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Have a sermon coming on this passage and would appreciate feedback.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The 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.’
10 “But 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.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Having just reread this passage with a sermon in mind a number of things strike me.
1) Obviously the main point is about the church waiting for Jesus return. We are the virgins and he is the bridegroom. The main message here is be prepared.
2) Does this parable justify polygamy. Jesus will have 5 brides as a result of this passage?
3) In the modern culture virginity is not always associated with purity as readily as it was in previous times and still is in other non Western places. Is the passage a clear denunciation of sex before marriage or does it just assume that? Or is this just an affirmation of the principle that we should be keeping our lives pure and prioritizing Jesus over all worldly concerns.
4) In what ways has the church today fallen asleep or is unprepared for Jesus coming back.
5) How can we tell if we are one of the virgins that get to meet Jesus , being prepared OR that we are one of the unprepared Virgins who will not. Does this passage imply an uncertainty about the salvation of some people who currently call themselves Christians and are waiting for Christs return.
6) Why does Jesus come at night? Is this just to express the idea that it will be when we least expect him?
7) Were the wise virgins unable or unwilling to share the kind of oil that would have lit the foolish virgins lamps. Is this oil therefore more a symbol of obedience or righteous living animating the light that shone in the wise virgins life and moral character.
Anyway would be grateful to hear your thoughts on this passage.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The 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.’
10 “But 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.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Having just reread this passage with a sermon in mind a number of things strike me.
1) Obviously the main point is about the church waiting for Jesus return. We are the virgins and he is the bridegroom. The main message here is be prepared.
2) Does this parable justify polygamy. Jesus will have 5 brides as a result of this passage?
3) In the modern culture virginity is not always associated with purity as readily as it was in previous times and still is in other non Western places. Is the passage a clear denunciation of sex before marriage or does it just assume that? Or is this just an affirmation of the principle that we should be keeping our lives pure and prioritizing Jesus over all worldly concerns.
4) In what ways has the church today fallen asleep or is unprepared for Jesus coming back.
5) How can we tell if we are one of the virgins that get to meet Jesus , being prepared OR that we are one of the unprepared Virgins who will not. Does this passage imply an uncertainty about the salvation of some people who currently call themselves Christians and are waiting for Christs return.
6) Why does Jesus come at night? Is this just to express the idea that it will be when we least expect him?
7) Were the wise virgins unable or unwilling to share the kind of oil that would have lit the foolish virgins lamps. Is this oil therefore more a symbol of obedience or righteous living animating the light that shone in the wise virgins life and moral character.
Anyway would be grateful to hear your thoughts on this passage.