The Insiders

Are we prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Christmas isn’t just history, it’s not just looking back. Jesus teaches us to look forward to His return and to be ready for Him. The Insiders Christmas series looks at His teaching and at examples of people who were ready for His birth 2000 years ago. By looking at them, we can learn lessons about being ready for the fulfilment of God’s promises through His prophets and most importantly through His own Son. Jesus is coming back, will we we ready like the Insiders, or will we be left outside because we weren’t prepared?

Scripture

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Bible Study Questions

The great question

Learning the meaning of Jesus parable about the 10 virgins requires that we look at the context in which He told it. What were the disciples asking Jesus just before He began this teaching?

Matthew 24:3 ESV As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 25:28-29 ESV So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Here comes the bride

The arrival of the bridegroom is central to the parable, but what about the bride. Does the fact that she’s not mentioned help us understand the focus of this parable?

Matthew 25:1 ESV “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Hebrews 1:8-9 ESV But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Psalms 45:13-15 ESV All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her. 15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.

Revelation 19:7-9 ESV Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

The key to being ready

What is the only apparent difference between the wise and foolish young ladies? What does it show about them?

Matthew 25:2-4 ESV Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

Romans 2:6-8 ESV He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ESV Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Expecting the unexpected

The time of the return of Jesus is unknown, we and must look for the signs, but the day is a mystery. What is the one thing we know about the return of Jesus?

Matthew 25:5-6 ESV As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Matthew 24:10-13 ESV And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The preparation that takes time and is not transferable

The wise young women had prepared for the delay. What they had invested in over time could not be given to anyone else. What can we be investing in that will help us to “keep our lamps burning” even if Jesus return takes a lot longer than we expect?

Matthew 25:7-9 ESV Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

The door will be shut

God’s mercy and grace are abundant beyond our comprehension, but there will come a time when we will either be in His loving presence for eternity, or shut out. When should we be preparing for Christ’s return?

Matthew 25:10 ESV And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

Isaiah 55:6-7 ESV “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Does Jesus know us?

The ultimate test of preparedness for the return of Jesus is our relationship with Him, they had no spare oil, but what what it that the foolish bridesmaids ultimately lacked?

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

John 17:3 ESV And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’