"The Ten Virgins"
Part of Sermon Notes
August 4, 2024

The Stories Jesus Told - App Image (1920x692).jpg

“The Stories Jesus Told: The Ten Virgins” Sunday, August 4, 2024

Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief were coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

***The Parable of the Ten Virgins (A Jewish Wedding)

• A Betrothal – a year or so before the ceremony:
- An arrangement… a contract with a “bride” price (gift given by groom’s parents to bride’s parents, to “acquire” a bride).
- There would be vows… a betrothal was “binding” only broken through divorce.
- Preparation:
The Groom preparing the home, the Bride preparing herself.
• Bridegroom Comes for the Bride –
- Unannounced, the groom, accompanied by his groomsmen, would travel from his home to the brides home, at night, to escort her back to his home and the wedding celebration.
- Once near the town, someone would rush ahead and announce the arrival of the groom…
- From there, a processional of the entire wedding party would parade all the way back to the grooms house, as the townspeople would gather in the streets and celebrate the couple… the wedding party was identified by the ones bearing torches.
• The Wedding – a week of festivities!

Understanding the metaphor between the Wedding and the Church…
- The Groom… Jesus Christ.
- The Bride… the Church (Believer)
- The Betrothal… Salvation in Christ.
- The “Fetching of the Bride”… the Rapture/2nd Coming.
- The Wedding Celebration…
Rev. 19:6-8 (NIV), “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

Jesus tells them, “no one knows when… but, keep watch…”

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV)
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 the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” “No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves”.
But while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. “Sir! Sir!” they said. “Open the door for us!” But he replied, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.” Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is about READINESS.

• Righteousness “oil” – the Spirit of God
It’s possible to “look” ready, and not “be” ready.

• Responsibility “give us some of your oil”
Righteousness cannot be shared.

• Rejection “The door was shut.”

• Relationship “I don’t know you.”