SERMON
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV)
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The 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.’ 10But 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. 11Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV)
Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV)
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The context …
Matthew 24:1-3 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8The 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.’
What is the oil?
Some say the Holy Spirit.
Others say it’s faith.
10But 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. 11Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV)
WHAT IS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY?
For me … Matthew 25:13 … Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13 … is a parable … a story told in order to make one important point. In this case, the important point is that WE NEED TO KEEP WATCH.
But
- watch what?
- What is the hour being spoken of?
1. Watch your condition … your relationship with God …
2. The hour is Christ’s return
Where is the bride?
- Ephesians 5:25–32: The Apostle Paul directly compares the relationship between a husband and wife to the union of Christ and the church, stating: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”. He describes this as a profound mystery referring to Christ and the church.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2: Paul writes to the believers, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him”, using the concept of a betrothal.
- Revelation 19:7–9: This passage looks ahead to the future union of Christ and His people at the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” noting that the bride “has made herself ready” and is clothed in fine linen, representing the righteous acts of the saints.
- Revelation 21:2 & 21:9: John sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,” and an angel later refers to her as “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (representing the redeemed community of God’s people).
- John 3:29: John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the bridegroom, saying, “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom… stands and hears him, and rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.”
- Revelation 22:17: The book concludes with the invitation, “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ “—referring to the church calling out for the return of Jesus.
- Isaiah 54:5–6: “For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name… The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit.”
- Hosea 2:16–20: God speaks of formally betrothing His people to Himself forever in righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness.