The Wise and the Foolish
Sermon
Preaching the Parables
Today's parable is commonly known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. Some years ago a minister asked a mountaineer of Virginia if he knew the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. After thinking a while, he replied, "I didn't know there were five foolish Virginians in the whole state."
The word, "virgin," is used by the King James Version. Since there are not that many virgins in today's society, later translations wisely use "bridesmaids," "maidens," or "girls." In today's culture unmarried women are not necessarily virgins.
The parable reminds us of a game we played in childhood. It was called "Hide and Seek." A child with closed eyes counted up to 100 during which playmates hid. At the end of the count, the
counter would call out, "Ready or not. Here I come." It reminds us of the commercial, "Delta is ready when you are." Isaiah says, "God is ready when you are." (Isaiah 65:1)
The parable focuses upon preparation or readiness for Christ's coming. Most believe in preparataon: a spare tire in a car as preparation for a flat, insurance in preparation for a theft, fire trucks in preparation for a fire, pre-flight instructions by a stewardess in preparation for turbulent weather, education as preparation for a good job.
Preparation is a sign of wisdom illustrated by the parable. The question of the parable is not whether or not Christ is coming again, or when he is coming, or even how he is coming. The point is, preparation for his coming. The big question is whether we are ready to receive him whenever he comes now or later. Will there be spiritual oil in the lamps of our lives?
Context
Context of the Church Year
The church year is drawing to a close. Today is the first of the last three Sundays of the year. For these last three Sundays we deal with three eschatological parables from Matthew 25:
Pentecost 25 (Proper 27) - the parable of the virgins.
Pentecost 26 (Proper 28) - the parable of the talents.
Christ the King - the parable of the judgment.
These three parables deal with the return of Christ:
The parable of the virgins - preparation for his coming.
The parable of the talents - accountibility at his coming.
The parable of the King - judgment at his coming.
Context of Matthew 24
The three parables in Matthew 25 are to be understood in the context of the preceding chapter. Jesus gives these parables during the final week of his life in Jerusalem. He triumphantly entered Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and had controversial discussion with the religious leaders. In a private discourse with his disciples' Jesus tells them about the coming destruction of the temple, the signs of the end, and the unexpected and sudden return of the Son of man. In the light of this, they "must be ready," (24:44) for his return will be sudden and unexpected. Matthew 24 and 25 should be considered as one unit with one theme: the Parousia. The connecting link between the chapters is "Then." The Good News Bible translates it "at that time." What "time"? The sudden and unexpected time of his return. Chapter 24 tells of the end and the Parousia. Chapter 25 gives parables explaining the significance of the return. Consequently, the three parables are to be understood in the context of Jesus' second coming.
Context of a Wedding
The parable of the girls involves a wedding. To understand the parable we need to know what the wedding customs were in Jesus' day. The wedding festivities lasted for a week. The high point of the week was the bridegroom's coming to the bride's home to take her to their new home. The bride chose ten of her best friends to be her bridesmaids. They were to be a part of the procession from her home to the new home. This took place at night. They carried lamps to light the way of the procession. The lamps were wooden staffs with a dish on top. In the dish was a wick soaked in oil. Extra oil was taken and poured in the dish as needed. The time of the bridegroom's coming was a secret; it was to be a surprise for the waiting bride and bridesmaids. When the bridegroom, bride, and wedding party entered the new home, the door was shut and latecomers were not admitted for the festivities. In those days there was no honeymoon. The couple spent the first week in their new home.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Amos 5:18-24) The people of Israel looked forward to the "day of the Lord" as Christians look forward to the Parousia. But why should they? Amos says "the day" will be darkness and gloom caused by their wickedness. Only when they will execute justice and righteousness will "the day" be one of victory.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) This is the fourth of a series of five lections from 1 Thessalonians. In Paul's day the return of Christ was expected any day now. A concern arose concerning Christians who died before he returned. Paul assures his people that the dead are now with Christ and will come with him to judge the earth. The living Christians on earth will have no advantage over the dead. Christ will gather both the living and the dead that both may be with him forever.
Gospel. (Matthew 25:1-13) The gospel lesson consists of the parable of the wise and foolish girls. Christ, the bridegroom, delays his coming until midnight. The foolish ones were not prepared for the delay, shown by the fact that their oil supply was exhausted. While they went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and they were shut out of the wedding celebration. Wise people will be prepared to meet Christ whenever he comes.
Psalm. (Psalm 50:7-15) In harmony with Lesson 1, the Psalmist reports that God does not accept animal sacrifices. Rather they are to offer thanksgiving and prayer.
Prayer of the Day. We pray that God will stir up our wills to seek the Lord's help and thus enjoy the fruit of salvation.
Hymn of the Day. "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying" The hymn by Nicolai harmonizes with the parable of the virgins.
Context of Related Scriptures
Isaiah 54:4-6 - Israel is Yahweh's wife.
Ezekiel 16:6-14 - Yahweh adorns his young wife, Israel.
Mark 13:32-37 - The uncertain time of Jesus' return.
Luke 12:35-40 - Be ready for Christ's return.
Luke 13:22-27 - The shut door.
2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul betrothed the church to Christ.
Ephesians 5:21-27 - The church is the bride of Christ.
Revelation 19:4-8 - The marriage of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:1-2 - The new Jersualem comes from heaven to be a bride.
Content
Content of the Parable
Several perspectives may be taken of the parable of the maidens leading to various understandings and interpretations.
1. From Jesus' perspective. Acccording to this perspective, Jesus told the parable for the situation in his day. He was speaking of himself as the bridegroom. The maids were the people of the covenant. The foolish girls were the religious leaders who did not respond to his ministry. Their refusal to accept him as Messiah resulted in judgment, the destruction of the temple and the nation. This view does not involve the return of Christ at the end of time. Jesus speaks to the current situation in the nation.
2. From the church's perspective. Some scholars, such as Bultmann and Eta Linnemann, hold that Jesus did not give this parable. Rather, it was the work of the apostolic church. The parable was intended to prepare the people for the unexpected return of Christ and to explain his delay in coming. Accordingly, the parable was put in the context of Matthew 24 dealing with the end times. Matthew added the word, "then" (v. 1) and verse 13 urging the people to watch for the Parousia. The parable was interpreted allegorically: Christ is the bridegroom. The virgins are the church. The tarrying of the bridegroom is Christ's delay in coming. His coming at midnight speaks of his sudden and unexpected arrival. The foolish girls represent those who are not prepared to receive the returned Christ.
3. From the eschatological perspective. Joachim Jeremias, for one, takes this view of the parable. He rejects the allegorical interpretation in favor of seeing the parable as a story that deals with a sudden catastrophe. The purpose of the parable is to prepare the people for an impending disaster such as the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The emphasis is upon the sudden and unexpected breaking in of the Kingdom of God. It is an existential experience of crisis. It deals with the here and now, not with a distant return of the Messiah. According to this perspective, we are to be ready at any time for the Kingdom of God to come to us, at death, or in a crisis. Are we prepared for God to enter our lives?
Precis of the Parable
When Christ returns, the Kingdom of God will be like this. Ten girls with their oil lamps went to meet a bridegroom. Half of them were wise and the others were foolish. They were foolish because they did not take extra oil with them, but the smart girls took extra oil in their flasks. The bridegroom was late in coming. In the meantime all ten girls fell asleep. At midnight a cry was heard, "Here comes the bridegroom! Come and meet him!" The girls awakened and trimmed their lamps. The foolish girls said to the wise ones, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out." The wise ones replied, "Sorry, we can't give you any, for we have only enough for ourselves. Go to the store and buy some oil for yourselves." While the foolish girls were buying oil, the bridegroom came. The five wise ones went with the bridegroom to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. Later the foolish ones came and begged, "Please, please, let us in." The bridegroom answered, "Of course, you can't come in. I do not know you." Then Jesus concluded, "Stay awake because you do not know the day nor the hour when the Messiah comes."
Thesis:
The necessity of preparation for Christ's return.
Theme:
Be ready!
Key Words in the Parable
1. "Five." (v. 1) Ten bridesmaids make a large wedding party. Of the ten five were wise and five were foolish. Is that the proportion of wise and foolish people? Five have happiness in getting into the festivities; five are miserable because they were shut out. Five get into heaven and five go to hell. Why were they fools? Because they did not have adequate resources for the big opportunity to meet the bridegroom. A person is a fool not to be prepared for the big events of life.
2. "Slept." (v. 5) All ten girls fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom who was very late. There is nothing foolish or wise about going to sleep. Sleep is a blessing from God. Insomnia is a curse. The issue is not in their sleeping while waiting. Both wise and foolish ones were awakened by the call that the bridegroom was here.
3. "Midnight." (v. 6) The bridegroom comes at midnight, the darkest hour of the night. It is an hour when we least expect someone to come. It is a fact of life. When we are in the midnight of despair, we turn to God. It is darkest before the dawn. Just when we are about to give up, help comes. When the world gets into the midnight of crime, war, and barbarism, the Christ will come to save us.
4. "Out." (v. 8) When the foolish girls awakened, they found their lamps were going out for lack of oil. They had oil for only the present and not for the long haul. They failed to look ahead and plan for any eventuality. They had insufficient resources.
5. "Give." (v. 8) The foolish ones begged the girls with oil to give them some of their oil. The wise refused because they had enough oil only for themselves. Were these girls selfish and stingy? The hard fact of life is that the oil of faith cannot be borrowed from others. Each person must have a personal faith in God. Just as oil cannot be borrowed, it also cannot be inherited from the faithful, for God has no grandchildren.
6. "Shut." (v. 10) The foolish maidens were shut out of the wedding festivities. Was this not cruel? They wanted to come to the wedding. The bride was their best friend. They had looked forward to the event. They were properly dressed. They now had their lamps burning. The only thing against them was their tardiness. Why would the bridegroom claim he did not know them? These girls missed their opportunity and now it was too late. According to Scripture, there is no repentance after death. Repent now or never! Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow never comes. Delay and be lost!
Contemplation
Insights
1. Too late. There are times when it is too late to do or say something. The foolish girls secured oil, had their lamps burning, and were at the home of the bridal couple. But it was too late for them to enter. We may be too late to catch a train or a plane. We may be too late in sending our income tax returns to avoid a penalty. When a loved one dies, it may be too late to say something kind. After death it is too late to repent.
2. No borrowing. When the foolish ones discovered they were out of oil, they asked the other five girls to share their oil. They tried to borrow oil. Because there was not enough oil for all, the wise girls had to say, no. In a spiritual sense, there are some things we cannot borrow: faith, love, character, personality, a relationship with Christ. Faith cannot be inherited, bought, or borrowed. Each must have his/her own oil of faith.
3. Perseverence. The foolish women had everything to go to the wedding feast: an invitation as bridesmaids, proper clothing, lighting equipment, anticipation. They lacked only oil. They did not persevere in their need for oil. They failed to look ahead, to count the cost, or to estimate the time when the bridegroom would come. Their oil ran out before midnight when the bridegroom came. They failed to endure or to be faithful to the end. The Parousia may not come for fifty years. Will our faith last that long? It is possible to lose heart, to be impatient, and to go to sleep because of being tired of waiting. The need is to accumulate spiritual resources in order to be prepared when Christ comes into our lives.
4. Formula for success. Success is the result of preparation and opportunity intersecting. If we have preparation without opportunity, we get nowhere. If we have opportunity but not preparation, we fail to seize the opportunity. The foolish girls had the opportunity but not the preparation in terms of an oil supply. The wise women had both preparation and opportunity. They succeeded in entering the wedding celebration.
5. Ready for the best. When we think of being ready, we usually think of being prepared for the worst that could happen: locks on the door in case of thieves, life jackets on in the event of a boat accident. In the parable, it is a case of getting ready for the best. It was a wedding festival with friends, music, dancing, and good food. The Kingdom of God is like a wedding feast - a joyous occasion filled with all good things.
6. Surprise! The time of the coming of the bridegroom was kept a secret. The bride and her attendants waited with anticipation. His coming would be a surprise. If the foolish girls had known the hour of his coming, they would have had sufficient oil. At midnight came the surprise. The foolish ones were probably surprised, too, that their oil supply was exhausted. Likewise, God is full of surprises. When Christ returns, many will be surprised. We can be "surprised by joy." God surprises us in his answer to our prayers. We are surprised when God turns our misfortune into a blessing.
7. The shut door. Jesus believed in judgment, exclusion, and hell. In many of his parables, as this one, he teaches that people can be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven. The tardy women have the door shut in their faces. To make things worse, the bridegroom claims he does not even know the bridesmaids. However, God cannot be blamed for excluding people from heaven. "It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14) We exclude ourselves. The girls paid for their foolish lack of having enough oil. Here is the hard reality of judgment. There is no place for universalism in Jesus' parables. All people will not necessarily be saved, because some choose to be lost.
Homily Hints
1. When the Lights Go Out. (25:6-8) The lamps of the foolish ones went out because the oil was used up during the long wait for the bridegroom. It was a long time until midnight. The foolish girls did not foresee their need of additional oil. As a result they were not prepared for the bridegroom's coming and they missed the party. For us Christ is the bridegroom and his return is delayed. Do we have the spiritual resources for this delay? What is the oil we need?
A. The oil of hope - hope of meeting the bridegroom - v. 1.
B. The oil of patience - delay of the bridegroom - v. 5.
C. The oil of faithfulness - wise go with the bridegroom - v. 10.
2. When Everything Is Not Enough. (15:1-13) We can have everything but everything may not be enough to enter the Kingdom. The foolish girls had everything but oil. A secular and humanistic people, we can have everything materially, morally, and educationally, but we may lack one thing: the oil of faith in Christ. This lack excludes us from the Kingdom.
A. What the foolish girls had -
1. Invitation to the wedding.
2. A waiting period for the bridegroom.
3. Lamps.
B. What was lacking: the oil of faith.
3. When Your Oil Is a Quart Low. (25:1-13) When oil in your car motor is a quart low, you must find more oil. The oil in the lamps of the foolish girls was low. They desperately needed more. How do we get spiritual oil when we are low in oil?
A. Not by borrowing.
B. Not by buying.
C. Not by inheritance.
D. But by worship, prayer, service.
4. A Foolproof Formula for Success. (25:1-13) When opportunity and preparation meet, success results. The foolish ones had the opportunity to meet the bridegroom but they were not prepared to go with him because their lamps were out. The wise girls had both opportunity and preparation. They succeeded in getting into the wedding.
A. Preparation without opportunity is futile.
B. Opportunity without preparation is failure.
C. Preparation and opportunity spell success.
5. Who Are the Wise? (25:1-13) Much of our attention has been focused on the foolish women and why they were foolish. Perhaps a positive approach is in order by looking at the wise not restricted to those in the parable. Who are the wise?
A. The wise worship - Matthew 2:7-8.
B. The wise fear God - Psalm 111:10.
C. The wise prepare - Matthew 25:1-13.
6. A Drama of Life. (25:1-13) In the parable we see a drama of life in three scenes:
A. The joyful hope - invitation to a wedding.
B. The crisis - no oil.
C. The tragedy - the shut door.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. The subject of the second coming of Christ is a familiar one even to those in mainline churches. Through religious telecasts and broadcasts people hear evangalists speak on the return of Christ. Gospel songs and anthems deal with the theme, "The King is coming, the King is coming." Charismatics and Pentecostals seem to make the Parousia a central doctrine of faith. The Parousia is a controversial subject among church people. Some deny the Second Coming as being irrelevant to modern society. Others hold that Christ has returned in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Traditionalists still hold to the words of the Apostles' Creed: "from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead."
2. Another point of contact with the people of the church is this Sunday's emphasis on preparation. Whether one is wise or foolish depends upon preparation either for a crisis or a celebration. The foolish girls were unprepared for the late coming of the bridegroom by not having extra oil in their lamps. In our day we place much emphasis upon preparation. Education is considered essential preparation for a good job. Churches are placing more emphasis upon preparation of youth and adults for church membership. The parable stresses the need of preparation for the Parousia.
3. The coming of Christ again is associated with the windup of history and the destruction of the earth for a new heaven and earth. The sky is to fall. Chaos is to return. Jesus gave the signs of the end which would precede his coming. In today's world the signs are evident. Because of nuclear weapons, the world is living on the brink of destruction. Hatred between races and countries breaks out in armed conflict. Daily we hold our breaths at each outburst of hostility in fear it is the prelude of a war that will end civilization. Our people in the pews are aware of the world's fragile condition. They ask, "Could this be the end?"
Points to Ponder
1. The parable raises some questions that have no answers:
Why didn't the girls with oil share with those who had none?
Why didn't the bridegroom express concern for the five that did not come to meet him?
How could the foolish girls buy oil at midnight?
These and other questions are not answered because they are unimportant details of the parable. A parable is primarily concerned with the truth to be conveyed. Details are not to be taken literally or allegorically. In this parable, the main teaching deals with preparation.
2. Is there a contradiction in the parable? While waiting for the bridegroom, all ten of the girls went to sleep. Yet, in verse 13 the Master urges his listeners to "watch," that is, to stay awake. Because of this contradiction, some scholars claim that verse 13 was added by the early church through Matthew 3.
3. Does this parable deal with the Second Coming or with the coming of the Kingdom of God? Is it a matter of Christ's coming to a person here and now, an existential experience, or does it deal with an eschatological experience in the future? The latter is favored by Matthew, because the parable is in the context of Jesus' discourse on the end of the world and his return. Moreover, the church would take the same position, for the parable in the Lectionary comes at the close of the church year to harmonize with the end of history by the Parousia.
4. Are too many Sundays devoted to the Parousia? The last three Sundays of the church year and the first two of the new church year deal with Christ's return. Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, and Charismatics probably would answer, no, because every sermon each Sunday has some reference to the Parousia. For preachers in the mainline churches, Protestant and Roman Catholic, the prospect of preparing five sermons on the Parousia is a challenge to be creative and resourceful.
Illustrative Materials
1. Missed Opportunity. Years ago the Coca-Cola Company was given the opportunity to buy the twice-bankrupt Pepsi-Cola company. The owner was willing to sell it for $1,000. But, since Coke at the time had a monopoly on the soft drink business, Coke rejected the offer to buy the company which is now its main competitor.
2. Virgins. According to USA Today, only six percent of American women under age twenty-five are virgin brides. Time magazine reports that forty percent of today's fourteen-year-old girls will be pregnant by age twenty. Another survey shows that sixty-five percent of church youth have sex by age eighteen.
3. Sleep. One-third of the American population has a sleep problem. Twenty-five million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written annually. Thirty million non-prescription sleeping pills are sold annually. Four percent of the population take sleeping pills nightly. Each year one billion dollars is spent on sleeping aids.
4. The Death of the Earth. The world now has 50,000 nuclear warheads which could mean the death of the earth. Thirty-five nations have the capacity to produce nuclear bombs. Every city in Russia and in the U.S.A. is targeted. The first nuclear attack would kill one million in America, one million in Russia, and one million in Europe.
5. Borrowing. Like the foolish girls, Americans are interested in borrowing. In 1988 consumers owed $620 billion in installment debt. This is twice as much as owed in 1982. Corporations owe $1.8 trillion, an eighty-two percent increase over the last six years.
6. Surprise! Coming at midnight the bridegroom surprised the sleeping girls. A story is told of a farmer in Louisiana who needed new clothes. His wife kept begging him each time he went to town to buy new clothes because his present ones were threadbare. One day he hitched his horse, Dobbin, to a wagon and went to town. At first he decided to buy just a new shirt. Then he saw that he needed new trousers to go with the shirt. Then he decided he needed new under clothes for under the new clothes. He put the new clothes in a bag and put the bag behind the seat in the wagon. On the way home he decided he would surprise his wife with the new clothes. He stopped on a bridge and threw his old clothes in the river. Then he reached back for the bag with the new clothes, but it was missing. There he was - stark naked. He said to his horse, Dobbin, "Let's go, Dobbin. Today we are really going to give the wife a surprise!"
7. The Day of His Coming. From time to time through history small groups waiting for Jesus' return thought they knew the day of his coming. In October 1844 a shop in Philadelphia displayed the following sign: "This shop is closed in honor of the King of Kings who will appear about the 22nd of October. Get ready to crown Him Lord of all."
8. The Midnight of History. If the 2,850 million years of our earth's existence were represented by a day of twenty-four hours, from midnight to midnight, then 10:51 p.m. would mark the awakening of organic life. Twenty-two seconds before midnight marks the appearance of humanity, and in the last three-tenths of a second the whole recorded history takes place. The splitting of the atom took place in a small fragment of that three-tenths of a second before midnight.
The word, "virgin," is used by the King James Version. Since there are not that many virgins in today's society, later translations wisely use "bridesmaids," "maidens," or "girls." In today's culture unmarried women are not necessarily virgins.
The parable reminds us of a game we played in childhood. It was called "Hide and Seek." A child with closed eyes counted up to 100 during which playmates hid. At the end of the count, the
counter would call out, "Ready or not. Here I come." It reminds us of the commercial, "Delta is ready when you are." Isaiah says, "God is ready when you are." (Isaiah 65:1)
The parable focuses upon preparation or readiness for Christ's coming. Most believe in preparataon: a spare tire in a car as preparation for a flat, insurance in preparation for a theft, fire trucks in preparation for a fire, pre-flight instructions by a stewardess in preparation for turbulent weather, education as preparation for a good job.
Preparation is a sign of wisdom illustrated by the parable. The question of the parable is not whether or not Christ is coming again, or when he is coming, or even how he is coming. The point is, preparation for his coming. The big question is whether we are ready to receive him whenever he comes now or later. Will there be spiritual oil in the lamps of our lives?
Context
Context of the Church Year
The church year is drawing to a close. Today is the first of the last three Sundays of the year. For these last three Sundays we deal with three eschatological parables from Matthew 25:
Pentecost 25 (Proper 27) - the parable of the virgins.
Pentecost 26 (Proper 28) - the parable of the talents.
Christ the King - the parable of the judgment.
These three parables deal with the return of Christ:
The parable of the virgins - preparation for his coming.
The parable of the talents - accountibility at his coming.
The parable of the King - judgment at his coming.
Context of Matthew 24
The three parables in Matthew 25 are to be understood in the context of the preceding chapter. Jesus gives these parables during the final week of his life in Jerusalem. He triumphantly entered Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and had controversial discussion with the religious leaders. In a private discourse with his disciples' Jesus tells them about the coming destruction of the temple, the signs of the end, and the unexpected and sudden return of the Son of man. In the light of this, they "must be ready," (24:44) for his return will be sudden and unexpected. Matthew 24 and 25 should be considered as one unit with one theme: the Parousia. The connecting link between the chapters is "Then." The Good News Bible translates it "at that time." What "time"? The sudden and unexpected time of his return. Chapter 24 tells of the end and the Parousia. Chapter 25 gives parables explaining the significance of the return. Consequently, the three parables are to be understood in the context of Jesus' second coming.
Context of a Wedding
The parable of the girls involves a wedding. To understand the parable we need to know what the wedding customs were in Jesus' day. The wedding festivities lasted for a week. The high point of the week was the bridegroom's coming to the bride's home to take her to their new home. The bride chose ten of her best friends to be her bridesmaids. They were to be a part of the procession from her home to the new home. This took place at night. They carried lamps to light the way of the procession. The lamps were wooden staffs with a dish on top. In the dish was a wick soaked in oil. Extra oil was taken and poured in the dish as needed. The time of the bridegroom's coming was a secret; it was to be a surprise for the waiting bride and bridesmaids. When the bridegroom, bride, and wedding party entered the new home, the door was shut and latecomers were not admitted for the festivities. In those days there was no honeymoon. The couple spent the first week in their new home.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Amos 5:18-24) The people of Israel looked forward to the "day of the Lord" as Christians look forward to the Parousia. But why should they? Amos says "the day" will be darkness and gloom caused by their wickedness. Only when they will execute justice and righteousness will "the day" be one of victory.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) This is the fourth of a series of five lections from 1 Thessalonians. In Paul's day the return of Christ was expected any day now. A concern arose concerning Christians who died before he returned. Paul assures his people that the dead are now with Christ and will come with him to judge the earth. The living Christians on earth will have no advantage over the dead. Christ will gather both the living and the dead that both may be with him forever.
Gospel. (Matthew 25:1-13) The gospel lesson consists of the parable of the wise and foolish girls. Christ, the bridegroom, delays his coming until midnight. The foolish ones were not prepared for the delay, shown by the fact that their oil supply was exhausted. While they went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and they were shut out of the wedding celebration. Wise people will be prepared to meet Christ whenever he comes.
Psalm. (Psalm 50:7-15) In harmony with Lesson 1, the Psalmist reports that God does not accept animal sacrifices. Rather they are to offer thanksgiving and prayer.
Prayer of the Day. We pray that God will stir up our wills to seek the Lord's help and thus enjoy the fruit of salvation.
Hymn of the Day. "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying" The hymn by Nicolai harmonizes with the parable of the virgins.
Context of Related Scriptures
Isaiah 54:4-6 - Israel is Yahweh's wife.
Ezekiel 16:6-14 - Yahweh adorns his young wife, Israel.
Mark 13:32-37 - The uncertain time of Jesus' return.
Luke 12:35-40 - Be ready for Christ's return.
Luke 13:22-27 - The shut door.
2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul betrothed the church to Christ.
Ephesians 5:21-27 - The church is the bride of Christ.
Revelation 19:4-8 - The marriage of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:1-2 - The new Jersualem comes from heaven to be a bride.
Content
Content of the Parable
Several perspectives may be taken of the parable of the maidens leading to various understandings and interpretations.
1. From Jesus' perspective. Acccording to this perspective, Jesus told the parable for the situation in his day. He was speaking of himself as the bridegroom. The maids were the people of the covenant. The foolish girls were the religious leaders who did not respond to his ministry. Their refusal to accept him as Messiah resulted in judgment, the destruction of the temple and the nation. This view does not involve the return of Christ at the end of time. Jesus speaks to the current situation in the nation.
2. From the church's perspective. Some scholars, such as Bultmann and Eta Linnemann, hold that Jesus did not give this parable. Rather, it was the work of the apostolic church. The parable was intended to prepare the people for the unexpected return of Christ and to explain his delay in coming. Accordingly, the parable was put in the context of Matthew 24 dealing with the end times. Matthew added the word, "then" (v. 1) and verse 13 urging the people to watch for the Parousia. The parable was interpreted allegorically: Christ is the bridegroom. The virgins are the church. The tarrying of the bridegroom is Christ's delay in coming. His coming at midnight speaks of his sudden and unexpected arrival. The foolish girls represent those who are not prepared to receive the returned Christ.
3. From the eschatological perspective. Joachim Jeremias, for one, takes this view of the parable. He rejects the allegorical interpretation in favor of seeing the parable as a story that deals with a sudden catastrophe. The purpose of the parable is to prepare the people for an impending disaster such as the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The emphasis is upon the sudden and unexpected breaking in of the Kingdom of God. It is an existential experience of crisis. It deals with the here and now, not with a distant return of the Messiah. According to this perspective, we are to be ready at any time for the Kingdom of God to come to us, at death, or in a crisis. Are we prepared for God to enter our lives?
Precis of the Parable
When Christ returns, the Kingdom of God will be like this. Ten girls with their oil lamps went to meet a bridegroom. Half of them were wise and the others were foolish. They were foolish because they did not take extra oil with them, but the smart girls took extra oil in their flasks. The bridegroom was late in coming. In the meantime all ten girls fell asleep. At midnight a cry was heard, "Here comes the bridegroom! Come and meet him!" The girls awakened and trimmed their lamps. The foolish girls said to the wise ones, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out." The wise ones replied, "Sorry, we can't give you any, for we have only enough for ourselves. Go to the store and buy some oil for yourselves." While the foolish girls were buying oil, the bridegroom came. The five wise ones went with the bridegroom to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. Later the foolish ones came and begged, "Please, please, let us in." The bridegroom answered, "Of course, you can't come in. I do not know you." Then Jesus concluded, "Stay awake because you do not know the day nor the hour when the Messiah comes."
Thesis:
The necessity of preparation for Christ's return.
Theme:
Be ready!
Key Words in the Parable
1. "Five." (v. 1) Ten bridesmaids make a large wedding party. Of the ten five were wise and five were foolish. Is that the proportion of wise and foolish people? Five have happiness in getting into the festivities; five are miserable because they were shut out. Five get into heaven and five go to hell. Why were they fools? Because they did not have adequate resources for the big opportunity to meet the bridegroom. A person is a fool not to be prepared for the big events of life.
2. "Slept." (v. 5) All ten girls fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom who was very late. There is nothing foolish or wise about going to sleep. Sleep is a blessing from God. Insomnia is a curse. The issue is not in their sleeping while waiting. Both wise and foolish ones were awakened by the call that the bridegroom was here.
3. "Midnight." (v. 6) The bridegroom comes at midnight, the darkest hour of the night. It is an hour when we least expect someone to come. It is a fact of life. When we are in the midnight of despair, we turn to God. It is darkest before the dawn. Just when we are about to give up, help comes. When the world gets into the midnight of crime, war, and barbarism, the Christ will come to save us.
4. "Out." (v. 8) When the foolish girls awakened, they found their lamps were going out for lack of oil. They had oil for only the present and not for the long haul. They failed to look ahead and plan for any eventuality. They had insufficient resources.
5. "Give." (v. 8) The foolish ones begged the girls with oil to give them some of their oil. The wise refused because they had enough oil only for themselves. Were these girls selfish and stingy? The hard fact of life is that the oil of faith cannot be borrowed from others. Each person must have a personal faith in God. Just as oil cannot be borrowed, it also cannot be inherited from the faithful, for God has no grandchildren.
6. "Shut." (v. 10) The foolish maidens were shut out of the wedding festivities. Was this not cruel? They wanted to come to the wedding. The bride was their best friend. They had looked forward to the event. They were properly dressed. They now had their lamps burning. The only thing against them was their tardiness. Why would the bridegroom claim he did not know them? These girls missed their opportunity and now it was too late. According to Scripture, there is no repentance after death. Repent now or never! Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow never comes. Delay and be lost!
Contemplation
Insights
1. Too late. There are times when it is too late to do or say something. The foolish girls secured oil, had their lamps burning, and were at the home of the bridal couple. But it was too late for them to enter. We may be too late to catch a train or a plane. We may be too late in sending our income tax returns to avoid a penalty. When a loved one dies, it may be too late to say something kind. After death it is too late to repent.
2. No borrowing. When the foolish ones discovered they were out of oil, they asked the other five girls to share their oil. They tried to borrow oil. Because there was not enough oil for all, the wise girls had to say, no. In a spiritual sense, there are some things we cannot borrow: faith, love, character, personality, a relationship with Christ. Faith cannot be inherited, bought, or borrowed. Each must have his/her own oil of faith.
3. Perseverence. The foolish women had everything to go to the wedding feast: an invitation as bridesmaids, proper clothing, lighting equipment, anticipation. They lacked only oil. They did not persevere in their need for oil. They failed to look ahead, to count the cost, or to estimate the time when the bridegroom would come. Their oil ran out before midnight when the bridegroom came. They failed to endure or to be faithful to the end. The Parousia may not come for fifty years. Will our faith last that long? It is possible to lose heart, to be impatient, and to go to sleep because of being tired of waiting. The need is to accumulate spiritual resources in order to be prepared when Christ comes into our lives.
4. Formula for success. Success is the result of preparation and opportunity intersecting. If we have preparation without opportunity, we get nowhere. If we have opportunity but not preparation, we fail to seize the opportunity. The foolish girls had the opportunity but not the preparation in terms of an oil supply. The wise women had both preparation and opportunity. They succeeded in entering the wedding celebration.
5. Ready for the best. When we think of being ready, we usually think of being prepared for the worst that could happen: locks on the door in case of thieves, life jackets on in the event of a boat accident. In the parable, it is a case of getting ready for the best. It was a wedding festival with friends, music, dancing, and good food. The Kingdom of God is like a wedding feast - a joyous occasion filled with all good things.
6. Surprise! The time of the coming of the bridegroom was kept a secret. The bride and her attendants waited with anticipation. His coming would be a surprise. If the foolish girls had known the hour of his coming, they would have had sufficient oil. At midnight came the surprise. The foolish ones were probably surprised, too, that their oil supply was exhausted. Likewise, God is full of surprises. When Christ returns, many will be surprised. We can be "surprised by joy." God surprises us in his answer to our prayers. We are surprised when God turns our misfortune into a blessing.
7. The shut door. Jesus believed in judgment, exclusion, and hell. In many of his parables, as this one, he teaches that people can be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven. The tardy women have the door shut in their faces. To make things worse, the bridegroom claims he does not even know the bridesmaids. However, God cannot be blamed for excluding people from heaven. "It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14) We exclude ourselves. The girls paid for their foolish lack of having enough oil. Here is the hard reality of judgment. There is no place for universalism in Jesus' parables. All people will not necessarily be saved, because some choose to be lost.
Homily Hints
1. When the Lights Go Out. (25:6-8) The lamps of the foolish ones went out because the oil was used up during the long wait for the bridegroom. It was a long time until midnight. The foolish girls did not foresee their need of additional oil. As a result they were not prepared for the bridegroom's coming and they missed the party. For us Christ is the bridegroom and his return is delayed. Do we have the spiritual resources for this delay? What is the oil we need?
A. The oil of hope - hope of meeting the bridegroom - v. 1.
B. The oil of patience - delay of the bridegroom - v. 5.
C. The oil of faithfulness - wise go with the bridegroom - v. 10.
2. When Everything Is Not Enough. (15:1-13) We can have everything but everything may not be enough to enter the Kingdom. The foolish girls had everything but oil. A secular and humanistic people, we can have everything materially, morally, and educationally, but we may lack one thing: the oil of faith in Christ. This lack excludes us from the Kingdom.
A. What the foolish girls had -
1. Invitation to the wedding.
2. A waiting period for the bridegroom.
3. Lamps.
B. What was lacking: the oil of faith.
3. When Your Oil Is a Quart Low. (25:1-13) When oil in your car motor is a quart low, you must find more oil. The oil in the lamps of the foolish girls was low. They desperately needed more. How do we get spiritual oil when we are low in oil?
A. Not by borrowing.
B. Not by buying.
C. Not by inheritance.
D. But by worship, prayer, service.
4. A Foolproof Formula for Success. (25:1-13) When opportunity and preparation meet, success results. The foolish ones had the opportunity to meet the bridegroom but they were not prepared to go with him because their lamps were out. The wise girls had both opportunity and preparation. They succeeded in getting into the wedding.
A. Preparation without opportunity is futile.
B. Opportunity without preparation is failure.
C. Preparation and opportunity spell success.
5. Who Are the Wise? (25:1-13) Much of our attention has been focused on the foolish women and why they were foolish. Perhaps a positive approach is in order by looking at the wise not restricted to those in the parable. Who are the wise?
A. The wise worship - Matthew 2:7-8.
B. The wise fear God - Psalm 111:10.
C. The wise prepare - Matthew 25:1-13.
6. A Drama of Life. (25:1-13) In the parable we see a drama of life in three scenes:
A. The joyful hope - invitation to a wedding.
B. The crisis - no oil.
C. The tragedy - the shut door.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. The subject of the second coming of Christ is a familiar one even to those in mainline churches. Through religious telecasts and broadcasts people hear evangalists speak on the return of Christ. Gospel songs and anthems deal with the theme, "The King is coming, the King is coming." Charismatics and Pentecostals seem to make the Parousia a central doctrine of faith. The Parousia is a controversial subject among church people. Some deny the Second Coming as being irrelevant to modern society. Others hold that Christ has returned in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Traditionalists still hold to the words of the Apostles' Creed: "from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead."
2. Another point of contact with the people of the church is this Sunday's emphasis on preparation. Whether one is wise or foolish depends upon preparation either for a crisis or a celebration. The foolish girls were unprepared for the late coming of the bridegroom by not having extra oil in their lamps. In our day we place much emphasis upon preparation. Education is considered essential preparation for a good job. Churches are placing more emphasis upon preparation of youth and adults for church membership. The parable stresses the need of preparation for the Parousia.
3. The coming of Christ again is associated with the windup of history and the destruction of the earth for a new heaven and earth. The sky is to fall. Chaos is to return. Jesus gave the signs of the end which would precede his coming. In today's world the signs are evident. Because of nuclear weapons, the world is living on the brink of destruction. Hatred between races and countries breaks out in armed conflict. Daily we hold our breaths at each outburst of hostility in fear it is the prelude of a war that will end civilization. Our people in the pews are aware of the world's fragile condition. They ask, "Could this be the end?"
Points to Ponder
1. The parable raises some questions that have no answers:
Why didn't the girls with oil share with those who had none?
Why didn't the bridegroom express concern for the five that did not come to meet him?
How could the foolish girls buy oil at midnight?
These and other questions are not answered because they are unimportant details of the parable. A parable is primarily concerned with the truth to be conveyed. Details are not to be taken literally or allegorically. In this parable, the main teaching deals with preparation.
2. Is there a contradiction in the parable? While waiting for the bridegroom, all ten of the girls went to sleep. Yet, in verse 13 the Master urges his listeners to "watch," that is, to stay awake. Because of this contradiction, some scholars claim that verse 13 was added by the early church through Matthew 3.
3. Does this parable deal with the Second Coming or with the coming of the Kingdom of God? Is it a matter of Christ's coming to a person here and now, an existential experience, or does it deal with an eschatological experience in the future? The latter is favored by Matthew, because the parable is in the context of Jesus' discourse on the end of the world and his return. Moreover, the church would take the same position, for the parable in the Lectionary comes at the close of the church year to harmonize with the end of history by the Parousia.
4. Are too many Sundays devoted to the Parousia? The last three Sundays of the church year and the first two of the new church year deal with Christ's return. Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, and Charismatics probably would answer, no, because every sermon each Sunday has some reference to the Parousia. For preachers in the mainline churches, Protestant and Roman Catholic, the prospect of preparing five sermons on the Parousia is a challenge to be creative and resourceful.
Illustrative Materials
1. Missed Opportunity. Years ago the Coca-Cola Company was given the opportunity to buy the twice-bankrupt Pepsi-Cola company. The owner was willing to sell it for $1,000. But, since Coke at the time had a monopoly on the soft drink business, Coke rejected the offer to buy the company which is now its main competitor.
2. Virgins. According to USA Today, only six percent of American women under age twenty-five are virgin brides. Time magazine reports that forty percent of today's fourteen-year-old girls will be pregnant by age twenty. Another survey shows that sixty-five percent of church youth have sex by age eighteen.
3. Sleep. One-third of the American population has a sleep problem. Twenty-five million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written annually. Thirty million non-prescription sleeping pills are sold annually. Four percent of the population take sleeping pills nightly. Each year one billion dollars is spent on sleeping aids.
4. The Death of the Earth. The world now has 50,000 nuclear warheads which could mean the death of the earth. Thirty-five nations have the capacity to produce nuclear bombs. Every city in Russia and in the U.S.A. is targeted. The first nuclear attack would kill one million in America, one million in Russia, and one million in Europe.
5. Borrowing. Like the foolish girls, Americans are interested in borrowing. In 1988 consumers owed $620 billion in installment debt. This is twice as much as owed in 1982. Corporations owe $1.8 trillion, an eighty-two percent increase over the last six years.
6. Surprise! Coming at midnight the bridegroom surprised the sleeping girls. A story is told of a farmer in Louisiana who needed new clothes. His wife kept begging him each time he went to town to buy new clothes because his present ones were threadbare. One day he hitched his horse, Dobbin, to a wagon and went to town. At first he decided to buy just a new shirt. Then he saw that he needed new trousers to go with the shirt. Then he decided he needed new under clothes for under the new clothes. He put the new clothes in a bag and put the bag behind the seat in the wagon. On the way home he decided he would surprise his wife with the new clothes. He stopped on a bridge and threw his old clothes in the river. Then he reached back for the bag with the new clothes, but it was missing. There he was - stark naked. He said to his horse, Dobbin, "Let's go, Dobbin. Today we are really going to give the wife a surprise!"
7. The Day of His Coming. From time to time through history small groups waiting for Jesus' return thought they knew the day of his coming. In October 1844 a shop in Philadelphia displayed the following sign: "This shop is closed in honor of the King of Kings who will appear about the 22nd of October. Get ready to crown Him Lord of all."
8. The Midnight of History. If the 2,850 million years of our earth's existence were represented by a day of twenty-four hours, from midnight to midnight, then 10:51 p.m. would mark the awakening of organic life. Twenty-two seconds before midnight marks the appearance of humanity, and in the last three-tenths of a second the whole recorded history takes place. The splitting of the atom took place in a small fragment of that three-tenths of a second before midnight.
