Friday: 21^st Week in Ordinary Time-C

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13: The Bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins: The Warning to Watch

The believer must watch for the Lord’s return, and he/she must be wise and not foolish in watching (Mt 24:42). This is the point of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, five foolish and five wise.

·        The bridegroom is Jesus Christ himself

·        The virgins are believers, all professors of religions

·        The five wise virgins are genuine believers

·        The five foolish virgins are false believers, those who have false profession

·        The lamps represent the lives, that is, the testimony, the witness, the heart, and the profession of the virgins (professing believers)

·        The oil is the provision of righteousness, the supply of the Holy Spirit that is to fill the lamps (lives) of the professing believers

The parable is the dramatic picture of all professing believers, both the wise and the foolish, when the Lord returns.

1. Describes the kingdom of heaven (v.1)

2. There are wise and foolish virgins (believers) who attend a wedding (v.1-4)

a. Five are wise: Five are foolish

b. The foolish take no oil for their lamps: Provision and supply

c. The wise take oil for their lamps: Provision and supply

3. There is a long delay waiting for the bridegroom: All are drowsy and sleep (v.5)

4. There is a great summons When he comes (v.6-9)

a. A surprise: Midnight

b. A cry: Come-meet him

c. The awakening: Prepare their lamps

d. The foolish discover their lamps are out: Frantic-beg for oil

e. The wise scarcely have enough for themselves

5. There is the bridegroom’s return and the gathering of the wise (v.10)

6. There is a shut door to the foolish (v.10-12)

a. The door was shut

b. The foolish cry for entry

c. The foolish will be rejected

7. The point: We must watch and expect the Lord’s return at any moment (v.13)

Thought: Wise is the correct word to call the person who secures additional oil (righteousness=one who always depends on God) to enter into heaven (2Cor 5:21; Eph 4:24).

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