Life Ministries

The Bride – 3
Matthew 25:1-13

    This parable has been referred to as “The Ten church members” or “The ten professing Christians”.

This parable is a story about what the kingdom of heaven is like now, but it begins with the words “at that time” which refers to the time when the bridegroom returns. The virgins represent all professing Christians, some of whom are born-again believers and some “have a form of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5).
    Is the Bride a single person? (No, many people) A single church? (No, many churches.) A single denomination? (No, many different denominations.) It is “the” church made up of many people, churches, denominations…no matter of size or location or tribe or tongue. Sometimes we lose sight of that fact.
    It is interesting that in the parable the bridesmaids all appeared to be alike:
They were all “virgins” or bridesmaids or churches or Christians. The analogy works in any area.
They were all expecting the bridegroom.
When the bridegroom was delayed they all fell asleep.
They all took their lamps.(righteous life) The lamps refer to the testimony of their lives: Jesus commanded us, saying, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glory your Father who is in heaven.”
All of them trimmed their lamps. (Have to keep your lamp trimmed in order for it to burn clean and bright.)
They all wanted to be a part of the wedding feast. But not all of them were prepared. The one difference was that the foolish had no oil. (Holy Spirit)
    This is a warning from the parable: Be sure that you are truly prepared, because it is possible to look just like everyone else, talk like everyone else, carry a Bible and desire to go to heaven, think of yourself as a Christian, yet ultimately be unprepared. It is possible to know about Christ and not know Christ. It is possible to know the Word of God and not be living for God. It is possible to profess to be a Christian and not be filled with the Spirit.
    Notice that not knowing when He was coming was not the problem. The problem was not being ready when He did arrive. Notice also that the wise did not realize that the foolish had no oil…(Is it possible to pretend to be filled with the Spirit?) What is the ultimate test? – “Fruit” – “Fruit that lasts, or is consistent. Knowledge was not the problem. They all knew about the wedding and the bridegroom…the problem was in the preparation.
    “Give us some oil” they said, but spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute. “The oil” symbolizes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Oil is commonly accepted by Bible scholars as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. There is a little chorus that our children used to sing that suggests this truth.

“Give me oil in my lamp, Keep me burning;
 Give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
 Give me oil in my lamp, Keep me burning,
 Keep me burning ‘till the break of day.”

    I have to admit I don’t like this parable. I like most of the stories Jesus told, because most of the ones He told emphasized gracious invitations; offers of mercy; and that’s the way this story starts, but then there are those words - "and the door was shut." That’s so final. This story seems so contrary to the image of God - forgiving, endlessly forgiving. But Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like this story too. I like the parables that emphasize grace - come anytime - God will take you just as you are. But there is an end to the window of opportunity, and it comes at death or at the second coming, whichever comes first. “and the door was shut”…There are no second chances then.