“… and the door was shut…”

Matthew 25:1-13

The closing words of Matthew 25:10, uttered by Jesus Christ, carry a haunting and profound message — "and the door was shut." These words are part of a parable within the Olivet Discourse, a significant teaching by Jesus about His second coming. The parable, known as the Ten Virgins, serves as a warning to all to be spiritually prepared for His imminent return. This context is crucial to understanding the parable's relevance and its call for Preparation and Readiness.

Many interpretations of this parable in Mathew 25:1-13 include whether it is related solely to Israel and the Jewish people. The context points to the custom on the day of the bridegroom, who is going to the father's home to claim his promised spouse. Friends of the bride awaited for the wedding party to join the procession to the bride’s house, and the party's uncertain arrival could tarry for some time. Since the arrival time was unknown, the bridesmaids (the ten virgins) prepared tall lamps fueled with olive oil with limited burning capacity but also prepared a small reservoir of extra oil, just in case, for the procession to the bride's house.

In this story, the bridegroom was delayed, so all the bridesmaids carried on with their schedules, including sleep. But when their sleep was interrupted by the arrival of the bridegroom, half the bridesmaids had run out of oil. They were unprepared. By the time they had gone to get additional oil and returned, they missed the wedding feast, and the door was locked with no entrance — denial.

Do you see the parts played in this parable?

At first glance, the bridesmaids in the parable may seem identical, engaging in the same activities such as sleep. However, the presence or absence of oil in their lamps reveals a deeper truth. Many scholars interpret the oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and His work of salvation and regeneration. This interpretation suggests that true salvation is not a mere profession or outward appearance, but a genuine transformation of one's life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It's a warning where five were wise and prepared for the sudden appearance of Jesus Christ's second coming. The other five were otherwise with the tragic results of a mere formality regarding their faith and an empty spiritual life “for when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them.” [v3] The five who were otherwise failed to be ready like those now when the King comes, His return is unknown, and therefore, cannot enter His Kingdom. Disavowed and not known by the bridegroom, with a clear message in the parable is that one's salvation cannot be transferred to another person “give us your oil…go buy it yourself.” [verses 8-9]

The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and His delay symbolizes the period between his two Advents. In verses 10-12, this telling of the bridegroom's arrival and the wedding feast fits the prophetic picture of Jesus returning for His bride, the church, and those who are saved and faithful will go with him to the His wedding feast —the new heaven and earthly reign.

The overriding truth of this parable is that the present time in your life is the only time for preparation for Jesus's return. He could come at any moment. Keep watch. Be alert. Be prepared.

IS YOUR LAMP BURNING BRIGHT AND FILLED WITH OIL?

-Dan Nickel