39 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1)

1.They were all virgins - Ten virgins

Notice, Lord Jesus is not comparing five sheep with five goats! He is not comparing five bundles of wheat with five bundles of tares (weeds). No, Jesus is comparing five virgins with five virgins – ten forgiven, blood-washed Christians. Jesus is speaking of those who know Him, those who know that He is the Bridegroom and that He is coming again for His bride.

2.They had the same purpose: to meet the bridegroom

All the virgins had lamps that were lit. They all had received Jesus as their Savior; they were all “born again.” Jesus is the lamp – the light of the world! They went to meet the bridegroom carrying their lamps - the Word of God

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

This tells me that if you want to have an encounter with the Lord (meet the Lord), you need to carry the word inside of you. You need to read and meditate on the word. There are many Christians that have not yet read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:2-4)

The difference between foolishness and wisdom was oil. The foolish had the oil in their lamps but the wise took jars of oil - indicating the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The foolish had none of the oil that comes from the surrender of self. They did not replenish the oil of the Holy Spirit by hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They let the light of our Lord’s salvation – His gift of eternal life – dwindle to a “lukewarm” ember. They took for granted their “born again” experience.

“So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)

You must wake up! You must not let the comforts, pleasures, and even hardships of this life deaden the real life, the spiritual life—the life we were given at “spirit birth.” You must not become foolish and forsake the oil for your lamp… the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit. Stand on the promise of Jesus: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (Matthew 25:5-6)

Notice, at midnight a cry was heard - This has a lot of prophetic significance. Many Jewish teachers believe the Messiah will make His appearance at midnight. Even the Parable of the Ten Virgins indicates the call came at midnight. At what hour of the night? - no one knows.

During these end times, there will be a sudden revival in Midnight prayers. People will be talking everywhere about night prayer. This is not just a happy coincidence - it is prophetic. Of course, there will be some lazy people who will make up doctrines to suit their lazy lifestyle. Praying in the night will prepare you for the rapture.

Who gives the Midnight cry?

If scripture says “all slumbered and slept” then who gave the cry – I believe it was an angelic cry (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (Matthew 25:7)

All of the Elect Hear the Cry. In verse seven, when the cry went out to warn that the bridegroom is coming, “All the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps“. Notice that they all woke up; they all truly realize the seriousness of the situation and begin to prepare to meet Jesus Christ. This is encouraging because it shows that Jesus Christ will make sure that all who have been called by God the Father to salvation will get a wake-up call.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:10-13)

Do you know that 50% of the church is going to be left behind in the rapture? You may ask, “How do you know that?”

How many virgins were there? 10

How many were taken? 5

How many were left behind? 5 - that’s 50% right

Large numbers of nominal Christians will be left behind. Nominal Christians – they come to church hear the word and they are still the same. They say Halleluiah over here and when they go out there, they live as they please - trampling the blood of the Son of God.

When Noah entered the ark and the door was shut, Noah's family was secure from the flood and those on the outside were unable to enter the ark. When the door of heaven opens, the born again believers will be caught up to meet the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). Those who are not ready will remain behind.

One Should Not Trust Previous Accomplishments

1. Note that the foolish virgins did have "some" oil - Matthew 25:8

2. So they had made some preparation, but foolishly trusted in what they had done in the past

3. Neither should we "rest on our laurels", but have the attitude of Paul - Phillippains 3:12-15

Are you foolishly depending upon what you have done in the past?

Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, "Lord, Lord, open for us," and He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you, where you are from" (Luke 13:24, 25).

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3)

The bride was to be prepared at all times. Her garments were to be clean and free from spot or wrinkle. She never knew the day or the hour that the young man would return. The father of the groom determined when all things were ready for his son to secretly receive his bride and bring her to the room that was built by his son. This same imagery can be seen in the statements Christ made to His disciples concerning His departure and His future return for them:

· Christ was leaving them to prepare a place for them (John 14:1-2).

· Christ did not know the day or the hour He would return (Matthew 24:36).

· Only the Father knew the day and the hour of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36).

· Christ would return in a day and hour they did not expect (Matthew 24:44).

· They were to watch and pray and not be caught sleeping (Luke 21:36).

· They were to keep their garments always white (Revelation 16:15).

· They were to keep their lamps trimmed and burning (Matthew 25:7).

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (Matthew 25:24)

The servant literally accused his master of being a hard man. In other words, he was saying that his master was an unreasonable man which was not true.

And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. (Matthew 25:30)

This clearly tells us that as servants of the Most High God, we are to be profitable. We are to be fruitful.

into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! (Matthew 25:41)

Hell was never prepared for man but for the devil and his angels.

Chapter 25