MATTHEW 25:1-13
CHAPTER 25 out to meet him. b. A cry: “Go—meet Him”
7 Then all those virgins c. All arise: Prepare
arose, and trimmed their their lamps
DS5

F. The Warning to Watch, lamps. d. The foolish discover

DS1,2
25:1-13 (cp. Lk. 8 And the foolish said unto their lamps are out:
12:35-37) the wise, Give us of your oil; Frantic—beg for oil
for our lamps are gone out. e. The wise scarcely have
9 But the wise answered, enough for themselves
1 Describes the Kingdom of saying, Not so; lest there be
Heaven Then shall the kingdom of not enough for us and you:
2 There are wise & foolish heaven be likened unto ten but go ye rather to them that
virgins (believers) who virgins, which took their sell, and buy for yourselves. 5 There is the bridegroom’s
attend a wedding lamps, and went forth to meet 10 And while they went to return & the gathering of
a. Five are wise; five are the bridegroom. buy, the bridegroom came; the wise
foolish 2 And five of them were and they that were ready 6 There is a shut door to
b. The foolish take no oil wise, and five were foolish. went in with him to the mar- the foolish
for their lamps: Provi- 3 They that were foolish took riage: and the door was shut. a. The door was shut
sion & supply their lamps, and took no oil 11 Afterward came also the b. The foolish cry for entry
c. The wise take oil for their with them: other virgins, saying, Lord,
lamps: Provision & supply 4 But the wise took oil in Lord, open to us. c. The foolish will be
3 There is a long delay wait- their vessels with their lamps. 12 But he answered and rejected
ing for the bridegroom: 5 While the bridegroom tar- said, Verily I say unto you, I
All slumber & sleep
DS3,4
ried, they all slumbered and know you not. 7 The point: We must watch
4 There is a great summons slept. 13 Watch therefore, for ye & expect the Lord’s re-
when He comes 6 And at midnight there was know neither the day nor the turn at any moment
a. A surprise: Midnight a cry made, Behold, the bri- hour wherein the Son of man
degroom cometh; go ye cometh.


FUTURE EVENTS: CHRIST’S RETURN TO EARTH


F. The Warning to Watch, 25:1-13

(25:1-13) Introduction: the believer must watch for the Lord’s return, and he must be wise and not foolish in watching (see
note—Mt.24:42). This is the point of Jesus’ parable in this passage (v.13): the parable of the ten virgins, five foolish and five
wise.
g159 The bridegroom, of course, is Christ Himself.
g159 The virgins are believers, all professors of religion. The five wise virgins are genuine believers; the five
foolish virgins are false believers, those who have a false profession.
g159 The lamps represent the lives, that is, the testimony, the witness, the heart, and the profession of the virgins
(professing believers).
g159 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 a dramatic picture of just what will happen to all professing believers, both the wise and the foolish, when
the Lord returns.
1. The parable describes the Kingdom of Heaven (v.1).
2. There are wise and foolish virgins (believers) who attend a wedding (v.1-4).
3. There is a long delay waiting for the bridegroom: all slumber and sleep (v.5).
4. There is a great summons when the bridegroom comes (v.6-9).
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).
7. The point: we must watch and expect the Lord’s return at any moment (v.13).


DEEPER STUDY # 1
(25:1-13) Wedding, Jewish: this event, so unlike what occurs in most countries, was a common custom among Jews. The
wedding festivities, which lasted for a whole week, were centered in the home where the couple was to live. The bride-
groom was allowed to show up at any moment and enter the house; but when he chose to come, he always sent a man
ahead crying out, “Behold, the bridegroom comes.” This enabled everyone to prepare for his arrival. The bride had ten
young ladies (virgins) who were always to be prepared to rush out and meet the bridegroom. In the event that he came at
night, they were to have lamps ready so they could go out to light his path along the streets. This is the picture Christ was
painting of His return.

32
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53