Psalms 110-112
1 Corinthians 5
“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.” Matthew 25:1-2
As we wait for Jesus’s second coming, how are we to prepare our lives? Jesus teaches us how with a parable in Matthew 25:1-13 about ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish took their lamp but not their oil, while the wise took their lamp and their oil. As they waited for the bridegroom, they fell asleep. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the wise were ready with their lamps, but the foolish asked if they could have some oil from the wise; the wise said “no” because there would not be enough for them all. The foolish had to go and buy the oil, whereby missing the bridegroom’s arrival. The wise went with the bridegroom to the banquet but the foolish were locked out.
Jesus’s parable is one that listeners would be familiar with. During the New Testament times, a bridegroom and his wedding party would show up to a town where the bride lived and try to surprise the wedding party on their arrival. Sometimes, they would do it in the middle of the night just to catch people off guard. When they eventually arrived, the others in the bridal party would go out and rejoice, walking through the streets as the whole town celebrated the bridegroom coming for the bride. The bridegroom would take the bride back to his family’s household and officiate the marriage.
In this parable, Jesus uses classical wisdom teaching to drive the truth home. Wisdom literature speaks in definitive terms: “Here’s option A. Here’s option B. Here are the consequences attached to both. Now you choose option A or B.” With the virgins, Jesus draws our attention to two types of people, the wise and the foolish. The outstanding feature that differentiates the wise and the foolish is readiness for the arrival of the bridegroom, living life in such a way that they are prepared for the return of the King. The foolish quench the Spirit’s activity in their lives, treating God’s Word with contempt and seeking their own pleasure, while the wise, however, welcome the Spirit’s activity, love and abide in God’s Word and seek the pleasure of the bridegroom.
The lamps of the wise are burning brightly when the Bridegroom—Jesus—arrives because they are ready, they are prepared, they are waiting and they are looking ahead and planning. As we wait for Jesus’s second coming, how will we prepare ourselves so that He will find us amongst the wise and not the foolish?
Gracious Lord Jesus, I want to live my life in a state of readiness for Your coming. Help me to welcome Your Spirit’s activity, love and abide in Your Word and seek to please You. Thank You, Lord.
1 Corinthians 5
“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.” Matthew 25:1-2
As we wait for Jesus’s second coming, how are we to prepare our lives? Jesus teaches us how with a parable in Matthew 25:1-13 about ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish took their lamp but not their oil, while the wise took their lamp and their oil. As they waited for the bridegroom, they fell asleep. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the wise were ready with their lamps, but the foolish asked if they could have some oil from the wise; the wise said “no” because there would not be enough for them all. The foolish had to go and buy the oil, whereby missing the bridegroom’s arrival. The wise went with the bridegroom to the banquet but the foolish were locked out.
Jesus’s parable is one that listeners would be familiar with. During the New Testament times, a bridegroom and his wedding party would show up to a town where the bride lived and try to surprise the wedding party on their arrival. Sometimes, they would do it in the middle of the night just to catch people off guard. When they eventually arrived, the others in the bridal party would go out and rejoice, walking through the streets as the whole town celebrated the bridegroom coming for the bride. The bridegroom would take the bride back to his family’s household and officiate the marriage.
In this parable, Jesus uses classical wisdom teaching to drive the truth home. Wisdom literature speaks in definitive terms: “Here’s option A. Here’s option B. Here are the consequences attached to both. Now you choose option A or B.” With the virgins, Jesus draws our attention to two types of people, the wise and the foolish. The outstanding feature that differentiates the wise and the foolish is readiness for the arrival of the bridegroom, living life in such a way that they are prepared for the return of the King. The foolish quench the Spirit’s activity in their lives, treating God’s Word with contempt and seeking their own pleasure, while the wise, however, welcome the Spirit’s activity, love and abide in God’s Word and seek the pleasure of the bridegroom.
The lamps of the wise are burning brightly when the Bridegroom—Jesus—arrives because they are ready, they are prepared, they are waiting and they are looking ahead and planning. As we wait for Jesus’s second coming, how will we prepare ourselves so that He will find us amongst the wise and not the foolish?
Gracious Lord Jesus, I want to live my life in a state of readiness for Your coming. Help me to welcome Your Spirit’s activity, love and abide in Your Word and seek to please You. Thank You, Lord.
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