A Study of Matthew 25…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 1 of 12 To benefit MOST from this study, READ this chapter each day until your class study of it is completed (at least 10X). A Study of Matthew 25 I. Outline. 1. PARABLE of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25.1-13) 2. PARABLE of the Talents (Mt 25.14-30; cf., Lk 19.11-27). 3. Jesus Paints a Picture of the Separation that Will Happen at Judgment Day (Mt 25.31-46). II. Summary. “The parable of the virgins is the second in a series of three that reinforces the need to be ready for the Lord’s return. In this story, faithfulness and unfaithfulness are defined in terms of wisdom and foolishness. Historically, this parable has been recklessly allegorized, but its simple aim is to urge that appropriate measures be taken to prepare for Christ’s return. ... While the parable of the virgins stresses the need for watchfulness, this third parable in the series (Mt 24.42ff) shows that watchfulness is not passive waiting, but active responsibility. The watchful servant is the one ‘producing results which the coming “master” can see and approve’ (France, 352). ... In Matthew 16.27 Christ predicted His return to ‘reward every man according to his works.’ Having thoroughly drilled His disciples on the need for readiness He closes by describing what will happen on the Judgment Day. This is one of the occasions in Matthew wherein His discussion of one subject leads to the discussion of a related topic (Mt 10.16). What began with a prediction of Jerusalem’s judgment (Mt 24.3-41) ends with a prediction of the world’s judgment (Mt 25.31-46). Both reflect Christ’s rule and both vindicate Him as the rightful King and Judge (Jn 5.25-29; Acts 10.42; 2 Tim 4.1). In addition, ‘This judgment scene “tells me that I am accountable. I am free to live my life just as I please, but at the end I shall have to give account to the one who gave me my life,” (Morris, 634).” --Kenneth L. Chumbley, The Gospel of Matthew , 1999, pp. 437, 440, 444. III. Chronology. BIBLE PERIOD: The Period of the Christ. If you are not familiar with the 15 Bible Periods , please click here : https://maplehillchurchofchrist.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/15bibleperiods.pdf IV. Aids in Exposition. Matthew 25.1... Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom —“This is a kingdom parable. A parable uses the familiar to explain the unfamiliar. The familiar was a wedding and various aspects of it. The unfamiliar was the Second Coming of Christ. Only Matthew recorded the Words of Jesus in this chapter, thus we should study it closely. Much can be gleaned from it. The ten virgins undoubtedly refer to New Testament Christians. The lamps and oil, though foreign to many of us, were everyday necessities in the lives of the Lord's listeners. Scholars are divided over whether the bridegroom was coming to get his bride or returning with his bride to his own house for further festivities involved in the marriage. It is probable that the latter is meant” [ Tom Bright, “Two Judgment Parables and the Judgment Described,” in Studies in Matthew , Edited by Dub McClish, 1995 Annual Denton Lectures, p. 170]. ||||| LAMPS —“Probably a short, wooden stem held in Created by: David Lemmons btcMatthew25 Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.blog A Study of Matthew 25…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 2 of 12 the hand, with a dish at the top, in which was a piece of cloth dipped in oil or pitch” [Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament , p. 131]. Matthew 25.2-4... And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps —“Here Jesus tells us that five were wise and five were foolish (Matt. 25:2). Furthermore, He gave the reason for such categorization. The wise virgins took vessels with additional oil besides what their lamps would hold (Matt. 25:4). The foolish ones did not (Matt. 25:3). The wicks of the lamps left room for only a small amount of oil. This necessitated carrying another vessel which contained additional oil. They could then replenish the oil in their lamps as needed” [Tom Bright, p. 171]. Matthew 25.5... While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept —“As there were servants on watch who would announce the approach of the bridegroom (verse 6), there was no need that they should remain awake, and a little sleep now would enable them to be wider awake during the festivities of the latter part of the night” [J.W. McGarvey, New Testament Commentary, Vol I—Matthew and Mark , Gospel Light, p. 303]. Matthew 25.6-7... And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps —“We may number this among the many hints given by our Lord, that the time of his return might possibly be delayed very far beyond the expectation of his disciples. It was a hint, and no more. Had more been given, had He said plainly that He would not come for many centuries, then the first ages of the Church would have been placed at a manifest disadvantage, being deprived of that powerful motive to holiness and diligence supplied to each generation of the faithful by the possibility of his return in their time. It is not that He desires each succeeding generation to believe that in their day He will certainly return; for He cannot desire our faith and our practice to be founded on a misapprehension, as then the faith and practice of all generations except the last would be. But it is a necessary element of the doctrine concerning the second coming of Christ, that it should be possible at any time, that no generation should consider it improbable in theirs...” [James Trench, Notes on the Parables of Our Lord , p. 256]. Matthew 25.8-9... And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves —“The foolish virgins asked their wise companions for some of their oil, for our lamps are gone out . The marginal rendering and the original text state literally that their lamps were ‘going out.’ It was only now that the wisdom of the one group and the foolishness of the other is seen. Some have criticized the wise virgins for refusing to share their oil. But in the story, the oil represented the preparation this group of saints had made, including their godly lives, their faith, love, works, the entirety of their faithful stance. They did not share with the foolish ones because they could not do so! Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (John 14:1-3; Rev. 22:11-12; Mt. 24:42, 44)” [Bob Winton, Book of Matthew , p. 303]. Matthew 25.10... And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut —“What terrible finality rings in the words: and the door was shut ! (Cf. Luke 13:25.) Just as God shut the ark door, shutting Noah and his family in and shutting the ungodly world out (Gen 7:13 ff.), so also here the bridegroom orders the banquet- hall door shut, closing the prepared ones in and the unprepared out. The opportunity for grace has passed and forgiveness is now impossible, according to our gracious Lord “who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens” (Rev 3:7). Until that moment, the door of mercy Created by: David Lemmons btcMatthew25 Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.blog A Study of Matthew 25…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 3 of 12 is open to the worst of sinners who repents; thereafter it will be closed forever” [Harold Fowler, The Gospel of Matthew , Bible Study Textbook Series, College Press, An e-Sword Module]. Matthew 25.11-12... Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not —“In this answer the term know is used, according to the Jewish idiom, for favorable knowledge. (Comp. 7:23.) The answer was a refusal to recognize them, as when a man passes an old acquaintance who has given him an offense as if he knew him not. It sent away the poor virgins in bitter disappointment and shame” [J.W. McGarvey, p. 216]. Matthew 25.13... Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh — “This was Jesus' own conclusion from the parable; it should also be ours. The meaning of WATCH is not restricted to staying awake but includes thoroughness of preparation, an alertness that takes account of unseen contingencies, and a conscious readiness AT ALL TIMES to respond to the divine summons. The wise virgins slept with the foolish ones, as indeed all shall sleep in death; thus, "to watch" enjoins the proper employment of all those golden hours that precede the inevitable onset of that night in which no man can work” [Burton Coffman Online, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/matthew-25.html ].