The Parable of the 10 Virgins Looking at the Details

The Theme… Meeting Christ in Judgment… Matthew 24:36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows…

Context Using Imagery… Matthew 24:37-39 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

God Prepared Noah… By directly communicating with Noah… moving Noah's heart to prepare for the Judgment.. Which was the Flood

God Prepares Us to Meet Him… By moving our hearts to desire to be in Gods Word… where He communicates to us through His Word… and through His Word works within us the Gift of Faith

We Know He Has Prepared Us if… We have a desire to be in His Word… We understand and Believe what the Word says… We Possess Faith

The Parable of the Ten Virgins… Matthew 25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Matthew 25:2-5 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Matthew 25:6- 9 But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.

Matthew 25:10-13 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The First Lesson… There are those who attend church that are not saved… and likely assume that they are

The Two Churches… The Visible Church… those who attend The Invisible Church… those who are Born Again Possessing the Holy Spirit by Grace

The Indicator… Possessing Faith…. For only those who possess the Holy Spirit can believe Only those who are saved possess the Holy Spirit

The Second Lesson…. Matt 25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.

What is in View? This is not a moral lesson regarding selfishness or unwillingness to share… we need again to remember the context to know what is in view

The Theme: Meeting Christ in Judgment Thus, the lesson follows the theme… The point is that one cannot depend upon the preparedness of others…

Being Around Others… Whose hearts have been prepared by God does not mean…. your heart has been prepared

Did being Close to…. Noah… save those who were not on the Ark? Does going to church save you? Are you a Christian simply because you were raised by Christians?

The Third… And Toughest Lesson… Matt 25:11-12 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.

Could This Mean… That there are those who want a Relationship with Christ Who the Lord Refuses to Relate with? John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

The Virgins Who Were Shut Out… Could not have been seeking after Jesus in Faith… were not numbered among those who the Father Gave to the Son

Remember Parable of the Wedding Feast… Matthew 22:11 But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

Matthew 22:12-14 And he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Thus The Virgins Who Were Shut Out… Were never seeking after the Bridegroom in love or to honor the Bridegroom … They just wanted the benefits that came from the Bridegroom… they were w/o a Wedding Garment

Matt 25:11-12 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.

The Question For Us This Day… Do We Seek After Christ in Love and Out of Reverence for Who He Is? If so… then Rest in Confidence --- You Are Saved!

If So…. Then, Like Noah…. God Has Prepared You For Any Flood… You Are Prepared To Meet Christ in Judgment!