Matthew 25:1-13
25: “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.
Reflection
Jesus continues to prepare his disciples so that they will be ready for his return. Once again, this parable explains that the timing of Christ’s second coming will be unpredictable, and therefore we must be “wise” (Matt. 25:2). Those who ready themselves by trusting and following Christ will enjoy the marriage feast, but those who waste their lives because they won’t take Jesus seriously are “foolish” (v. 2), and will miss the opportunity.
Jesus does not intend for these warnings to paralyze us with fear. In fact, he intends the opposite. These parables are gracious tools that Jesus is using to urge us into faith-filled readiness. He warns us about the coming judgment, not because he desires our destruction but because he wants to save us from it.
1 Corinthians 7:6-16
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Reflection
A false view of spirituality had spread among the Corinthians, leading some to the belief that husbands and wives should no longer have sex with each other (1 Cor. 7:1). It seems that some of them took this to the next step and were now considering divorcing their spouses, as though singleness was the spiritually superior option. Paul steps in once again to redirect the misguided church: do not divorce your spouse, even if your spouse doesn’t follow Jesus (vv. 10–13). It is possible that the marriage may actually lead to the salvation of the unbeliever (v. 16). We cannot prevent the disobedient actions of others (v. 15), but we can choose to entrust ourselves to God’s good instructions.
The Corinthians were making life-changing and potentially devastating decisions based on a false view of spirituality. Being spiritual people does not require us to be nonphysical people who are out of touch with everyday life. God uses our ordinary routines and relationships to bring about his saving purposes in a fallen world.
Psalm 19:12-13
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Though warnings are not pleasant, they are very important for our faith and obedience (Matt. 25:1–13). Thank God for the warnings he provides in the Scriptures, and respond to them quickly if you have taken a step in the wrong direction.