Sermons

Kingdom Parables, winning the world at its worst: The wise and the foolish – Matthew 25:1-13

Intro: Weddings, if nothing else, are one of the most memorable events in the life of individuals and families.

• Two individuals coming together.
  • More than tradition, more than legal.
  • Entering ceremony as individuals.
    • By way of making vows to each other before God.
    • Become one, literally wed together.

 

Language founded in the original, first marriage of Adam to Eve, repeated by Paul in Ephesians 5: “two becoming one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5; Mark 10:8; Eph. 5:31).

 

• Imagery culminating in marital union, but this is not where one flesh union begins.
  • Hearts between husband and wife, first wed on a deeply emotional level.
    • Two, tied together:
    • Defined by:
      • Intimate trust, loyal commitment and mutual dependance.
      • Loyal love.

[KEY] God’s Word requires Christians marry, “…in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39).

• Weddings for unbeliever to unbeliever permitted, in common grace.
  • A disobedient Christian will marry an unbeliever.
    • Willfully sinning.
      • Or, well-intended believers inadvertently marrying unbelievers occurs.
      • Though, never ideal, brings life challenges needing attention.

 

• Bible provides guidance here.
  • Reason clearly commanded not intermarry.
    • Christians w/pagans is a contradiction of spirit.
    • When become one flesh, at the core this it a spiritual union.

 

• Begs, “What fellowship has light with darkness?” (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14).
  • Fellowship is non-existent.
  • What means to be unequally yoked.

 

[Illus] Picture of being tied together under a famer’s plow-yoke.      Tasking two entirely kinds animals, to attempt to furrow a straight line.  Impossible. Different natures will pull in different directions (cf. Dt. 22:8-12). Trying to furrow a path in a straight line with a kind of animal pulling one direction over against and animal pulling another direction.

 

• Believers married to unbelievers, brings about difficult circumstances (cff. 1 Cor. 7:14; 1 Peter 3:1-5).
  • Old Testament commanded for God’s people, not intermarry with pagans.
    • To remain pure in heart.
      • One in heart before the true LORD and God (cff. Deut. 6; 1 Kings 11:2).

^ESV  1 Kings 11:2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. (1Ki 11:2 ESV)

• Pagan marriage eventuates being led astray to worldly idols.

 

[TRANS] Modern culture takes things to tragic levels.

• Onslaught of homosexuality, alleging same sex marriages.
  • Digression to the unspeakable levels.
    • Alleging people can change their sexual orientation.
      • Marrying people like or unlike them.
      • Who they are, who they believe they are becoming?
      • Altogether, too confusing to even square.

 

[Appl] New supposed dilemma of cultural obfuscation. Christians brought to make a choose whether or not to attend same sex or transgender wedding. Either choosing to stand as symbol of emotional support or cast as hateful. All to assault your conscience to compromise, making you guilty of celebrating degrading perversions.

 

[Illus] Now the church of nice verses the church of Christ.

[Appl] Should not be confusing bc/Bible is clear that our witness is not only what we say but likewise what we do and/or not say and not do. Highest priority is witnessing to someone’s soul even when the relationship might be jeopardized.

[TRANS] Jesus once again speaks in a parable and uses the picture of a wedding. But, in this case Christ is clarifying that as meaningful and life shaping as weddings are, the higher priority is knowing the state of your soul.

• X working from lesser to the greater in terms of priorities.
  • Your spiritual condition, determines your eternity.
  • The event/wedding clarifies this higher priority.

[KEY] Note, chief focus not the bride and groom but ten virgins (i.e. bridesmaids).

• Their spiritual condition is what’s called into question, not Bride and Groom.
  • “What is the spiritual condition of the celebrants?”
    • Of the ten, the breakdown between five and five.
      • Whom Jesus calls wise.
      • Whom Jesus calls foolish.

 

• Binary division between, saved and unsaved.

 

• “Call for spiritual examination.”
  • Present and future ages.
    • Post rapture and pre-day of the Lord.
    • Everyone must examine their spiritual condition in view of Christ’s return.

          

Prop: Preparing yourself for the sudden return of Christ

1. Acknowledge clear classifications (vv. 1-2)

[Context] Matt. 25, X continued teaching @/Olivet Discourse.

• X @/end of passion week, ascended mountain on outskirts of Jerusalem.
  • Preaching last sermon @/pivot point of capture by Roman authorities.
    • Summons hearers to examination.
    • Preparation @/world digressing into deepest apostacy.

 

• Sermon Titles have noted: When the world is at its worst.
  • Wining world through perseverance.
  • Stakes, eternal.

  

• X’s teaching moves parabolic.
  • Exposing, insidious sin @/self-deception.
  • To wake people out of this state.

 

• X’s motivation is evangelistic.
  • Drawing listeners to come to decision/crossroads.
  • Making two clear classifications btwn/ten virgins.

 

• Five virgins classified as foolish and five classified as wise.

Matthew 25:1 bridging gap between two realms.

• Unseen and seen.
  • X making visible what, to the natural eye is invisible.
  • “…the kingdom of heaven will be like” (v. 1).
    • Climactic point in terms of future eschatology.
    • Centered @/the day of the Lord.

 

• Setting @/parable, geared toward the final stage of wedding ceremony.
  • Ancient middle eastern version.
  • Common experience during period @/X.  

[KEY] Ten virgins are the company of the pure.

• Women, unstained of scandals.
  • Not making worldly choices.
  • Set apart as godly examples.
    • Celebrating the purity of marriage btwn/man and woman.
      • Outward appearance, each protected from unholy unions w/unbelieving men.
      • Rendering, equal footing by the standard of morality.

 

[Point] Each woman, morally virtuous, set with holy expectations, who are holy. Outward equality, all image bearers, however, there could not be a greater chasm between the spiritual condition of these two groups. Infinite chasm between one half over against the other.

A disparity of preparedness must be diagnosed before it is too late. Disparity could not be starker, more implicational, harrowing, eternal, final, and sobering than this.

[Appl] Disparity serves @/warning btwn/those prepared to meet the Lord at his return and not.

[KEY] X answering how you distinguish difference btwn/two groups:

Five prepared virgins verses five unprepared virgins.

• Ask: “What are the marks of preparedness verses unpreparedness?”

[Note] “ten virgins…took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom” (v. 25).

• Scene: @/3-phase Jewish wedding in Israel and ancient Middle and Near East.
  • Weddings were town events.
  • Highly celebrated, everyone’s invited.

Jewish marriage consisted of three parts, the first being the engagement. Often these were arranged marriages, beginning with the father of the bride and groom, whereby a contract was developed and written between families. The second was the betrothal, where the bride and groom exchanged vows in front of family and friends. At this point the couple as considered married although the marriage had not been physical consummated and the two had never lived together (like the phase where Mary and Joseph were betrothed and Joseph considered divorcing her when he mistook her being “with child” as unfaithfulness). This stage was serious and in terms of the process, the man could take several months (Up to a year) to establish himself in business, trade, or farming and a place for them to live [MacArther].

 

[KEY] Within first/second/third phases, if spouse of husband died, wife considered a widow.

• Phases build one on other: Third phase, where this parable picks up.

 

• End of betrothal period where “ten virgins…took their lamps” (v. 1).
  • Lamps = “torches” to illuminate a public parade.
    • Groom w/groomsmen escorted by torchlit parade.
    • Coming to the bride’s house for final consummation.
      • Like a Honeymoon.
      • Typical wedding.

[Barclay] If we look at this parable with western eyes, it may seem an unnatural and a "made-up" story. But, in point of fact, it tells a story which could have happened at any time in a Palestinian village and which could still happen today.

A wedding was a great occasion. The whole village turned out to accompany the couple to their new home, and they went by the longest possible road, in order that they might receive the glad good wishes of as many as possible. "Everyone," runs the Jewish saying, "from six to sixty will follow the marriage drum." The Rabbis agreed that a man might even abandon the study of the law to share in the joy of a wedding feast.

The point of this story lies in a Jewish custom which is very different from anything we know. When a couple married, they did not go away for a honeymoon; they stayed at home; for a week they kept open house; they were treated, and even addressed, as prince and princess; it was the gladdest week in all their lives. To the festivities of that week their chosen friends were admitted…  

[TRANS] Remember, odd focus for wedding event is on condition of five foolish virgins and five wise virgins. Defining implications of the sudden return of Christ. Foolish, unprepared virgins contra to wise virgins, fully prepared.

 

1. Account for costly choices (vv. 3-4)

“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but he wise took flasks of oil with their lamps” (vv. 3-4).

• “Torches” [τ���ς λαμπ���δας (Mat 25:1 BGT)] were same used in John 18 when Jesus was captured.

^ESV  John 18:3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. (Joh 18:3 ESV)

[KEY] Issue of oil or fuel is at hand.

• Essential element for whether torch will illuminate or not.
  • Foolish virgins did not have fuel beyond for immediate moment.
    • Any delay meant:
    • Once “torches” extinguished, could not be relit.

 

• “Oil” [Sufficient oil for this task] represents true heart or no.
• A true follower of X or not.

 

• Virgins on the outside all appear prepared.
  • On inside five are transformed.
  • And five not transformed.
    • Five have sufficient oil.
    • Five do not have sufficient oil.

 

• Same picture X teaches w/wedding parable, someone @/wedding w/out proper wedding attire.

^ESV  Matthew 22:11-13 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Mat 22:12-13 ESV) (Mat 22:11 ESV)

 

[TRANS] Leads us to story’s climax. Meant to acknowledge clear classifications, and account for costly choices which all leads to anticipating a clarion call.

 

1. Anticipate a clarion call (vv. 5-6)

Verse 5 reveals that the bridegroom is “delayed.”

• Unexpected matter for all ten virgins.
  • Explaining their response of sleep.
    • The unexpected delay quelled their prior euphoric excitement.
    • Dying down, shifts their mood from celebrating to slumber.

 

• Apparently, all of them sleeping is not a picture of unfaithfulness.
  • Instead, sleeping services X’s point that no one truly knows when the groom is coming out.
  • X has just made this point.

^ESV  Matthew 24:36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Mat 24:36 ESV)

 

[Context] Matthew 24, X calls disciples to alertness, to “stay awake” since believers we will not know time exact timing of X’s return.

 

• Yes, things getting worse, and signs of X’s imminent return are increasing.
  • Matt. 24:8, nevertheless, believers never bank on believing they know the exact time of Jesus’ arrival.

 

• Prognosticators falling into sin of presumption.
  • Somehow control the timing of Jesus’ return.
  • In terms of rapture and the Day of the Lord.

 

• The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
  • People working jobs and living their lives.
  • One swept into judgment while the other left (cff. vv. 40-44).

 

[KEY] Verse 6 says, “at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him” (v. 6).

 

• This is the sudden return of the Lord.
  • Command to meet him.
    • What’s exposed are the prepared or unprepared.
    • Leading to the crises explained beginning in verse 7.

 

[TRANS] Review: Believers acknowledge clear classifications of spiritual conditions, account for costly choices, anticipate this clarion call, and avoid crisis collaborations.  

 

 

1. Avoid crisis collaborations (vv. 7-9)

[KEY] Where you do not want to be.

• When X returns, unprepared, where most of the world will be.
  • When X returns, everyone’s reacting.
  • w/o exception.

 

“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps” (v. 7).

 

• No one remains sleepy, no one doubting.
• Jesus being Messiah is valid.

 

[KEY] Verse 8 contrasts wise virgins w/sufficient oil to relight their torch from foolish who do not.

• “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out’ (v. 8).

 

[Illus] Akin to when the door of the ark was being closed where now no one can enter in (cf. Matt. 24). As the flood waters rise time was running out.

 

[Key] Verse 9 brings the wise answering the foolish saying, “But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since their will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.” (v. 9).

• Clear distinction btwn/saved and not.
  • Can never truly “buy” salvation.
    • X’s point not procedural but moral accountability.
    • Each, responsible to believe on the Lord before it is too late.

 

• Likewise, cannot transfer your salvation to someone else.
  • Whether you are family or friends makes no difference.

 

• “Cannot ride grandparent’s coattails into heaven.” (Edwards)

 

• Still, wise virgins offered best solution:
  • “Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves” (v. 9).
    • Only recourse to try and find “traders.”
    • Common: “venders” waiting for desperate customers.

 

[TRANS] Review: Believers acknowledge clear classifications of spiritual conditions, account for costly choices, anticipate this clarion call, and avoid crisis collaborations. 

 

1. Accept this culminating conclusion (vv. 10-13)

[KEY] Final point: Accept gravity and finality.

• “It is now too late to come to Christ, once Jesus returns.”

 

• Verse 10, “And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut” (v. 10).

 

• Parade begins, and wise virgins, prepared to light the way, went with this groom to the bride’s house, where the feast was being served.

 

• Followed by harrowing message, “…and the door was shut” (v. 10).

 

• See, Matt. 24 “Noah.”

 

[KEY] Foolish virgins believing they can still participate naively still try to join.

• “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us” (v. 11).

 

• Reminds of us this same scene in the final judgment spoken of by Jesus.

^ESV  Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Mat 7:22-23 ESV)

 

[Point] X’s response is the same as in parable: “But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you” (v. 12).

• The saddest reality is being self-deceived on this level.

 

• Believing you were going to be accepted into heaven, when in fact you remain shut out.

 

• No matter how much you convince yourself that you are invited into to heaven, if you are not a true believer, will not be welcomed inside.

 

Conclusion: “How do you know if you are a believer?”

• Simply put, you heed this warning to “Watch therefore…” (v. 13).
  • True believers are concerned to follow Christ at all cost.
  • Faith in Christ is not a game or charade.

 

• You do not follow Jesus in name only but w/full heart commitment.

 

• Believers acknowledge clear classifications, account for costly choices, anticipate a clarion call, avoid crisis collaborations, and accept this culminating conclusion.

 

• Preceding X’s return and not in the aftermath.

 

• Jesus calls everyone to believe now and today before it is too late.

 

[Examine yourself]

^ESV  2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?– unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

(2Co 13:5 ESV)

^ESV  2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2Pe 1:10 ESV)

• Allow me to pastor your through the assurance of your salvation.

 

• Self-deception is an incalculably weightier sin than breaking a sanctification commitment (i.e. New Year’s resolutions to read Bible through and now it’s March).

 

1 John 5:13, working in reverse; 1 John 1:4 “joy.”

[Questions]

Do you believe God is holy and confess personal sin? [1 John 1]

Do you love the world or fellow believers? [1 John 2]

Do you trust the true Christ/Gospel or false gospels? [1 John 2]

Do you you want Jesus to return [1 John 3]

Is your life moving toward or away from Jesus? [1 John 4-5]