THE OLIVET DISCOURSE. Matt. 24, 25.

June 11, 2020

WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF THY COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD? Matt. 24:3-13, Mk. 13:3-13, Lk. 21:7-19, 20-24…4

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINGS.….2 Matt.25:1-13

“The office of these virgins is to meet the bridegroom, which is as much their happiness as their duty. We as Christians are to do him honor, as the glorious bridegroom, to be to him for a name and a praise, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints.” M. Henry. The following will be considered along with other things as we look at this parable; “The coming of our Lord ought to be thought as a joyful event (2) The time of coming uncertain and may be delayed, so that preparation for it must be permanent (3) Not all those who call themselves his friends, and nominally await his coming, will be found really ready when he comes. (4) Hurried attempts to make ready then, will prove a failure. (5) Oh the bitter grief and disappointment of having meant, and professed, and long appeared, to be his friends, and then encountering the closed door and the solemn voice of refusal.” Broadus John A.

  1. Matt. 25:2 “Five of them were wise and five were foolish” “Their chief concern is to have light in their hands, when they attend to the bride groom, thus to do him honor and do him service” Henry Their character was that five were wise, and five were foolish. This their character will determine their destiny.
  2. The wise. Wisdom is the principal thing Pro. 4:7, the wise is a wise builder. Matt. 7:24-25, Pro. 14:1. Wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. Eccl. 2:13 “They had good principle within, which could maintain and keep their profession.” Henry. It is wisdom to build our lives on the word of Christ, and daily nourish our soul with things of heaven. These lay up provisions for the time to come 1Tim. 6:19
  3. The fool. They die before their time, Eccl. 7:17, Pro. 10:12, despise instruction Pro. 1:7, hate knowledge Pro. 1:22, mock sin Pro. 14:9, clamorous Pro. 9:13, and love merry making Eccl. 7:4-5. “They have no principle within, and have not in their heart that stock of sound knowledge, rooted dispositions, and settled resolutions, which is necessary to carry them through the service and the trials of the present age. They have no provision for what is to come.” Henry.
  4. Even though, biblically, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, however in this context it cannot be applied, since the Holy Spirit is a gift given to us by grace just as salvation. It cannot be sold or bought. Is. 55:1. The main point here is the extra preparation of the wise one, a lesson from the ant. Pro. 6:6-11.
  5. Matt. 25:5 “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept” The long wait for the coming of the bridegroom could weaken the persistent faith of believers’ Lk. 8:8(1-8). It is not the key point of the parable, but we must watch out.