Matthew 25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins

A parable tells a story to illustrate a spiritual or moral truth. The parable of the ten virgins tells the story of five foolish virgins that ran out of oil while waiting for the bridegroom to go to the celebration banquet. Most weddings in those days were at night. The groom would parade down the streets with his party to pick up the bride and her party. There wasn't a specific time appointed, but the bridal party had to wait for the groom to come. 

Unfortunately, the foolish virgins were not ready to wait for too long. The lamps or torches required oil and extra oil was required to keep them lighted. When they run out of oil, the foolish virgins have to go buy more oil at the market and miss the bridegroom. Their missing the bridegroom shuts them out of the wedding banquet and though they asked to come in later, the bridegroom did not "know" them. 

The wise virgins had extra oil and kept their torches or lamps burning. When the bridegroom came, they were ready and were able to enter the wedding banquet. This is the kind of readiness God wants from me. I must be ready at all times for the return of my Lord so I can enter the heavenly banquet to celebrate his return. I don't want to be like the foolish virgins who were completely unprepared to wait for as long as it was necessary.

Am I ready for the return of Christ right now? Will I be ready tomorrow? What about 5 years from now? No one knows the day nor the hour, but I must be ready at all times. The Lord's command is to watch. It means to look and observe attentively over a long period of time. Like the guard of a watchtower, I must be watching at all times lest disaster comes upon the city while I sleep.

Lord, help me to be watchful. I need your strength and power to remain alert. Do not allow me to fall asleep while I wait for your return. Guide me and keep me. I want to know you and be known by you.

Matthew 22:1-14 The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Today, for the most part, I can accept or reject a wedding invitation with no major consequences. It is completely voluntary and besides some criticism from family and friends, I will live to tell it. In the old days when kings would reign, rejecting an invitation to a kingly wedding feast was not without major consequences. Refusal to appear at the royal party meant more than a conflict in schedules. It was an act of insubordination payed with the death penalty.

Nowadays, I cannot show up to certain places and parties without proper attire. There are restaurants that will not allow me in unless I have shoes and shirt on. Others require formal dress without which they will deny me entrance. In those days, a kingly wedding feast demanded a certain attire to be able to participate of the wedding feast. It is believed that the king himself provided his subjects with the clothing for the party. Refusal to dress up was also an act of insubordination.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a royal wedding feast where the king invites his subjects. The people make excuses not to go and even abuse the servants that came to communicate the invitation. The king displays patience and persistence in calling people, not once, but twice to his feast. The people display apathy towards the invitation making all kinds of excuses and even taking it on the messengers for the banquet. Since those invited did not respond to the invitation, the king decided to go out on the roads and invite anyone who would come. 

Many are invited, but few are chosen. The Gospel of the kingdom is calling everyone to repentance, but not everyone responds to the call. I don't want to make excuses for the royal wedding feast of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes for his bride, the Church. I want to be properly dressed in the righteousness of Christ when he comes lest I miss the party. My King is sending me, his servant, to invite everyone to the banquet. Am I being faithful to the task?

Lord, fill me with expectation for the great day of your appearance. Move me to be faithful in my service to you. May I invite everyone on the roads to enter your kingdom. May I be properly dressed for the occasion when it comes.