Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [2] Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [3] Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, [4] but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. [5] But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. [6] “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ [7] Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. [8] And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ [9] 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.’ [10] 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. [11] “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ [12] But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ [13] “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
They all slumbered and slept
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
What does the oil represent?
† Not things you can just give someone but
† the things you have to personally acquire,
† things that cannot be bought or sold.
The book of Romans is the clearest exposition by the Apostle Paul on the Gospel.
† This book contains the doctrinal foundation for the Christian faith.
Romans 1:16 KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Greek word “EUAGGELION,” which was translated “gospel” it really means the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news.
† This Greek word was so seldom used that AW only found two examples of its usage outside of the Bible.
There is precious little outside of the news of what Jesus did for us that is nearly-too-good-to-be-true news.
† But when Jesus took all of our sin and paid the debt we owed and then gave us new life, that was nearly too good to be true.
In the Bible, most English words that end with the suffix “-eth” carry the idea of an act or process that continues.
So, the person that “believeth” is a person who has believed and is continuing to believe.
In the Greek language, the word that was translated “believeth” here is a present participle that expresses the idea of a continuous and repeated action.
† The Scriptures present true Bible faith as an ongoing experience, not a one-time action.
Romans 1:20-21 KJV For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Gone through the steps of the degradation of man in the Orientation Session
† Thankfulness involves memory, humility, and reflection.
† Busy people are not usually thankful.
† They don’t have time for reflection.
† Steal kill and destroy our time with God
2 Timothy 3:1-2 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Second Timothy 3:1-2 says that one of the signs of apostasy in the last days is that people will be unthankful.
That characterizes our day and age.
To be thankful, one has to remember. Psalm 103:2 says to “forget not all his benefits.”
The reason we were commanded not to forget is because it is our tendency to forget.
We will forget if we don’t make an effort to remember. Thankfulness helps us remember.
Ephesians 4:18 NKJV having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:18 speaks both of the blindness of the heart and of the understanding being darkened. The foolish, darkened heart being spoken of here is the heart of a person whose understanding (imagination – see my note at Proverbs 15:28) is vain, or negative, and that makes them hardhearted.
Knowledge of scripture without a revelation of God can lead to hardheartedness and legalism
† Being not thankful to God always a sign that self is exalting itself above God.
† A selfless person can be content with very little.
† A self-centered person cannot be satisfied.
† Thankfulness is a sign of humility, and cultivating a life of thankfulness will help keep “self” in its proper place.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
John 5:37-39 NKJV And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. [38] But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. [39] You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
When did God the Father Testify?
† In the Old Testament.
† They had the written word but not a revelation
Therefore they have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
† you do not have His word abiding in you, in the tablets of the hearts.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Many are not willing to read prophecy the way Jesus and his disciples did.
† And even if they try to, they will often get it wrong.
† One reason for that may be because they haven’t studied enough how prophecy is quoted and applied in the New Testament.
Matthew 2:23 NKJV And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
When we read this New Testament quote, we are sure that this was a prophecy about Jesus.
And yet, we know that Nazareth was not recognized as having a messianic association by most Jews in the first century because of Nathaniel’s question recorded in John 1:46; “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”
And indeed, there is no precise match in the Old Testament to which we can directly compare Matthew’s statement.
† Homework
† What are we to do with that?
† Shall we conclude that Matthew misquoted the Old Testament, or worse, that he just made it up?
No, I don’t think so.
What it means is that we have been introduced to a principle of understanding and applying Bible prophecy.
God, through scriptures like this in Matthew’s Gospel, is teaching us to look for the meaning of a passage and not get hung up on the exact wording.