Matthew chapter 25

The 25th chapter of Matthew has Jesus telling 2 parables, one about ten bridesmaids waiting for the groom, and the other about how effective different servants are as stewards of their master's money.

Jesus then follows these two parables up with an example of the division of Sheep and Goats, illustrating how the Christians will be separated from the unbelievers in the comming judgment.

The two parables are in relation to Jesus' second comming and since it is unknown when it will occur, we must watch and be ready.

In The Parable of the Ten Virgins, the ten virgins would be the bridesmaids, rather than the bride herself. Wedding processions, like the one in this parable, from the bride's to the groom's home, accompanied by singing and dancing, normally happened at night and thus required lamps or torches for light. It is reasonable to assume the bridesmaids are thus waiting outside the bride's home for the Groom's coming, to escort her to his home, where she will become his wife.

In this particular parable (in contrast to Matthew 24:42-44) the issue is not that the virgins went to sleep, since both the wise and foolish did so; the issue is that some were not watchful enough to have sufficient oil. All the virgins would have been ready for the groom had he arrived when they expected, but grooms' delays were common enough that they should have been prepared for it anyway. As the old saying goes "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." This provides clear warning that the second coming of Jesus may be delayed, but even though Jesus might not come as soon as we would like, we must still be prepared for His arrival and not be only prepared for a short time.

Those unprepared for Christ's coming insult Him and are subject to His judgment. The wise virgins' unwillingness to share their oil reflects their concern for their friend's wedding; since they had only enough for their own torches, sharing would cause all the torches to be extinguished, ruining the whole processi. Bridal processions were so important that later rabbis even suspended their lectures so they could hail a passing bride, so a breach of etiquette was serious. Thus the foolish virgins were not excluded simply because the door was locked, nor because the host actually did not recognize them, but because they had insulted the bride and groom as well as all their relatives! They would never be allowed to forget such an offense. That they would be shut out of the feast in punishment suits their offence, but the language used "'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'" points beyond itself to severer, eternal judgment, probably echoing the sayings in Matthew 7:21-23.

The Parable of the Talents has a couple of important points to begin with. Firstly, a single Talent was worth quite a lot of money, in the realm of at least a thousand dollars in modern money. Secondly, the maseter already knew which servants would perform well and which would not. This is evident in the way he entrusted his money, "To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability" This parable provides clear warning about how Christians are to manage the gifts, abilities, resources, and talents God has given us to further His Kingdom.

Christians are to be like the servants who increased their master's wealth. We are to use our abilities, develop them and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Grace to the world. Christians are to be a light to the world. Christians should not be like the servant who hid away the talent for fear of losing it only to give the same back to his master. When we come face to face with God, we are to say "Lord you made me a good singer/preacher/teacher/listener/etc and see how this built up your Kingdom." We are not to say " Thanks Lord, you made me a good singer/preacher/teacher/listener/etc and I enjoyed it everyday in the shower, but never shared this gift as I was afraid." Christians obviously will have different levels of ability and calling for ministry, this means we will be able to reach different lives and indeed will mean some reach more than others. The Christian who God has planned only to evangelise to one soul and does it, is far more worthy that the Christian destined to preach to millions but only reached hundreds of thousands.

The illustration Jesus gives of dividing believers from unbelievers like dividing sheep from goats is a very visual and powerful illustration of election. It is a very practical one, explaining that the sheep are the ones who unknowingly performed righteous acts of service to Jesus. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." These acts were not performed by the 'goats', but it is not these acts which makes a believer righteous, believers are made righteous through Grace alone. As C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity (I very strongly recomend reading this book as soon as possible, place it on the top of your "to read" list) "[Our] good works are not [our] gift to God, but God's gift to [us]." Unless one believes in the Darwinian Theory of Evolution, which no biblical Christian should, a sheep can never turn into a goat no matter how beardy that sheep may be, and a goat can never be turned into a sheep, no matter how well behaved. Unsaved, or pre-saved 'sheep', are considered 'lost sheep' as found in the famous parable, and are never refered to as goats. The Sheep will be rewarded with life in heaven, simply for being sheep, not because they also hear and obey the voice of their Good Shepherd. They hear and obey the Shepherd's voice because they are sheep, they are not sheep because they hear and obey.