Bible Reading: Genesis 26; Esther 2; Matthew 25; Acts 25
Matthew 25:8-9 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
It might take a long time for Jesus to come again. That is the point of this parable that Jesus told. Since we do not know the day or the hour, we must watch!
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Jesus here likens his coming to a wedding party waiting for the bridegroom. The father of the groom would set the day of the wedding, but he would not let anyone know until the time was right. The bridegroom had preparations to make. He needed a place for him and his bride to live. He needed to be able to pay the bride price to the bride's father. His father would help him with these preparations and when they were made, and then the bridegroom would be allowed by his father to go and get his bride. Meanwhile, the bride and her bridesmaids waited expectantly for him to come. They had to be ready because he could come at any hour.
In our Lord's parable, the bridegroom was later than they thought and they all fell asleep. They awoke to the sound of the friend of the bridegroom's voice:
Matthew 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
They all rose and trimmed their lamps, but five of them had no oil. They wanted the others to share, but they could not. It was time to go, but their only option was to go and buy more. While the wedding party was headed off the foolish virgins went to buy oil. When they finally arrived the wedding part was inside and the door was shut.
Matthew 25:11-12 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
These virgins were not allowed in. They were not ready when the Lord came. He said he knew them not! He did not say I don't know you anymore. Even though they were keeping company with the wedding party, the Lord did not know them. They were not ready when he came. There are many like that today. They are in the middle of the church, but their lamps are not full of the oil of the Holy Spirit. They are not known of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Are you ready? When he comes you need to be watching and expecting his return.
In Christ,
Rody
