Matthew 25a

 At the end of the last chapter, Jesus told the first of what will be four consecutive parables to illustrate his points about coming events. These are not random unrelated parables; they should be understood together. The first was the Parable of the Faithful and the Unfaithful Slave. We considered that parable last week.

 Now, in Chapter 25, Jesus follows up with three more parables: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids Entrusted with Lamps, The Parable of Three Slaves Entrusted with Money, and finally, The Parable of the Separation of the Sheep and the Goats. We will take them in that order.

 Remember that Jesus had completed a major teaching section about the coming days when the temple will be destroyed, when Jesus will return to earth, and when the final judgment will occur. Jesus has been careful to emphasize two points. First, these events do not necessarily happen at the same time. Second, though they are sure to occur, no one but God the Father knows the time. The ‘time’ is sometimes indicated as ‘the hour’, sometimes as ‘the day’ or ‘the days’. So what themes does Jesus emphasize in the parables? Let’s look at the second parable. 

25: 1-4. “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom (some ancient versions add ‘and the bride’). Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 

 The Greek word translated here ‘young women’ could also be translated ‘virgins’. Note that Matthew never says ‘the Kingdom of God’ because he is a good Jew and does not dare to pronounce the word ‘God’. ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ has been the most consistent theme of Jesus’ preaching. Remember that when Jesus relocated from Nazareth to Capernaum, “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!’” (Matthew 4: 17). The full presence of the kingdom is anticipated in Jesus’ return and God’s final judgment.

 So, what will it be like when the King returns and the kingdom blossoms? The king’s arrival will call for an accounting. The wise and the foolish among mankind will be separated. Note however, that this parable is not about mankind but about women. Notice that ‘bridesmaids’, which in this context is also an appropriate translation of the Greek word for ‘young girl’, have all been invited to participate in the wedding. These girls appear to be insiders.

 Jesus taught in parables which were stories with first century Palestine settings in order that the hearers would recognize the context and get the point. This is not how we organize a wedding today, but Jesus spoke in a language that first century Jews could understand. Jewish marriages of the time proceeded in three stages: the engagement based on negotiations between the two families about what presents would be exchanged, the betrothal which was a gathering at the bride’s house to make the exchange, and the marriage feast (see R. V. G. Tasker, The Gospel According to Matthew, 1961, page 232). These three events at times were separated by months. 

 The setting for this parable is probably the third stage, as Keener and Walton describe. 

 “On the evening of a wedding, the bride and bridesmaids would wait at the bride’s parents’ home; the groom would then come with his entourage to escort the bride and her entourage, with music and dancing, to the site of the wedding. Because the exact timing was unpredictable, given the many preparations (and the bride’s relatives haggling over the value of the gifts given them), the bridesmaids needed to stay ready” (Craig Keener and John Walton, footnotes in the NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, 2019, page 1670). 

 The bridesmaids’ role here is to carry lamps to light the processions’ way to the groom’s house where there will be a marriage feast. This is the equivalent, theologically, of the great Messianic banquet that God hosts for Jesus and his bride, the faithful believers, at the inauguration of the kingdom (see Revelation 19: 7-9, also Ephesians 5: 25-27). 

 Given that role, the measure of being wise bridesmaids is to bring enough oil for the lamps in case the bridegroom is delayed. On the other hand, the measure of foolishness would be to spend time with non-essentials and ignore the most important preparation, that is, to bring extra oil for the lamps. The lamps would have been small clay jars that are held like candles, or the reference could be to torches wrapped with oil-soaked cloth. Either way when the oil runs out, the light goes out. Good analogy to the Christian life. 

25: 5-9.  As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 

 Notice that there was no obligation for bridesmaids to stay awake. Negotiations and preparations take time. The role of the bridesmaids is to be at the right spot and ready to go at a moment’s notice. They were awakened by a ‘shout’, and so naps are expected as long as the bridesmaids pop up ready to go. All the bridesmaids bailed out of the house and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones had not bothered before this time to check to see if they had enough oil.

 Their request for sharing the oil is inappropriate. What good would it do if everyone’s lamp went out half-way to the groom’s house? At any rate, the theological point is about being prepared, that is, responding to the invitation from the groom to come (making a commitment to Christ) and being focused on and engaged with the bridegroom and bride (being sanctified). This takes work and a lifetime journey led by the Holy Spirit (engaging in prayer and worship, studying and working with other Christians, and performing acts of mercy and justice). 

 One person’s commitment, discipleship, and Christian service cannot be borrowed by another person when the time comes. The common excuses will not fly; things such as ‘I grew up in the church’ or ‘My grandmother is really religious’. God’s answer is, ‘So?’ 

25: 10-13.  And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 Be ready, all the time. Be prepared, for you do not know what tomorrow will bring. There is a finality to the phrase: “And the door was shut.” It is certainly confirmed by the earthly lord’s reply: “I do not know you.” That sounds cruel, especially if, by analogy, it seems that the heavenly Lord Jesus is in view. 

  However, think about it. If the five unprepared bridesmaids were not prepared, meaning that they had not bothered to commit to the task or work together with Jesus in their lives, why should he recognize them now? They haven’t taken the time to get to know him and learn to work with him.

 One more point. It seems odd that Jesus should summarize this parable about being prepared with the warning to “Keep awake” (Also noted by Ben Witherington III, Matthew, 2006, page 461-462). Perhaps, two quick word studies will help us. First, the word for sleep is sometimes neutral; it is used when Jesus fell asleep in the boat before the storm hit (Matthew 8:24). Or, the word is sometimes used metaphorically, as when Jesus said that the girl was not dead, just asleep (Matthew 9: 24). Finally, the word can have a negative connotation as when Jesus admonished the disciples when they fell asleep instead of keeping watch while he prayed (Matthew 26: 40, 43, 45). So, sleep is not necessarily bad; it depends on what else is going on; that is, the interpretation depends on context. Doesn’t it always? 

 Second, the word for ‘awake’ that is used here can be a command, as Jesus uses it later to tell the disciples to ‘stay awake’ (Matthew 26: 13, 38, 40). However, among the meanings of the word is the admonition to stay ‘alert’. The five wise virgins were alert in that when the shout went up, they ‘raised up’ (another meaning of the word) and were ready in an instant. Perhaps Paul captures the thought that one can be both ‘‘asleep’ and ‘alert’. 

 “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him” (I Thessalonians 5: 9-10). 

  In this parable, Jesus uses a common scene to tell a story about being prepared and staying alert because we do not know the time when Jesus will return, the final judgment will occur, or the full presence of the kingdom of heaven will explode into view. The failure of the five foolish young girls was in not taking seriously the invitation to serve the bride and groom. That failure did not begin the night the groom suddenly arrived. It began when they accepted the invitation, given long before, and then did not follow through on the relationship and ultimately failed to meet the minimum requirements for doing the work of a bridesmaid. The analogy is with our agreement to be a disciple of Christ.

 Remember that Jesus called God his ‘Father’, and the Father called him his “Beloved Son” in whom God was “well pleased.” By that analogy, it is not difficult to imagine Jesus as the Bridegroom who is coming with his bride to celebrate the inauguration of the kingdom of heaven. Followers who are yet alive at the time have also been invited to this wedding banquet that signifies the beginning of the king’s rule on earth. In this, and several previous parables (Matthew 18: 23-35, 20: 1-16) there is a warning to be engaged in Kingdom work. 

 Being prepared means paying attention to our relationship with God, and doing the things that Jesus commanded and the Spirit guides us to do. That is, preach and teach the gospel, make disciples, feed hungry, heal the sick, and embrace the marginalized in society. 

 You know what God requires of you, O Disciple of Jesus: Let justice flow down like waters, and righteousness like a never ending stream.