The Ten Virgins. Matthew 25:1-13

Transcription

1 The Ten Virgins Matthew 25:

2 In Matthew 24, in answer to the question of his disciples concerning the sign of his coming and of the end of the world, Christ had pointed out some of the most important events in the history of the world and of the church from his first to his second advent; namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, the great tribulation of the church under the pagan and papal persecutions, the darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of the stars. After this he spoke of his coming in his kingdom, and related the parable describing the two classes of servants who look for his appearing. Chapter 25 opens with the words, Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins. Here is brought to view the church living in the last days, the same that is pointed out in the close of chapter 24. {GC } 2 2

3 Every specification of this parable should be carefully studied. We are represented either by the wise or by the foolish virgins. There are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him. They have not a knowledge of his ways; they are not prepared for his coming. They have made a pretense of waiting for their Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness. They have heard and assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into their practical life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The oil is the holy grace that is sent from heaven; and there must be an inward adorning with that grace, if we would stand when he appears. {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 13} 3 3

4 Matthew 25:1 13 1) Five were foolish; five were wise 2) How many had lamps? 3) How many had vessels of oil? 4) Who tarried? 5) How many trimmed their lamps? 6) Who gave the midnight cry? 7) Did the foolish finally get oil? 4 4

5 From COL: Virgins the 2 classes who profess to be waiting for Jesus coming; called virgins because they profess a pure faith Lamps the word of God, the Bible Oil Holy Spirit The coming of the bridegroom the coming of Christ The Parable illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before the second coming 5 5

6 The going forth of the virgins the widespread reformation under the proclamation of the soon coming of Jesus The tarrying of the bridegroom the passing of time when Christ was expected. 6 6

7 Lamps Psalm 119:105 Oil Zechariah 4:

8 1) What are the 2 olive trees on the right side and on the left side of the candlestick? 2) Zechariah asks again what are the two olive branches? 3) The angel answered the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 8 8

9 9 9

10 1) Golden bowls hearts of the living messengers of God 2) Oil emptied from the two olive trees the word of the Lord 10 10

11 These empty themselves into the golden bowls, which represent the hearts of the living messengers of God, who bear the Word of the Lord to the people in warnings and entreaties. The Word itself must be as represented, the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. This is the baptism by the Holy Spirit with fire. This will open the soul of unbelievers to conviction. The wants of the soul can be met only by the working of the Holy Spirit of God. Man can of himself do nothing to satisfy the longings and meet the aspirations of the heart (MS 109, 1897). {4BC } 11 11

12 So from the holy ones that stand in God s presence His Spirit is imparted to the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate to God s people that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. (COL 408) 12 12

13 By the holy beings surrounding His throne, the Lord keeps up a constant communication with the inhabitants of the earth. The golden oil represents the grace with which God keeps the lamps of believers supplied. Were it not that this holy oil is poured from heaven in the messages of God s Spirit, the agencies of evil would have entire control over men. God is dishonored when we do not receive the communications that He sends us. Thus we refuse the golden oil which He would pour into our souls to be communicated to those in darkness (RH Feb. 3, 1903). {4BC } 13 13

14 All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the Bridegroom. (GC ) 14 14

15 The coming of Christ, as announced by the first angel s message, was understood to be represented by the coming of the bridegroom. The widespread reformation under the proclamation of his soon coming, answered to the going forth of the virgins. In this parable, as in that of Matthew 24, two classes are represented. All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the Bridegroom. {GC } 15 15

16 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. By the tarrying of the bridegroom is represented the passing of the time when the Lord was expected, the disappointment, and the seeming delay. In this time of uncertainty, the interest of the superficial and half-hearted soon began to waver, and their efforts to relax; but those whose faith was based on a personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet, which the waves of disappointment could not wash away.{gc } 16 16

17 Others took their lamps, and took no oil with them. They had moved from impulse. Their fears had been excited by the solemn message, but they had depended upon the faith of their brethren, satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, without a thorough understanding of the truth, or a genuine work of grace in the heart. These had gone forth to meet the Lord, full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward; but they were not prepared for delay and disappointment. When trials came, their faith failed, and their lights burned dim. {GC } 17 17

18 But while they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them, the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The latter class had received the grace of God, the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit, which renders his Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. In the fear of God they had studied the Scriptures to learn the truth, and had earnestly sought for purity of heart and life. These had a personal experience, a faith in God and in his Word, which could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay. (Ibid.) 18 18

19 How the ten are alike: 1) All had lamps. 2) All had vessels for oil. 3) All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. 4) All have heard of Christ s near return and confidently expect it. 5) When the cry goes out that the bridegroom cometh, all are taken by surprise, but one group was prepared for the emergency

20 6) All claim to be Christians. 7) All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all profess to be doing God s service. 8) All are waiting for Christ s appearing

21 The foolish ones: 1) are not hypocrites. 2) have a regard for truth, have advocated it, and are attracted to those who believe. 3) have not yielded to the working of the Holy Spirit. 4) They have not permitted their old nature to be broken up

22 5) They are stony-ground hearers they receive the word with readiness but fail of assimilating its principles (its influence is not abiding) and have been content with a superficial work. 6) They do not know God. 7) They have not studied his character. 8) They have not held communion with him and do not know how to trust. 9) Their service degenerates into a form

23 10) Their cry is peace and safety. 11) Their hearts are lulled into security and do not dream of danger. 12) They moved from impulse. 13) Depended on the faith of their brethren. 14) Full of hope for immediate reward. 15) Satisfied with good emotions. 16) When trials came their faith failed

24 The wise ones: 1) received the grace of God the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit. 2) studied the scriptures to learn the truth. 3) earnestly sought for purity of heart and life. 4) had a personal experience, a faith in God and in his word which could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay

25 The Cry at Midnight 25 25

26 Near the close of the second angel s message, I saw a great light from heaven shining upon the people of God. The rays of this light seemed bright as the sun. And I heard the voices of angels crying, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him! This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel s message. Angels were sent from heaven to arouse the discouraged saints and prepare them for the great work before them. (EW 238) 26 26

27 ... when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh month, (EW 42) 27 27

28 Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel s message, which shows the way into the most holy place. (EW 261) 28 28

29 The midnight cry was to: prepare them to enter by faith with Jesus into the most holy place

30 The 3rd angel s message shows the way into the most holy place

31 Darkness... 1) The coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of Earth s history. 2) The days of Noah and Lot are an example of this darkness. 3) Rapidly increasing darkness, multitudinous errors, heresies and delusions 4) To God s people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth s sake

32 5) Darkness of misapprehension of God, of his character 32 32

33 Our work... 1) preach the gospel to the poor 2) heal the brokenhearted 3) preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind 4) set at liberty them that are bruised 5) preach the acceptable day of the Lord 33 33

34 6) It is the same work in Isaiah 58 deal thy bread to the hungry, bring the poor to thy house, cover the naked, hide not from your own flesh

35 The humble, the ignorant, are Christ s most hopeful disciples. The uneducated heathen in all their cruelty are regarded in a more favorable light than are those who have had great light, who have had evidence upon evidence, but who, when the Lord in His mercy reproves them for the sins they are cherishing as virtues, are offended, and (mark the words), like the disciples of Christ s day, go back, and walk no more with Him. Christ recognizes every act in the savage that reflects His own mercy and compassion

36 When the Holy Spirit puts Christ s Spirit into the savage, and he befriends God s servants, the quickening of the heart s sympathy is contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. Christ implants His grace in the heart of the savage, and he ministers to the necessity of the missionary even before he has heard or comprehended the words of truth and life. Behold that crowd collected about some of God s servants to murder them; but the Lord is working upon the heart and mind of perhaps only one man to plead in behalf of those servants who love and fear God. {ST, April 21, 1898 par. 8} 36 36