Please turn with me to Matthew 25.  Today we have come to The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Jesus is in His last week of ministry leading up to the crucifixion.  He’s in Jerusalem and things have really heated up between Him and the religious leadership.  The situation is volatile.  Ahead lies the cross.  Jesus is teaching about what is to come.  His disciples don’t know what’s coming.  But, Jesus does.  So, He’s preparing them - for the crucifixion - the resurrection - and His return to heaven.

Jesus’ crucifixion - death - resurrection - His ascension back to heaven - thinking historically - they’re huge - significant historical events.  Yes?  Jesus’ return will be another major historical event.  Yes?  We’re between those events.  In a time of waiting that’s gone on for almost 2,000 years.  Waiting for His return.  Right?

In the teaching that we’re going to look at today - and for the next two Sundays - Jesus is telling parables - teaching - about what to do while we’re waiting.  How do we live as citizens of God’s Kingdom - how do we live subject to the reign and the movement of the sovereign God within His universe - while we’re waiting for Jesus to return?  The first part of that teaching comes here in Matthew 25 - starting at verse 1 - which is The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Matthew 25 - verse 1:  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.  Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.”

Let’s stop here and notice three things.

First, notice what these virgins have in common.  Number one - they’re virgins.  Which tells us that they haven't allowed themselves to be corrupted by the self-destructive sexual practices of the society around them.  They’ve maintained moral purity.  Number two - thinking about what these virgins have in common - they’re focus is in the right place.  They’re waiting for the bridegroom.  Another thing in common - they all have lamps.  Waiting for the groom takes place at night.  Lamps are needed.  When we get to verse 8 we find out that all 10 virgins had lamps that we’re lit.  They all started out with oil in their lamps.

Second thing we want to notice here - notice that there is a division.  Not a moral division.  They’re all virgins.  But a division of understanding.  Some are foolish.  Some are prudent.  The Greek words for foolish and prudent give the idea that the five foolish virgins were lacking something.  They’re a sandwich shy of a picnic.

Do you ever talk to someone and you know that they’re understanding what you’re saying.  But the comprehension of what you’re saying - the implications of it - isn’t really registering.  The lights are on.  Someone’s at home.  But, the dimmer switch has been turned to medium.  That’s these foolish virgins.  What they're missing is keeping them from understanding fully what’s going on.

The five prudent virgins have understanding - a practical wisdom.  They’ve got what it takes to understand what’s going on and the implications for their lives.  The prudent virgins take along extra oil in case its needed.  So, there’s a division - 5 foolish virgins - 5 prudent virgins.

Third, notice that there’s a delay.  The groom delays his coming.  Time passes.  Its late in the evening.  The virgins get drowsy and fall asleep.  A natural reaction.  Most of us would have done the same thing.  Some of you are dozing now.  Notice that the prudent virgins are prepared for this.  They have extra oil.  The foolish virgins are in danger of running out of oil.

Verse 6:  “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.’  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’”

Anyone here ever run out of gas?  Who would be so foolish?  There’s a crisis here for the 5 foolish virgins.  “The groom is here.  What do we do?”

The prudent deny the foolish oil.  Seems harsh.  But the point is that the prudent need what they have.  There isn’t enough to go around.

Verse 10:  “And while they were going away - the foolish five go to buy oil from the local 24 hour mini-mart - while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.  Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’”

I talked with a friend of mine - from the middle east - and asked him about this parable.  Trying to pick his brain a bit about what Jesus is talking about here.  What he described - especially about Arabic and Palestinian weddings - even today - is pretty similar to what Jesus is describing.

On the day of the wedding - in the late afternoon - about sundown - people begin to wait for the groom to arrive.  When the groom shows up - things start.  No one knows when the groom will show up.  That’s up to the groom.  Does that sound strange?  Its not like our weddings where there’s a printed - scheduled - start time on an invitation.  Everybody rushing around to get there on time.

I did a wedding a while back.  The groom was from the middle east.  The bride was American.  At 5:00 p.m. the bride was ready to go.  The bridesmaids are all in place.  The music is playing.  Most of the groomsmen have arrived.  At 5:30 - a half hour after the ceremony was suppose to start - the time printed on the invitation - the brides family was getting really jumpy.  The groom’s family - the Lebanese Armenians were fine.  For an Armenian wedding to start an hour late isn’t unusual.  But the bride’s family - the Americans - were starting to really panic.

So we called over to where the groom was staying.  The groom was still in the shower.  About 30 minutes later he showed up and we did the wedding.  Its up to the groom.

Waiting is a major part of this - even today.  The waiting - the expectation - is for the groom.  The virgins are waiting.  The bride is already there - according to custom - probably waiting with the other virgins.  In the culture of that day - and even today - finally a man would come ahead of the groom and shout the news that the groom is coming.

Finally its time to get moving.  Lamps are trimmed.  Its late - dark.  The groom comes.  The bride joins him.  Then they walk along together.  Taking the longest route possible through the town.  As they process people join them.  They gather waiting people as they go along.  Together they walk through the streets of the town to the place where the wedding and feast will take place.

This is crucial.  According to custom.  No one is allowed in the procession through the town or into the wedding and feast - unless they have a lamp.  That’s just the way it was done.  Is done today.  

The harshness of shutting out the five foolish virgins is expected.  It would have made sense to those listening to Jesus.  The five virgins who did not have extra oil would be seen as foolish.  They should have known.  They should have been prepared.  They got what they deserved.

Jesus’ point comes in verse 13:  “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”  The prudent are prepared.  Say that with me, “The prudent are prepared.”  They know what to do while waiting.

Thinking this through for us today I’d like to share three truths that apply to our lives.

First:  The Importance Of The Oil.  Say that together, “The importance of the oil.”

The whole parable hangs on this one point.  The five foolish virgins were shut out because they lacked oil.  The prudent virgins carried an extra supply of oil.

The bridegroom is who?  Jesus.  Who’s coming.  Were looking down the line into future history.  The second coming of Jesus Christ. 

The virgins represent who?  Those who are waiting for the bridegroom.  Followers of Jesus Christ. 

The oil represents who?  The Holy Spirit.  We need to be clear on this if we’re going to understand what Jesus is teaching here.

The prophet Zechariah is given a vision of two olive trees that stand on either side of a golden lampstand.  The oil from these two olive trees continually drips into a bowl that’s on top of the lampstand.  The oil dripping down onto the bowl supplies the lamp with what it needs to keep burning.  Zechariah is told that the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

Do you remember this verse?    “Not by might nor by power, but by My  -what? Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)  The vision of the lampstand is where that verse comes from.  The oil is symbolic of the working and power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purposes in and through His people.

In the New Testament we see the same role - in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is given the name the Helper.  He lives within the believer and empowers us to live as followers of Jesus Christ.  (John 14:16,17; Ephesians 3:16)

Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take care of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13,14).

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to take the truth of God concerning who Jesus is and what it means to live in relationship with Jesus Christ - and to reveal all that to us.  That’s what the oil represents.  Hear this - the oil represents the work of the Holy Spirit within - empowering - guiding - illuminating - taking us deeper in our relationship with God.

There’s another side to this that we also need to see.  There’s a danger here.  In John 16:8, Jesus is quoted as saying, “When He comes, [the Holy Spirit] will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

There’s a ministry of the Holy Spirit that’s available to everyone - the world.  To convict of sin - to guide people towards a right relationship with God - to warn of coming judgment.  The danger - hold onto this - the danger is that when people are exposed to that ministry of the Holy Spirit - exposed to the truth of Scripture - of who Jesus is - they can become satisfied without going deeper.

The virgins are good people.  Pure.  Upright.  Waiting with expectation for the groom.  Like the prudent virgins they have oil at first.  But, they run out.  Their supply is inadequate.  They have no reservoir of oil that they carry with them.  They have what they need for the immediate need of waiting.  But, they fall short of what they need to get into the wedding.

They are like so many people today who follow Jesus.  They’ve been attracted by the ministry of the Spirit - convicted - guided - warned.  Maybe they’ve come for moral enlightenment or comfort.  Maybe because what’s taught here makes more sense - is more intellectually honest.  There’s help here for their immediate problems - a compass in a time of trouble - a release from guilt.  They sing the songs - pray the prayers - talk the talk.  Serve with inspiring conviction.  They believe in the Word of God is truth.  They will tell you without question that Jesus is the Savior.

That may be a great religion.  But, its not the reality of what being a Christian is.

Faith must go deeper than doctrine.  The surrender of our lives must go deeper than assent to truth.  Our dependence on God must go deeper than the superficial.  It is not the knowledge that’s up - in the head - that’s most important.  Its what’s in here - in our heart - our personal relationship with Jesus that counts.

The prudent virgins have found that deeper level.  They have the reservoir of oil.  That’s what Jesus is pointing His disciples towards.  While waiting.  To open ourselves up to God on a deeper level.  To allow the Holy Spirit to take us deeper - farther - into a fuller relationship with God - into the life that God has for us. 

Second truth:  The Oil Cannot Be Shared.  Say that with me, “The oil cannot be shared.”

Jay Kessler, in his book, “Being Holy, Being Human,” writes, “One of my goals in life is to wind up with eight men who are willing to carry one of my handles.”

When it comes to our relationship with God - the work of the Holy Spirit within - we cannot depend on others.

Where do we turn to possess what it takes to go through the stuff of life?

What if you were called to some remote place somewhere surrounded by people who are committed to only their own pleasure and meeting their immediate lusts?  That doesn’t sound far off does it?  Or, what if you had to move to a city where there wasn’t any church?  Or what if you were confined to bed with some kind of long term illness?  And you had to lie there day after day - just you and your illness?  Or, what about when persecution and tribulation happens here in the USA and the church needs to go underground?  As we move through this period of waiting and our faith is put to the test?

The point being - what if you were placed in a situation - where for your spiritual life - your relationship with God - you could not depend on anyone else?

When even the basic stuff of life happens - we cannot say to each other, “Give me some of your oil.”  We might be able to encourage each other.  Or pray for each other.  Meet some temporal need.  But the work of the Holy Spirit - what we need during the crisis times of our lives - even just the daily stuff of life - comes from the oil - the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us - each of us individually.

That’s what Jesus means when He says, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will - what?  find it.” (Matthew 16:25)  We can’t partially depend on God and partially depend on others - even ourselves.  Its all or nothing.

If a husband and wife are each only 50% committed to their marriage and 50% committed to someone else will that marriage survive?  Probably not.

Either our lives are given over totally to God or they’re not.  There is no partial - or superficial - commitment.  The only way to take our relationship with God seriously is to choose to give ourselves totally to it.  We need to choose to do that now - today - to take the flask of oil with us now - today - so that when we come up against the stuff of life the reservoir will already be there ready to fill us - to feed the flame of our life - to keep us burning steady in the midst of the pressures of life.

Third truth of application.  First:  The importance of the oil.  Second:  The oil cannot be shared.  Third:  The Groom Will Come.  Say that with me, “The groom will come.”

On the night Jesus is betrayed - Jesus takes the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane.  He takes Peter, James, and John a little farther into the garden than the others.  Then Jesus leaves even those three behind and He goes a little ways beyond them and begins to pray.  When Jesus comes back and finds Peter and the others sleeping.  Remember this scene?

I have to confess, I’m with the disciples on this one.  They’ve have a great meal.  The walk in the night air might have perked them up a bit - for a time.  But its late.  Their stomachs are full.  Which one of us wouldn’t have dozed of?

But Jesus just lays into them, “Can’t you guys keep watch with me for one hour.  You need to be awake here - alert.  Watching and praying so you don’t enter into temptation.  So you’ll go through this the way God desires for you to go through this.”   Three times Jesus goes and comes back.  Each time the disciples are asleep.  The third time Jesus has to wake them up so they won’t miss His arrest.  The disciples are suppose to be alert and in prayer.  They’re not.  Jesus rebukes them.  (Matthew 26:36-46)

There’s none of that here in this parable.  No rebuke because the virgins were sleeping.  That’s crucial for us to see.  The virgins are doing the normal stuff of life while they’re waiting - even sleeping.  And that’s okay.

Whenever I’ve asked a group of people - young or old - what would you like to study?  For a Sunday School class or a group Bible study.  Always - without fail - one of the hot topics is prophecy.  What comes next. 

We don’t know when Jesus is coming back.  We know He will.  But, in the meantime - in this time of waiting - Jesus’ point is not that we’re suppose to constantly be discussing the signs of the time - putting together a list of future historical events in chronological sequence so we can check them off as we go by.  Or, trying to figure out if Osama Bin Laden is the antichrist.  Or, dropping everything - selling off everything - living in a commune in Montana - or on the Mount of Olives - waiting for Jesus to come back.  That’s not what Jesus means when He says, “Be alert.”

In the days of Noah, God gave people ample warning that he was going to judge the world.  For about 100 years - while they were still doing the normal stuff of life - Noah and his family built the ark and told people what was coming and invited them to come on board.  But when the time came, God shut the door to the ark - and it was too late to go in.  (Matthew 24:37-39).

There will come a day when the door to the Kingdom will be shut and no amount of pounding will gain one admittance.  Getting our list of future historical events in the right order - all the knowledge about Christianity and all the things we do as Christians - doesn’t get us in the door.

The words “I don’t know you” sound harsh.  But they’re true.  The Lord has no relationship with the foolish virgins.  While they have knowledge of the groom - that knowledge is superficial.

What does Jesus mean by being alert?  He means going deeper.  He means giving over control of our lives each day - in the daily stuff of life - our will given over to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Prudence verses foolishness.