Lessons From the Road to Calvary预览

In Matthew chapter twenty-five, Jesus delivered a parable designed to prompt us to watchfulness. He used some of the traditions and processes that were part of the Jewish wedding ceremony to drive home the point that we must be watching and waiting for His return.

Part of the Jewish marriage custom was the bride’s entourage. In Matthew 25:1, they are referred to as “ten virgins.” Today, we would call them the bridesmaids. Part of their job was to watch and wait for the bridegroom, who would return at an unannounced moment to take his bride to the wedding feast.

Jesus tells us that five of these virgins, or bridesmaids, were wise, and five were foolish. They all had oil lamps to carry as part of the wedding procession. They were waiting and watching, but for an unknown reason, the bridegroom delayed his return.

Around midnight, the cry went up that the bridegroom was on his way. The ten bridesmaids all rose up and began to prepare their lamps. The five wise bridesmaids had brought just enough extra oil for their lamps. They were prepared and ready to go. Unfortunately, the foolish bridesmaids had burned through all the oil in their lamps. They begged the wise bridesmaids for some oil, but there was no extra.

The foolish bridesmaids went to find more oil, which was not an easy task at midnight. While they were gone, the bridegroom arrived, and the procession left without them. The foolish bridesmaids finally arrived at the wedding celebration only to find the door shut and their access to the blessing of the feast denied.

We find Jesus’ lesson in Matthew 25:13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

This is not teaching that we will lose our salvation if we are not watchful. Eternal life can never be lost. But how awful would it be to stand before our Savior and hear Him say, “You were not ready. You did not do what I said to do, and now you are not going to have the full eternal blessings that you could have enjoyed.”

Jesus is teaching us that we must be watching and ready for His return. While there are many Christians who are living serious lives anticipating the return of our Savior, many Christians are not doing this. There are many who are looking for church that will satisfy their needs and make them feel good about themselves. They are living lives committed to satisfying their own needs and pleasures.

We need to live with a mindset of sharing the gospel and reaching others by being the hands and feet of Jesus. As we go throughout our day, let us make serving the Lord our focus.

Lesson: Christian, no one knows when our Lord will return, so keep working for Him. Let your motivation be love for the Savior.