Oil - Matthew 25:1-13 - Twenty-fourth Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 25:1-13 NIV

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘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.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Oil

Listen again to that last verse…

Matthew 25:13

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

This past week, I couldn’t help but to dwell on this verse. I want, so much, for Jesus to come again, like, right now. But it didn’t happen. So, okay, now what? I know that Jesus is my Savior, do you? Do you know this? Do you believe this? If so, what are you doing about it? If not, what should you be doing about it? I’m not talking about any kind of works righteousness here. I’m talking about, how serious are you about the relationship God so desperately wants with you that He would send His Son to die for you, SO THAT, you could be with Him forever. Forever, whenever He decides to fulfill His coming to receive you. Are you going to receive Him, or just take everything for granted? Are you going to truly believe His words? Are you going to tell family, friends, and even those you have never met before in your life, that God wants a relationship, so close, that He is willing, before the creation of this world, to love you so much, that He fashioned a way for us, you and I, and all people, to live WITH Him forever?

Since Jesus did not return this week; it’s time to talk about that very coming event.

The oil is out there! Bring all of it along. This is an oil freely provided for you. Bring it with you this week, and all the following weeks to come, until Jesus comes again, to take us to be WITH Him, in a new creation, that only He, could fashion for us, TO LIVE, with Him forever.

Now, let’s dig into this passage of Scripture, together, and ponder these things which God has richly provided to us…

It would be good to be aware of the previous chapter in Matthew. Jesus had been teaching his disciples about the destruction of the Temple and the signs of the end times. As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, He unfolded to His disciples, what would take place at the end of time. Well, it all concluded with the unknown, of the day or time, in which all of this would occur. So, this was some heavy stuff!

This current passage of Scripture in Matthew 25, is a parable, teaching about the need to be ready for this unknown time. So, as disciples, we can learn, here, about the need to be ready, even as we live in the here and now.

When we hear of the ten virgins, we can think about disciples of Jesus, that’s you and me. As Children of God, we have a commonality. Yep! And that’s God! And we have a commonality in the Kingdom of Heaven as well. The Bridegroom, obviously refers to Jesus, and the bride, refers to the church on earth, to become the church Triumphant. That’s the perfect church in the Kingdom of Heaven. Here on earth, the church, ain’t there yet. Sometimes the church on earth is referred to as the Church Militant… not quite ready yet.

And then you have the lamps, that are sort of like being prepared to meet the Bridegroom.

It’s important to get some of these representations in order to get the gist of the Parable.

As far as the virgins go, they were split down the middle, 5 foolish and 5 wise. Boy oh boy, isn’t that how the Church Militant can be? Especially throughout the ages! Seems like churches love to divide, and many times, make a mess out of things.

Well half of the virgins didn’t come prepared for the wait. The wait is like being watchful and ready for Jesus’ return.

 There is a discipline in the lives of faithful disciples. Just like an athlete, we need to train. We need to go to God each and every day. We need to pray and go to church. And we need to search Scripture for understanding. NOT as some duty, but once again, kind of like last week, as a RESPONSE, and JOY, for the life God has given to us, to live in His Kingdom, in the here and now, and on into eternity. This IS fun stuff! To do anything else is making light of what God has richly provided! Forgiveness, salvation and ever-lasting life. This is BIG League stuff here.

Well, the wise virgins, came prepared. Why? Because this is exciting stuff here. We are looking for Jesus’ return after all. That’s a BIG deal, and is a time to be celebrated. So, bring along some extra oil for the wait!

We have a dilemma here though. We don’t know when the Bridegroom, in the Parable, or Jesus for us… just when is He coming?! And if it’s going to be awhile, maybe, just maybe, we may fall asleep!

And then it happens! Jesus comes! Either OOPS! Or HOORAY! I guess that depends. Well, the unexpected hour is here and now! And in this, the Holy Spirit comes into play. Not as if the Holy Spirit hasn’t been active all along, but rather, the Holy Spirit has worked in the lives of the disciples all along. All of that training, preparation and stuff like, that comes from the Holy Spirit. And through the Holy Spirit’s action in the lives of the disciples, we have all along been working, one with the other, to prepare ourselves for this very moment. And that there is the point where the Church Militant transforms into the Church Triumphant. All of the bickering and fussing, will be made clear in the end. Not because of the stands we take, one with another, but rather through the Grace of God, active in the Holy Spirit, in the Kingdom of God in eternity. This is being made “righteous,” NOT by ourselves, but by and through God in Christ Jesus.

So, as we wait, we turn to one another, and support one another, in the waiting for that unknown hour. That’s some perfect fellowship there. We love one another, so much, that we care, to take care of one another in the waiting.

So, now we come together, trim our lamps and welcome Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The gift of faith that God has freely given to us, and freely enriched our lives with, springs into action, one for another, in love for God, and each other.

But what about those who weren’t prepared? They didn’t seem to take seriously the preparation that the Holy Spirit was working in them all along. It’s sad! It makes me sad to think that some people will not respond to God’s love. The gift of faith, in them, does not lead them to respond in a belief that is rooted in the actions of what God has done through the life, ministry, healings, teachings, forgiveness, and death of Jesus on that cross, for ALL people. How can we help those in spiritual need? How can we lead them? How can we show them what is going on?

In the words of Jesus…

Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

You see, the response, IS NOT, just about performing some stuff that WE Think God is looking for. That’s just self-righteousness. We are called to respond to God’s will, NOT, what we think God’s will should be. And that is a tough one, for many of us. A trap that is easy to fall into. A trap that we must confess to God, and spin around through His forgiveness, TO, the life God chooses for us, NOT, the life we choose to live for ourselves. And this trap has been happening all along. Today, and multiple examples throughout the lives in the Old Testament.

We are called to a “REAL” relationship with God.

So, now it gets tough between the virgins. Sometimes the truth is a hard thing to take. The Wise Virgins must send the Foolish Virgins back to get more oil. That oil that was there from the beginning. That oil that the Holy Spirit had been giving all along. That’s about being prepared. You just don’t know when Jesus will come again. So, GET READY… STAY READY… Find the joy in being READY.

In the words of Paul…

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 NIV

² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

People MUST be told this! Plain and simple…

And yes! That means ALL disciples, must tell ALL people, this tough message. This is some of the most serious stuff to proclaim to the world, BY, disciples of Jesus.

The arrival of the bridegroom, in this time and place, needs some clarification. In the time of Jesus presence, the timing of the bridegroom, with the bridal party, was a bit of a mystery. The timing was unpredictable. Well, that wouldn’t work in today’s society! At least not with church preparations, music, cameras, and all that kind of stuff. Somebody has to bake the cake ahead of time, after all! Today we expect the bridegroom, and the bridal party, to be ready and prepared. Not so, back in Jesus’ time.

So, the point in the parable is, that since we don’t know when Jesus will come again, we MUST be prepared. We must be on the lookout. For there is great joy in the arrival of Jesus, for us disciples who are looking, watching, and waiting for Him.

I’m not so sure many people today look at Jesus coming again as a joyful event. We tend to want to turn inward, and want to get what we want to get done first. We want to obtain the riches, power, and all the prestige we want, before Jesus comes again. That’s just crazy! If we really believe, we will be prepared and ready. We will have the fuel of grace, filling our lamps, so that we can join in the party. Our own wants and needs, are nothing, compared to the coming of Jesus, to be with us at that great Wedding Party.

Next in this parable, the foolish virgins arrive, after having gone back for more lamp oil. I feel so sorry for people like this. They didn’t believe what God has promised in reality. They didn’t believe that He, just might come, while they were away. They knew enough to go out and fill their lamps, but they didn’t come prepared. How many times have I sinned in this way? How many times have I not taken the warning? How many times have I not really believed?

And that is the lesson, I suppose. Listen to the Word of Jesus. Believe it! Reflect on those times that you, in your life, really didn’t take God’s Word, or the words of Jesus to heart, AND, face God, in repentance. Do this stuff daily! For we all sin. As we turn to God, He forgives us. Jesus understands us! This IS a BIG deal here. Don’t take Jesus return lightly, or selfishly, or be lackadaisical about it. Lord, help me and help all who fall to this same temptation, forgive us, and straighten us out, I pray.

Jesus has opened the door for us, so enter! Yes, respond, believe, and run to Him. After all, He has run to you all of your life! So, run to His open door, in the faith freely given. Believe in Him.

The Old Testament prophet Amos gives us a hint. A hint of how serious this proclaiming honest truth is, to, and for, those God gives to us each day, and to all those we love in this earthly walk.

Amos 5:18-24 NIV

¹⁸ Woe to you who long
    for the day of the Lord!
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?
    That day will be darkness, not light.
¹⁹ It will be as though a man fled from a lion
    only to meet a bear,
as though he entered his house
    and rested his hand on the wall
    only to have a snake bite him.
²⁰ Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—
    pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
    your assemblies are a stench to me.
²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.
²³ Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Jesus, I’m so looking forward to Your coming. Come, Lord Jesus, come! I’m waiting for the party to start. I know that You are my joy, my hope, my salvation; now and forever.

Hear these words of Paul. Hear them as the punctuation mark that they are intended to be…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Yes, I pray, dear Lord Jesus… Come, Lord Jesus, come… Amen --- Yes! May this be so…

I leave you with this wonderful YouTube Spiritual…

“Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex6VyV8Qoqk&list=RDex6VyV8Qoqk&start_radio=1