Jewish Wedding Traditions
and the…
Part II
“Behold,
The Bridegroom Comes!”
(Matthew 25:6)
Scott Huckaby
www.BibleTract.org
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
(Matthew 25:1-13)
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to
ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were
wise, and five were foolish. Those who were
foolish took their lamps and took no oil with
them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with
their lamps. But while the bridegroom was
delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at
midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the
bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then
all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of
your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
(Matthew 25:1-13)
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there
should not be enough for us and you; but go
rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,
and those who were ready went in with him to the
wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the
other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open
to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I
say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of Man is coming.
Who do the ten virgins represent?
The kingdom of
heaven shall be
likened to ten
virgins who took
their lamps and
went out to meet
the bridegroom
(Matthew 25:1, NKJV)
The ten virgins are those
people in the world who
profess to follow Christ.
What is the role of a bridesmaid?
The kingdom
of heaven
shall be
likened to
ten virgins
who took
their lamps
and went out
to meet the
They are to prepare
for being a bride.
bridegroom
(Matthew 25:1, NKJV)
Given that the role of a bridesmaid
is to
prepare
for being
a bride…
What is
the theme
of this
parable?
Bridal preparation
is the theme.
Rick Warren:
Our purpose
is to prepare
for eternity.
What are the virgins to do?
The kingdom
of heaven
shall be
likened to
ten virgins
who took
their lamps
and went out
They are to meet the
to meet the
Bridegroom to give
bridegroom
honor to Him.
(Matthew 25:1, NKJV)
What should the virgins do until
He comes?
The kingdom of
heaven shall be
likened to ten
virgins who took
their lamps and
went out to meet
the bridegroom
(Matthew 25:1, NKJV)
Watch therefore, and pray
that you may be
Thus in the meantime, always
counted worthy to escape
they are to wait and
all these things that will
watch for Him…
come to pass (Luke 21:36)
How is the return of Christ central
to living righteously today?
We should live
soberly, righteously,
and godly in the
present age, looking
for the blessed hope
and glorious
appearing of our
great God and Savior
Jesus Christ
(Titus 2:12-13, NKJV)
Knowing Christ’s return
is imminent motivates us
to live a life honoring
Him. If He is unlikely to
return in our lifetime, we
can put off getting our
act together.
What is the purpose of the lamps
that the virgins have?
The kingdom of heaven
shall be likened to ten
virgins who took their
lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom
(Matthew 25:1, NKJV)
In the midst of a
Just as the Bridegroom’s crooked and perverse
procession will have
generation, among
lights, the bride adds to whom you shine as
this light with her own to lights in the world
honor Him.
(Phil 2:15, NKJV)
What differences were there
between the ten virgins?
Now five of them were
wise, and five were
foolish. Those who
were foolish took their
lamps and took no oil
with them, but the
wise took oil in their
vessels with their
lamps.
(Matthew 25:2-4, NKJV)
Their character
was that 5 were
wise and 5 foolish.
What was the folly of
the five foolish virgins?
Those who were
foolish took their
lamps and took no
oil with them.
(Matthew 25:3, NKJV)
They did not have oil for their lamps to
honor the Bridegroom when He came.
Their being ready to meet the Bridegroom
was only for show; they were hypocrites.
They did not consider what is to come.
What did the oil represent?
the wise took oil
in their vessels
with their lamps.
(Matthew 25:4, NKJV)
The oil is the
Holy Spirit…
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because
He has anointed Me to preach the gospel…
(Luke 4:18, NKJV)
If oil represents the Holy Spirit…
What did
the lamps
represent?
the wise took oil
in their vessels
with their lamps.
(Matthew 25:4, NKJV)
The lamps are our works…
Unless our works are empowered by
the Holy Spirit, they are worthless.
What was the wisdom
of the wise virgins?
the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps.
(Matthew 25:4, NKJV)
They heeded the warning signs about their
need for oil.
They we prepared to meet the Bridegroom
with the oil needed to be in the procession.
Why did the foolish virgins have a
false sense of security?
As the days of Noah
were, so also will
the coming of the
Son of Man be.
(Matthew 24:37, NKJV)
They lived only for the moment and didn’t
think they would need the oil (Holy Spirit).
They did not use abstract reasoning to see
future consequences for today’s actions.
What was the common fault of the
wise and foolish virgins?
while the
bridegroom
was
delayed,
they all
slumbered
and slept.
(Matthew 25:5,
NKJV)
They all slumbered
and slept during the
Bridegroom's delay.
What does the slumber
and sleep represent?
while the bridegroom
was delayed, they all
slumbered and slept.
(Matthew 25:5, NKJV)
All the virgins
got caught up
in their present
circumstances
and forgot why
they were there.
when the
Son of Man
comes, will
He really
find faith on
the earth?
(Luke 18:8)
The foolish
interpreted
His delay as
uncertainty
that He
would come.
What is significant about the
Bridegroom coming at midnight?
at midnight a cry
was heard: 'Behold,
the bridegroom is
coming; go out to
meet him!'
(Matthew 25:6, NKJV)
This is when we least look for Him
and are most disposed to slumber.
Midnight is when it is darkest; the
Lord’s way is always just in time.
How do other biblical midnight
events help us understand this?
God kills firstborn of
Egypt, Exodus 11-12.
A time of judgment.
Israel eats unleavened
bread of haste, Ex 12.
Ready for an epic journey.
Boaz discovers Ruth at his feet, Ruth 3:8.
It is the time of harvest and redemption.
Paul and Silas delivered from jail, Acts 16.
It is the time of deliverance.
What does the cry accomplish?
at midnight a
cry was heard:
'Behold, the
bridegroom is
coming; go out
to meet him!'
(Matthew 25:6, NKJV)
It awakens the
virgins so they may
go out to meet the
Bridegroom.
Does this cry mean that something
must precede the rapture?
at midnight a cry
was heard: 'Behold,
the bridegroom is
coming; go out to
meet him!'
(Matthew 25:6, NKJV)
The cry initiates the rapture.
The foolish virgins know it is taking place
but are excluded due to lack of preparation.
If the foolish virgins had no oil,
why did their lamps light at all?
all those virgins arose
and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to
the wise, ‘Give us some
of your oil, for our lamps
are going out.’
(Matthew 25:7-8, NKJV)
They had only residue since they went out
at the same time; or they may have only
claimed they were lit to look less foolish.
Why
couldn’t
the wise
virgins
share
their oil?
The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us
some of your oil, for our lamps are
going out.' But the wise answered,
saying, 'No, lest there should not be
enough for us and you; but go rather
to those who sell, and buy for
yourselves.'
(Matthew 25:8-9, NKJV)
You need a
full lamp to go
the distance
and that may
only be
obtained at
the source of
the oil.
Why
couldn’t
the wise
virgins
share
their oil?
The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us
some of your oil, for our lamps are
going out.' But the wise answered,
saying, 'No, lest there should not be
enough for us and you; but go rather
to those who sell, and buy for
yourselves.'
(Matthew 25:8-9, NKJV)
You
need a
Genuine
full lamp to go
faith
comes
the distance
and that
from
God,
may
your heavenly Father only be
not from
gives the Holy Spirit
obtained at
God’s
to those who ask
the source of
Him!
(Luke 11:13)
the oil.
children!
What is significant of the foolish
virgins not being able to buy oil?
while
they
went
I must
work
to
the of
thebuy,
works
bridegroom
Him
who
sent
came, and those
Me
it is
who while
were ready
day;
the
night
went in
with
him
to
wedding;
is the
coming
and
the
door
was
when no one
shut
can work
(Matthew 25:10, NKJV)
(John 9:4, NKJV)
The time will come when
it is too late to prepare
for eternity.
We all need to do our
business with God in
the light of the day.
When will it become apparent who
the believers & nonbelievers are?
while they went
to buy, the
bridegroom
came, and those
who were ready
went in with him
to the wedding;
and the door was
shut
(Matthew 25:10, NKJV)
When Jesus returns...
Only those ready will be
taken to the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
Why did the foolish virgins think
they could be at the wedding after
missing the procession?
Afterward the other
virgins came also,
saying, 'Lord, Lord,
open to us!'
(Matthew 25:11, NKJV)
Whoever confesses
Me before men, him
I will also confess
before My Father
(Matthew 10:32, NKJV)
They thought their intention to be part of the
procession was good enough; they did not
know the Bridegroom enough to realize that
it is necessary to honor Him with our lives.
What is the significance
of the door being shut?
Afterward the other
virgins came also,
saying, 'Lord, Lord,
open to us!'
(Matthew 25:11, NKJV)
it is appointed
The time will come for men to die
for everyone when once, but
it is too late to enter after this the
judgment
into a relationship
with Christ.
(Hebrews 9:27)
So never
put off
being
prepared
for
eternity.
Why didn’t the bridegroom know
the foolish virgins?
he answered
and said,
‘Assuredly, I
say to you, I
do not know
you.’
(Matthew 25:12,
NKJV)
They did not know the bridegroom enough
to be prepared for his surprise arrival.
What is the significance of the
Groom saying “I do not know you?”
But he answered
and said,
'Assuredly, I say
to you, I do not
know you.'
(Matthew 25:12, NKJV)
Neglecting to have a true personal
relationship with the Bridegroom,
has consequences.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me
in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name?' And then I
will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
(Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV)
There will be many who profess the name of
Christ and do great things in His name that will
not spend eternity with Him because they did not
have a genuine personal relationship with Him.
Does this parable
make our salvation
uncertain until
Christ comes?
he answered
and said,
‘Assuredly, I
say to you, I
do not know
you.’
(Matthew 25:12,
NKJV)
No, it seeks
to warn those
with false
assurance…
…having a form of godliness
but denying its power.
(2 Timothy 13:5, NKJV)
How should we apply not knowing
when the Lord is coming?
Watch therefore, for
you know neither the
day nor the hour in
which the Son of
Man is coming.
(Matthew 25:13, NKJV)
We need to be ready all
the time; conduct our
lives as if He could call
us out the next second.
we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet
(1 Cor 15:51-52, NKJV)