A Daily Walk

John Randall: What is the lesson from this first parable? That the Lord is coming, but it may be delayed. The Lord will come without warning. And ultimately, the message is to be ready and to keep your lamp trimmed and burning because he is coming for his bride.

Guest (Male): Welcome to another edition of a daily walk with pastor John Randall. Today, John will bring us another message from his series through Matthew's Gospel. We all know the Boy Scout motto, be prepared. It's also a very good motto for us as we await the time when the Lord will take his people home in the rapture. Will you be ready and prepared when that happens? Let's get ready as we join pastor John in Matthew 25.

John Randall: The Gospel according to Matthew chapter 25 this morning. Matthew chapter 25 as we consider a message together entitled ready or not. Matthew chapter 25 beginning in verse one, if you'd follow along with me as we read from the word of God. Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now, five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps, took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 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. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying, no, lest there should be not enough for us and you. But go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. 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.

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. The Olivet discourse found in Matthew chapter 24 and 25 is one of the great prophetic utterances of scripture and provides facts nowhere else quite in the same way. For it's here that Jesus described for his disciples signs that would lead to the end of the age. And with a time of unprecedented trouble in a seven-year tribulation upon the earth that would culminate with his second coming.

This is the final word which Matthew brings in answer to the leading question of his Gospel concerning the one who is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies who would rule and reign as king forever. Jesus had told his disciples what was coming. However, they didn't know when it was coming. But having received this revelation, Jesus now provided his followers with a series of instructions and exhortations through parables. Now, a parable comes from two words meaning to cast alongside something else. Jesus's parables were stories that were cast alongside of a truth in order to illustrate that truth.

A common description of a parable is simply an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. And the first parable that Jesus used was taken from an ancient wedding. And the overarching theme of the parable of the 10 virgins was to emphasize the necessity of watchfulness and preparation for the Lord's second coming. Now, an ancient Jewish wedding took place in three stages. The first stage was an engagement. And that is where the parents of the future bride and groom made a pre-arrangement, a contractual agreement on behalf of their children. The second stage was called the betrothal. And this was where the bride and groom exchanged vows in the presence of family and friends.

The couple was considered to be as good as married. However, the marriage had not yet been consummated. The only way to break off a betrothal was through a divorce. The betrothal period could last a considerable amount of time, several months, even up to a year. And during this time of betrothal, the bridegroom would be getting things ready and prepared for his bride. He would secure a job, a place to live. And then there was the third stage which was the wedding feast. And the bridegroom would come and he would retrieve his bride at her home.

And along with the wedding party, they would make their way through the streets. Typically, it was in the evening. And then they celebrated the wedding feast that could last up to a week long. This illustration was something that was similar, I should say familiar to the disciples. They understood what Jesus was talking about. And in considering this parable, you can observe by way of comparison both the similarities and the differences between the 10 bride's maids. The obvious difference is that five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. And the five that were foolish were the ones that did not bring extra oil for their lamps.

And because the bridegroom delayed in his coming, they weren't ready when he arrived. The wise, on the other hand, had extra oil in case of delay and they were prepared when the bridegroom arrived. The parable also reveals some similarities that these 10 had in common. For one thing, they were all invited to be a part of the wedding. They also were waiting for the same thing, the bridegroom. They no doubt had similar gowns. They all had lamps. They shared the same expectation. And finally, all of them had fallen asleep. Folks, when Jesus came to the earth and was born in Bethlehem, the world was not prepared for his arrival.

Even though the scriptures pointed prophetically to his coming, John the Baptist was the forerunner declaring that Jesus was the lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. And yet John tells us that Jesus came to his own and his own did not receive him. But when Jesus comes again, that is in his second coming at the end of the seven years of tribulation, there won't be another opportunity for salvation. Today is the day of salvation. And it's through this parable that Jesus is teaching that he is coming again to judge the world and that his coming will be unexpected by some and they will not be prepared.

And what is true of the second coming is of course also true of the rapture of the church. And we can find secondary application of this passage for ourselves in that we are to be ready for the Lord's imminent return. The 10 bridesmaids were all dressed alike, but they were not all the same. Even today, there are those who live with a cultural Christian mentality. Perhaps they've taken the title Christian and they have applied it to themselves because they are not of some other religion. But they have never been born again. They have a lamp with no oil.

They are not ready. In second Timothy chapter three in verse five, the apostle Paul describes such people. He said they have a form of godliness but deny the power. They're always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They are content in their form of godliness, but they don't really know the truth. Well, as the parable continues, we find out that the bridegroom had delayed his coming. Verse five, the bridegroom was delayed. They all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, the cry was heard. Behold, the bridegroom is coming. Go out to meet him.

Jesus said in John chapter 14 to his disciples that he would come again. He declared in John chapter 14, in my father's house are many mansions. And if it were not so, I would have told you. And 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, you may be also. It's only a matter of time. And yet there are many who assume and falsely, I might add, that the fact that he has delayed his coming is an indication that he's not coming at all.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the apostle Peter, who was there on the day that Jesus spoke the Olivet discourse years later, writes in his second epistle the following words. And pay close attention. For Peter declared, beloved, do not forget this one thing that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. And the Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness. But he's long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But Peter went on to say, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with a fervent heat. Both the earth and all the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all of these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in holy conduct and godliness looking for the hastening, the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with a fervent heat.

Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, we look for the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. Friends, listen. It is not a matter of if Jesus is coming, but when he will come. I pray that you're ready today. The call goes out. The groom is here. Go out to meet him. But notice the missed opportunity of some. It says, and the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, no, lest there should not be enough for us and you. But go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. As the bridegroom came, the foolish bridesmaids, they weren't ready. They were not prepared. And in desperation, they tried to borrow oil from the others. But the wise bridesmaids couldn't provide them with the oil or they would not have enough. So, at the last minute, the foolish rushed to find oil, but it was too late and they missed the opportunity. The foolish bridesmaids tried to get the supply from others. They tried to live off of what the others had, but they could not take it for themselves. Folks, I want to tell you this morning that there are some who are trying to live off the experience of other people.

When a person stands before Christ and is asked, why should they be allowed into heaven? That person responds with, well, my mother was godly. She prayed a lot for me. It will not matter in that day. You don't get to heaven because your mother prayed. You get to heaven because you prayed and received Christ as your savior. If you stand before God and you say, my grandfather, he was a powerful preacher. Oh, he used to bring the word and it was amazing and people got saved. And And that's why I Listen, that doesn't matter what your grandfather did.

What matters is what you've done, what I've done with Christ. There is no grandchildren. There are only children in the kingdom of God. Have you received Christ? That is how you are to be prepared. I can't take the oil from somebody else. I need my own that's provided for me. Some people falsely believe that they can live their entire life without Christ and then suddenly at the end they can get right and just make it into heaven by the skin of their teeth. Well, I'm just going to wait till I hit my death bed. And when I'm on my death bed and they're about to pull the plug, I'm going to say, Lord Jesus, come into my life.

You falsely assume that you're going to have a death bed. Who says you're going to have one? You may not be coherent. Death can be instant. You may not have that opportunity. Today is the day of salvation if you truly want to be prepared. Why didn't they take oil with them? Why Why didn't they prepare? I'm sure they saw others preparing. Why Why didn't they take oil? Perhaps it's the same reason why we don't prepare for certain things, inconvenience perhaps. Maybe the foolish ones didn't want to take oil with them. They felt it would be inconvenient.

I don't want to carry that around. It's oily. It's too much work. I've got other things to do. I don't want my hands. So, I got other things that I'm pursuing right now. It's just not convenient. This is not a convenient time. I want you to know something. There is never been a more convenient time to know Jesus than right now, today. This is the most convenient time. For other people, not only is it not a priority, but it's just procrastination. I'll get around to it. Hey, listen. Don't pressure me. And by the way, don't judge me.

All right? And don't judge me. And don't I'm just I got you know, I'm holding One of these days, I'm going to get around to it. You know, for right now, I'm just really not into that. But perhaps later on, there's no hurry to get serious about oil. William Barclay, who was an amazing commentator of the scriptures, tells a fictitious story of a meeting that Satan held with his demons. And the purpose of this meeting was to try and figure out the best way to deceive the masses of humanity. And so the first demon came forward and said, I've got it.

Let's whisper in the people's ears, there is no God. And Satan said, nah, that won't work. Creation declares the glory of the Lord and the firmament shows his handy work. Even as eternal Godhead is seen in creation. People are too smart to deny his existence. That That might A few might fall for that, but not the masses. We need something else. Another one said, I've got it. We'll tell them there's no hell. Nah, that won't work to the devil. People know there needs to be retribution and judgment. Again, some may fall for that, but not the masses.

We need something else. Finally, the third spoke up and he said, well, instead of saying there is no God or there is no hell, we'll tell them no hurry. That's it, said the devil. No hurry. And the demons went everywhere, he says in his story. Procrastination set in. We don't need to prepare for that. In addition to the thoughts of inconvenience, procrastination, there is also the thought that is a reality of self-deception, self-deception. I am a good person. That may be true. That may be true, but you're not good enough to get into heaven because you'd have to be perfect.

And if you say that you're perfect, that means you're a liar and you're not good enough. No one is perfect. Only one lived a perfect, spotless, sinless life. His name was Jesus. Self-deception. I have oil. I got a garment. Come on. I'm here. Yet although they had the appearance of faith, it was dead. They were in darkness and not light. And the sad consequence of being unprepared and without oil is found in verse 10. It says, while they went to buy, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding and the door was shut.

And afterward, the other virgins came saying, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, assuredly I say to you, I I don't know you. The foolish bridesmaids, the result of not being prepared is that they were excluded. And the exclusion was universal. All who were not ready did not go in. And their exclusion was complete. It says they were shut out, not they were shut in. And their exclusion was final. There was no other way in. Jesus is the only way in. Jesus said, I am the door of the sheepfold. Jesus said, there's no other way to the father except through me.

He is the only way. There's not another way in. He's the only way in. The result of being ready, however, is they were not excluded. The entrance was immediate because it says they were ready. They went in to the wedding. The entrance was intimate. It says they went in with the bridegroom. And their entrance was joyous. They went into the wedding feast. And their entrance was personal for it says they went in. I cannot think of any words more frightening than the door was shut. And to hear the Lord say, I don't know you. It must have been a similar feeling that the people had in Noah's day.

As the rain began to fall and the floods began to rise that the people ran to the ark. But the door was closed. The window of opportunity had shut. Folks, let me tell you something today. The door currently is open. It is open. It is open. The Lord is inviting and welcoming and saying, come in while you can. The door is open. There is an opportunity for you to receive Christ now, today, not later. The door is open. Have you received him? Have you tried to come up some other way? There isn't one. But the door is open now, but at the same time, there will come a day when the door will shut, when it will close.

And you won't have another opportunity. There is no middle ground. There is no purgatory that you could be prayed out of. There's nothing like that in scripture. Today is the day of salvation. We make the choice now. That is why the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter three in verse 15, while it is said today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your heart as in the day of rebellion. The parable concludes with a rather strong warning and exhortation found in verse 13. And here it is. Jesus said, watch therefore. For you know neither the day nor the hour in which the son of man Notice this.

Is coming. Watch. What is the lesson from this first parable? That the Lord is coming, but it may be delayed. The Lord will come without warning. And ultimately, the message is to be ready and to keep your lamp trimmed and burning because he is coming for his bride. As you move on to the next parable in verse 14, a second parable. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and he delivered his goods to them. And to one, he gave five talents. To another, two.

And to another, one. To each according to his own ability. And immediately, he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. Likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his Lord's money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So, he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents and look, I've gained five more talents besides them.

And his Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. And he also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents and look, I've gained two more talents beside them. And his Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter in to the joy of your Lord. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed.

And I was afraid and I hid your talent in the ground. And look, there you have what's yours. But his Lord answered and said to him, you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I haven't sown, gather where I haven't scattered seed. So, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers and at my coming, I I would have received back my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have an abundance.

But from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away. And cast that unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. These parables, these two are closely connected to one another.

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