IDEA: To be watchful for Christ's return means that we will produce the works that a new life requires.
TEXT: "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard, 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:1-13).
PURPOSE: To help listeners see the relationship of Christ's coming and our works.
Let's read a parable that Jesus told. Then let me ask you if you think this is a true story.
I. Do you think this is a true story?
Was it true to life for Jesus' listeners?
Can you learn something from it about weddings in the first century?
Why did Jesus tell this story?
II. What do you have to figure out in order to understand what the story meant to the disciples and to us?
What do the parts stand for?
Who is the bridegroom in the story?
Who are the ten young women in the story?
What do the lamp and the oil stand for?
III. The oil and the lamp have several different interpretations.
Some think the oil stands for the Holy Spirit.
This interpretation comes from Zechariah 4 which pictures a lamp with an abundant supply of oil.
But there are different kinds of lamps in different books of the Bible.
Some think the oil stands for the good works produced in our lives as a result of our relationship to Christ.
"Wise" and "foolish" are used in Matthew 7:24-27: "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
"Wise" describes the builder who obeys Jesus' teaching, and "foolish" describes the builder who does not obey.
Taking enough oil, therefore, may stand for good works done in response to Jesus' teaching and in His power.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus likens lamplight to good works: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
In Matthew 5-7, good works contrast with the hypocrisy of the Scribes and teachers of the law. Good works produced by a relationship to Christ glorify the Father. Hypocrisy, on the other hand, glorifies the individual doing good works hypocritically.
Some think that in its widest sense, the lamp and oil represent anything one must do to be ready for the Lord's return. (This is a parable, not an allegory.