did not bring more oil. You can’t
go to the bridegroom or the outdoor in-the-dark wedding, consummation, and feast
without some light of your own – then you would need light to go home again too!
There are five of you who need oil so you would drain most of the oil the five
prepared, prudent maids, and leave them in the dark soon too.
“Go
buy your own oil!” the wedding can’t go on if all the bridesmaids are in the
dark!” “Go to
the dealers
and buy some for yourselves.” A bad time to be looking for your local oil dealer
– Midnight!
So, sometime later – could be soon after the door is shut
or later, the maids plead. “Lord, Lord, open up for us.” This is definitely a
tragic moment. “Bridesmaids” locked out of the event because they did not have
oil.
Definitely “Be on the alert – THEN – be prepared to be
acceptable at the event – don’t be without enough oil when the time comes!
THREE
BACK TO THE
BEGINNING
Matthew 25:1-13
Now we need to start finding meaning. It’s my prayer that
each of us sees the importance of this parable for possibly ourselves, but
certainly for man around us – we’ll be more dutiful in taking the Message of
Jesus to the world around us in such a way that they understand our message.
Heaven is God’s residence. We’re not talking of the skies
above us, or the vast occupied space we call the solar system, or the galaxy, or
the cosmos, or the totality and summation of the universe. Heaven, where God
resides, is outside of all that. It is outside of our current observation and
knowledge, except for what He has revealed to us about Himself.
The bridegroom is coming. So, once again we’re speaking
of the bridegroom who biblically is Jesus, and He’s coming to marry His Bride
who is The Church (Church age Believers). Jesus divides up these maidens into
two categories – The Wise and the Foolish. The difference between the wise and
the foolish is of supreme importance to the parable – most all else falls at the
wayside of the story. The difference turns out to be having OIL when it’s needed
to gain entrance to the event of the bridegroom’s arrival. From here on out, the
parable is mostly about timing.
So, what we need to know is what does the oil represent
that is so important.
Way back at the beginning of these studies of Jesus’
Parables we looked at our second parable, “Light of the Earth.” We discovered
that that’s what Jesus considers His believers are. Those who, if they are
definitely in-Christ, carry His light around with them (a light that does not go
out) illuminating us as His representatives. We show His light, we shed His
light upon others, we lead others to His Light, on and on. So, the question I
ask next is… What is that light that we carry with us at all times that
accomplishes all these wonderful things
Are you one of those lights of the world? Are you one of
those lamps in the parable? Are you one who is filled with the Oil Jesus is
speaking of? So… what is that OIL?
In the Bible “oil” represents the Holy Spirit of God.
Romans 8:9-11
If the Spirit of God does not dwell within you then you
do not belong to God!
13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor
the hour of His return!
“You need oil to be ready for His coming. Being
filled
with the holy spirit is a daily responsibility. Those who didn’t have oil –
looked prepared for His return but were not. Many will look prepared – but
without oil… they are not, will not be prepared."[i]
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
WITHOUT ANSWERS
1.
Why are there so many different interpretations
of the times and stories that Jesus tells in His parables.
2.
When is Jesus coming back?
3.
What’s the main message of this Parable?
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS
1.
Why are there so many different interpretations
of the times and stories that Jesus tells in His parables.
We’ve talked about
this a few times in our lessons. Interpretation largely depends on where the
interpreter stands on how all of Scripture should be read and understood.
Our
interpretations are based on what is called the “Historical, Normal” hermeneutic
(the study of biblical interpretation). Historical, meaning the long-term
understanding of the meaning of the Scriptures. Normal, meaning the reading of
Scripture in the same manner as one would read a letter from a friend, or read a
good novel. The parts of speech reveal meaning – so that how a word is used in a
sentence will lead you to what it means. Much of Jesus parables are based on
metaphor as He illustrates His stories. Knowing the historical context of the
moment gives insight into what He wants you to see. As a “for instance,” this
parable speaks of a bridegroom and 10 virgins. Knowing the context of a Jewish
wedding at the time of Christ allows you to understand parts of the story that
would be totally missed without the historical context.
And
then there’s where one stands on how “literal” one should interpret what’s said
– especially when metaphor is included. Some, who are very literal, would
interpret the story as being about a wedding and virgins with lamps. Some who
want to see everything as a mystery that needs solving – and only those equipped
with special skills can solve it, would find all kinds of hidden messages in the
text and it all would be very mystical. The Historical-Normal approach would try
to understand just what Jesus wanted His disciples to know – not just a story
and not something that would require a team of rabbis to expound. It’s just
about the importance of the oil in the lamps. You can’t see in the dark without
the light. Then understanding what that means to these men of Christ who have
been with Him and listening to His parables for 3 years would understand when
they heard His words.
2.
When is Jesus coming back?
I
have no idea. Our lesson tells us that when Jesus said He’ll be back… No one
knew when – not even Himself. Let us remember that when preachers and others
begin forecasting His return, based on some secret code or numerical system they
believe they have found in the bible.
They will be wrong every time.
Jesus said, “No one knows” but His Father.
3.
What’s the main message of this Parable?
There is a
wonderful, amazing event that’s going to happen in the future. It is called the
Wedding, and Wedding Feast of the Lamb. It will be that time when all the Church
Age Believers will gather together for the first time ever.
The lamp is seen as
“light.” The believer is seen as “The Light of the World.” The Oil in the Lamp
produces the light. You can’t be “The Light of the World” if at Christ’s return
for His Bride… that which makes you “Light” has run out. That which is the oil
that keeps the believer’s “light” shining is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
No Indwelling Holy Spirit… No Light. Having the light, or not having the light,
when it comes time to enter the Kingdom of God… makes all the difference. No
light, and the door is shut forever. Being a true Child of God, indwelled with
the Holy Spirit of God, then you’re in for the wedding of a lifetime, and ready
for a great feast, a thousand-year kingdom, and then…. an eternity of loving
with all your heart, mind, and soul… your creator, your Lord, Your King, and
your heavenly Father.
Here at the very end of
this lesson I wanted to include this little chart of mine that gives a simple
overview of the Plan of God through the ages. The chart begins with creation and
ends with the New Earth and the New Heaven. The death of Christ is marked with
the Cross in the middle. The chart was used in my study of the book of Matthew,
which has the best timeline of the events in Jesus’ life. It lists the chapters
of the book at the bottom. The story of the Hebrew nation is in Green. The
Church age is in White. The two arrows meeting in the middle is the Return of
Christ “in the air” for His Bride and following Daniel’s 70th
week is the Second Coming of Christ. From beginning to end is all about the
testing of man’s responsibilities towards God through His Messiah – The Lord
Jesus Christ – Man is without excuse for Not Believing.
For your own copy in color:
The Kingdom In
Mystery.png
It is also in color in
the PDF download of this lesson.
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J. Deering [AncientPath.net] is the author and editor of this study.
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Jeremiah 18:15
"Don't stumble from the Ancient Path.”
2024-02-21 updated
[i] 5
lessons from the Parable of the 10 Virgins,
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/lessons-from-the-parable-of-10-virgins.html
