BE PREPARED FOR THE SECOND
COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
(Matthew 25:1–13)
The parable Jesus tells in these verses sounds strange to most of us. The reason, of course, is that our customs are very different from the practices of the Jews in Jesus’ day.
It was common practice in (Palestine) Israel for weddings to be held at night. In order for the wedding to begin, the bridegroom dressed in a headpiece which looked much like a crown. He arrived suddenly without notice at the home of the bride along with his friends. Of course, the bride was already dressed and waiting for him. When the cry was heard on the street. “Look! The bridegroom is coming! Come to meet him!” The bride along with her family and friends would go out to meet the groom.
Matthew 25: 1–6, “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, 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 is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” According to this parable, who was waiting for the bridegroom along with the bride? “Ten virgins.” Although the 10 virgins were all there for the same reason, Jesus divided them into two groups. (verse2) wise and foolish. Five of them show their wisdom, they brought extra oil, the other five show their foolishness, they did not bring extra oil. The virgins go to sleep because “the groom was delaying” verse 5 and the sound was heard in the street. It was the arrival of the groom.
Compare Matthew 25:5– 6 with the 13th verse of the same chapter. The sudden arrival of the bridegroom represents the second coming in power and great glory of Christ. Since the bridegroom represents Jesus, the group of ten virgins mentioned in the parable would represent the visible Christian church as it is in the days before the end of the world and the coming of Christ.
Today, there are some in our Churches who call themselves followers of Christ but are not truly so. At the time of coming of Jesus Christ, this fact will become evident.
The believers of Jesus Christ must be ready at all times for the second coming of the Son of man.
Note in many places in the Bible, oil is the symbol of HOLY SPIRIT. Luke 4:18–19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Acts of Apostles 10 : 38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” 2nd Corinthians 1:21 – 22, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit on our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Since, we know that oil often represents the Holy Spirit in the Bible, we can say that the five foolish virgins who did not have enough oil, represent the Christians who are such in name only and for this reason do not have the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. As well, the people in our churches who attend the meetings and who may read the Bible and pray to God, but who are lacking in what is most important , the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
The main theme of this parable is that we must be prepared at all times for the second coming of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters think about what you can do to prevent this to you and think about the fact that when Christ comes many of your friends might find themselves in that sad situation.
Matthew 24:36, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. » And there will be no more opportunities to receive Christ after death. Hebrews 9:27, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
May you be counted wise in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
(Matthew 25:1–13)
The parable Jesus tells in these verses sounds strange to most of us. The reason, of course, is that our customs are very different from the practices of the Jews in Jesus’ day.
It was common practice in (Palestine) Israel for weddings to be held at night. In order for the wedding to begin, the bridegroom dressed in a headpiece which looked much like a crown. He arrived suddenly without notice at the home of the bride along with his friends. Of course, the bride was already dressed and waiting for him. When the cry was heard on the street. “Look! The bridegroom is coming! Come to meet him!” The bride along with her family and friends would go out to meet the groom.
Matthew 25: 1–6, “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, 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 is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” According to this parable, who was waiting for the bridegroom along with the bride? “Ten virgins.” Although the 10 virgins were all there for the same reason, Jesus divided them into two groups. (verse2) wise and foolish. Five of them show their wisdom, they brought extra oil, the other five show their foolishness, they did not bring extra oil. The virgins go to sleep because “the groom was delaying” verse 5 and the sound was heard in the street. It was the arrival of the groom.
Compare Matthew 25:5– 6 with the 13th verse of the same chapter. The sudden arrival of the bridegroom represents the second coming in power and great glory of Christ. Since the bridegroom represents Jesus, the group of ten virgins mentioned in the parable would represent the visible Christian church as it is in the days before the end of the world and the coming of Christ.
Today, there are some in our Churches who call themselves followers of Christ but are not truly so. At the time of coming of Jesus Christ, this fact will become evident.
The believers of Jesus Christ must be ready at all times for the second coming of the Son of man.
Note in many places in the Bible, oil is the symbol of HOLY SPIRIT. Luke 4:18–19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Acts of Apostles 10 : 38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” 2nd Corinthians 1:21 – 22, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit on our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Since, we know that oil often represents the Holy Spirit in the Bible, we can say that the five foolish virgins who did not have enough oil, represent the Christians who are such in name only and for this reason do not have the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. As well, the people in our churches who attend the meetings and who may read the Bible and pray to God, but who are lacking in what is most important , the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
The main theme of this parable is that we must be prepared at all times for the second coming of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters think about what you can do to prevent this to you and think about the fact that when Christ comes many of your friends might find themselves in that sad situation.
Matthew 24:36, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. » And there will be no more opportunities to receive Christ after death. Hebrews 9:27, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
May you be counted wise in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.