Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship, October 29, 2008
The Midnight Cry
Matthew 25:1-13
Introduction: As Jesus continues to teach His disciples on The Mount of Olives, He now uses parables to teach. Three parables make up chapter 25: The Parable of the Ten Virgins (1-13), The Parable of the Talents (14-30), The Parable of the Sheep and Goats (31-46). Then we read in chapter 26, “When Jesus had finished saying all these things…” Jesus is still answering the original question “…tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (24:3). Now, He answers in parables.
I. The Jewish Wedding:
A. Part 1 – the engagement. An arrangement made between the fathers of the bride and groom.
B. Part 2 – the betrothal. A marriage ceremony where the bride and groom exchange vows. They are considered married. The marriage is not consummated at this point. The groom would “…establish himself in a business, trade, or farming and would make provision for a place for the couple to live” (MacArthur, 84). This would last for months or even a year.
C. Part 3 – the wedding feast. The groom and his groomsmen would come to the bride’s house. Then the bride, the bridesmaids, the groom and the groomsmen would parade through the streets declaring that it was time for the wedding feast. The feast could last up to a week. At the end, the bride and groom go off together and begin their new life.
II. The Parable
A. At that time… (1) This would refer to the time of the end that He has been speaking about-- the second coming of Christ.
B. The ten virgins, literally
1. These would be the bridesmaids. The custom of the day was that bridesmaids “…be chaste young women who had never been married.” (MacArthur, 86)
2. The ten virgins would be individuals living during the tribulation. This is not a reference to the rapture of the church.
a. “Although the parable of the ten virgins illustrates the time of Christ’s second coming, its truths apply to an unbeliever’s facing God at death in any age” (MacArthur, 92).
b. “The scene is Israel in the period immediately following rapture… the ten virgins (the friends of the bridegroom) go forth to meet the bridegroom. They do not represent the church; the bride represents the church. Nor were the virgins in the rapture, but they are invited to the reception” (Phillips, 463).
c. “There are many in the church who fit our Lord’s description- for, of course, the parable applies to the church. The setting of these last chapters of Matthew (23-25) is the time leading up to the Lord’s second coming” (Boice, 98).
d. “The ten virgins do not refer to the church, they refer to the nation of Israel” (McGee)
3. If as J. Vernon McGee believes the marriage of Christ and His church takes place in heaven, but the marriage supper takes place on earth (Luke 12:35-36), then we could view this as tribulation saints coming out of the tribulation to meet with Christ and His bride after the second coming.
4. When Jesus returns, there will be those who have professed faith but are not true possessors. Jesus returns and the 5 who had no oil for their lamp, while professing faith, actually have no faith. Therefore, they are not to enter the wedding banquet. The door is shut. While they ask to be let in: “Lord, Lord, open the door for us” (11). They are told, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you” (12).
5. Five will enter the millennium.
6. Five will be eternally lost.
C. The ten virgins’ application
1. The ten virgins will have a lot in common.
a. All 10 were invited to the banquet.
b. All 10 had responded to the invitation.
c. All 10 had some affection for the groom.
d. All 10 were virgins.
e. All 10 fell asleep.
f. All 10 had lamps.
g. All 10 had some oil.
2. While they have a lot in common
a. Five have the language but not the life! (vs. 11) the 5 without the life say “Lord, Lord, open the door for us”. The NIV has “Sir”; the Greek is kurios meaning Lord, Sir, etc.
b. Five have outward profession but not inward possession.
3. If the lamp refers to the Word of God (Psalm 119:105), they all have the Word.
4. If the oil refers to the Holy Spirit, then they have all had, at least, the initial illumination of the Holy Spirit (I Cor.2:14).
5. Five took extra oil with them. This could indicate that the 5 wise virgins are those who have gone beyond the illumination of the Holy Spirit (Heb.6:4; John 16:7-11) and truly accepted Christ. Thus, they now have the Holy Spirit in whatever capacity He will be with believers during the tribulation.
6. The bridegroom (Jesus) comes at midnight. Who is asleep? All ten virgins- the wise and the foolish- the saved and the lost!
a. Revelation 3:15; Matthew 24:12
b. Jesus said “Therefore, keep watch” (Matt. 24:42). 100% didn’t keep watch!
7. When the bridegroom comes, the 5 foolish realize they are not ready. They want “to purchase” oil from the 5 wise virgins.
a. You must get your own.
b. You can’t have mine. We can’t transfer salvation from one to another.
8. While they are gone, the bridegroom arrives.
a. Those who are ready (10) go into the banquet. Jesus said “So you also must be ready…” (Matt. 24:44).
b. “And the door was shut.” (25:10) Speaking of Noah, the Bible states “…then the Lord shut him in.” (Gen.7:16).
c. “Lord, Lord, open the door for us.” (25:11) Notice again: They have the language but not the life. (Matt.7:21-23)
d. Jesus replies “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you” (25:12)
1. They didn’t accept Christ after the rapture.
2. They didn’t accept Christ after the two witnesses (Rev.11:3)
3. They didn’t accept Christ after the 144,000 (Rev.7:4)
4. They didn’t accept Christ after all the calamities of Revelation.
e. “The foolish virgins not only miss the rapture; they miss the reception as well” (Phillips, 465).
9. “Therefore keep watch…” (25:13) Good words for all of us!