LADIES AND LAMPS

By Rev. Richard Jones

rec1117-112302

LADIES AND LAMPS
Matthew 25: 1-13 (CSB)

OVERVIEW…Matthew 25: 1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn”™t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ”˜Here”™s the groom! Come out to meet him.”™ 7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ”˜Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.”™ 9 “The wise ones answered, ”˜No, there won”™t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.”™ 10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ”˜Master, master, open up for us!”™ 12 “He replied, ”˜Truly I tell you, I don”™t know you!”™ 13 “Therefore be alert, because you don”™t know either the day or the hour.

UNUSUAL CUSTOM   Matthew 25:1
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins[a] who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

Revelation 22: 17
Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.

John 14: 1-3
“Don”™t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father”™s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17
For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord”™s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel”™s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Revelation 19: 6-9
Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”

UNPREPARED MAIDENS   Matthew 25:2-5
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn”™t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Hebrews 3: 15
As it is said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

1 Peter 1: 13-16
Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL   Matthew 25 ;6-10
“In the middle of the night there was a shout: ”˜Here”™s the groom! Come out to meet him.”™ 7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ”˜Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.”™ 9 “The wise ones answered, ”˜No, there won”™t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.”™ 10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

Mark 13: 32-33
“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows””neither the angels in heaven nor the Son ””but only the Father. 33 “Watch! Be alert! For you don”™t know when the time is coming.

Matthew 24: 36-39
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows””neither the angels of heaven nor the Son””except the Father alone. 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn”™t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.

UNHAPPY STATEMENT   Matthew 25:11-12
11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ”˜Master, master, open up for us!”™ 12 “He replied, ”˜Truly I tell you, I don”™t know you!”™

Matthew 7: 21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ”˜Lord, Lord,”™ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ”˜Lord, Lord, didn”™t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?”™ 23 Then I will announce to them, ”˜I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!”™

UNDENIABLE POINT   Matthew 25:13
“Therefore be alert, because you don”™t know either the day or the hour.

2 Timothy 4: 8
There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

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