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The First Sunday in Advent
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may
cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in
the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in
great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious
majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal,
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever.
Amen.
¶ This
Collect is to be repeated every day, after the other Collects in Advent, until
Christmas Day.
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hen
shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto , which took their
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 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. While the
bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 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. 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. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;
and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the doorwas
shut. 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. Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13)
There are two major categories of members in the church – those
who are devoutly centered by faith in Christ, and those who are intellectually
and socially attracted. The distant between these two is tragically large – so
very large that there true salvation is in question. The two groups of virgins
discussed today are examples of these two categories. Both groups are comprised
of morally ‘good’ people. Both possess the Bible and may be learned in it
(Lamps). But the similarity ends there. The first category of five virgins have
lamps AND the oil (Holy Spirit) to shed light on the Holy Scriptures and to
open to them the mysteries of God. The second group is only worthy in
appearance. They can give no light because they have received none. They
have the knowledge, but not the Spirit our understanding of the Word.
As with all of the Parables of Christ, I love this one. Christ’s Words are
full of life! Each time I read the Gospels, and especially the Parables, a new
and meaningful insight presents itself as it does with all Scripture. Once
again, the central theme is of a marriage supper – an event extremely important
in imparting the importance God attaches to the estate of matrimony as well as
to His Church as the Bride of Christ.
We observe in today’s text two different kinds of character and two
different outcomes which ensue from each.
This is a Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a picture, if you
will, of the existence in the Church of those who are burning and sincere
followers of Christ, and those who are only nominal Christians who make no
preparation or study to be accepted of God. These are the two different kinds
of hearts that are depicted. The lamps represent those hearts and the oil, the
grace and love. The virgins represent the purity of doctrine and faith in the
church. The Bridegroom, of course, is Christ. It is true that all of the oil in
the world will not benefit us unless we have used it to fuel the FIRE of our
Light. There is a subtle reference also to two doors – an open door,
and a shut door.
Then shall the
kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went
forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish” So far, we have ten virgins whose
appearance seem very similar, but those qualities not seen – such as wisdom and
fool-heartedness – do not appear by simple observation. Perhaps more than
50% (and most certainly so) of all professing Christian fall into the latter
category of being foolish. But they all subscribe to the same faith and truth
of the Gospel. They appear righteous. They are good moral people for they are
virgins. The church is comprised of both wheat and tares. The tares APPEAR to
be wheat. They grow where the wheat grows. In every way, the tares look like
wheat in texture, in color, and in size. So many Christians may have an
intellectual assent of Christ, but they lack the oil and fire of true faith.
They look like Christians. They talk like Christians. They attend church every
Sunday. But they are lacking the testimony, love, faith, and grace of a true follower
of Christ. The only Bible they know is that read by the minister or Lay Reader.
They have hearts, but nothing to fuel the fire of faith in those hearts. Both
the true Christians and professing Christians go forth to meet the Bridegroom.
But five have a problem.
They that were
foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. Can you receive Christ in your heart but
not love? These foolish virgins (professing Christians) took their hearts to
Christ, but they did not allow Christ to enter those hearts. The oil that could
have been purchased by Bible study and faithful service is lacking. Those who
seem to strictly keep the commandments are often those whose hearts are the
most devoid of love.
But the wise
took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The wise virgins had made preparation for this expected moment. They
had purchased oil and carried it in vessels to take with their lamps. We cannot
follow Christ in darkness. These wise virgins were not at all casual in their
faith, but earnest and sober.
While the
bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Note all ten virgins slumbered and slept while the Bridegroom tarried.
Those of mild conviction slept alongside those who took their faith seriously.
We all need sleep. Because of their lack of real faith, the foolish virgins
were able to sleep not expecting the Bridegroom. The wise virgins, because they
DID have faith, slept in peace because they had peace in their hearts toward
God.
And at midnight
there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. The custom in Israel was for a man to seek a bride for his son. When a
suitable bride was found, a meeting would be arranged for the young man and
young woman to meet. They would meet at the home, and with the girl and her
parents, of the young lady. There would be a cup of wine prepared on a table
around which the company gathered. The boy and girl would chat a bit. After a
while, if the boy found the girl acceptable to his liking, he would drink from
the cup. The girl, if she found the prospective bridegroom acceptable, would
drink from that same cup! That exchange of sups from the cup formally signified
the betrothal of the couple. The son would then go to his father’s place and
build a residence for his bride under supervision of the father. This may
consume a period of one, two, or more years. When the father believed the
provision constructed for the bride was acceptable, he would send the son to
fetch the bride.
The bridegroom would send his groomsmen to fetch the girl. The hour was
usually irregular for the sake of surprise, and most often at, or after,
midnight. One of the groomsmen would sound a trumpet near the girl’s home. This
was the signal that the bridegroom had sent for her. She and her bridesmaids
would need to grab whatever bags and provisions desired and rush out to meet
the bridegroom. How like that is the manner in which Christ will return for His
Bride! Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. (1 Cor 15:51-52)
The point here is that the true worshippers must be ready at all times
to go with Him. There will be no time to set our affairs in order once the
trumpet sounds.
Then all those
virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. See how similar are the actions of both
groups of virgins! They BOTH arose,
and they BOTH trimmed their lamps –
the foolish virgins were going through the motions still of being prepared, but
they were NOT!
And the foolish
said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Those who are lazy and slovenly will always beg to enjoy the fruits of
preparation of others. But in actuality, the wise virgins could not share their
oil. There was only enough for themselves. That is true of faith. The faith of
the most faithful mother in the world cannot be granted to a son to save him.
We must all come to Christ by grace through that faith! But the wise
answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you.
The wise will always ensure that their faith is sufficient to receive
sufficient grace.
…but
go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. “Buy the word and sell it not!” Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no
money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and
without price. (Isaiah 55:1) The
wise virgins knew that it would be too late to purchase the oil and still meet
the bridegroom, but they answer courteously and out of sympathy. If they did
share, they knew that the oil would run out and both would be lost.
And while they
went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to
the marriage.
Only those who are ready will go
with Christ when He comes. It will be then too late to study, to nurture faith,
to love more, and to trust God. These wise virgins went into the marriage
through and open door. That door will open for those who are worthy through the
imputed merits of Christ. …..and the door was shut! The door was open for those who were prepared
and ready, but shut immediately behind them.
Now we come to the SHUT DOOR! Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord,
Lord, open to us. How seemingly tragic many who
profess to be Christians will sit in church week after week and appear real and
true Christians. The church door has always been open to them but, now, the
door is shut in their faces at the end. They have put up a good front. They
have worshipped God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. Who
shut the door? Was it the wise virgins? No, it was not. It was God who shut the
door. Man has not the authority to shut the door of salvation on any man, but
only God. Remember Noah and the Ark God commanded him to build. When the time
was come, the Lord commanded Noah, not to GO
into the Ark, but to COME into the
Ark. Do you notice the important difference. Where God is, that is the place of
safety. Where the bridegroom is, that is the place of blessing. And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous
before me in this generation. (Gen 7:1) So Noah went into the place of safety – the
Ark. Then, after Noah entered the Ark, what happened? Did Noah shut the door of
the Ark? No, man has no authority to close the doors of mercy on mankind – that
is the prerogative of the Lord. ….and
the LORD shut him in. (Gen 7:16b)
But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. If we do not take the effort to know Christ
very well as intimate friend, Savior, Redeemer, and Sovereign, he will not know
us either. For friends to be close, each party must know the other intimately.
How tragic will it be to hear those words from the mouth of Christ!
Watch therefore,
for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. There are a lot of pseudo-prophets today attempting to determine the
exact day and time of Christ’s return. Why is it so important to them? Perhaps
it is the money they make in selling books with such sensational predictions.
But, perhaps a more important reason is that they do not desire to serve God
We presently. They prefer to hedge their bets and live according to the lust of
their flesh for now, and then, as their presumed day arrives for Christ’s
return, they will clean up their act, so to speak. It is the will and intent of
God that we know not the hour or day of His return. We are to watch and pray
our lives each day as if that were the day of His Coming.
I like
what Horatius Bonar, an old-time minister and hymn writer of the Free Church of
Scotland, says about this Parable:
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HE oil is the Holy
Spirit. To oil he is likened throughout all Scripture, though in some places to
fire and water, to wind or air. But it is as the light-giving oil that he is
specially spoken of here; and the lack of him, as such, makes the difference
between the foolish and the wise ; having not the spirit. (Jude, verse 19.)
Thus a man may be very like a Christian, and yet not be one. He may come very
near the kingdom, and yet not enter it. He may have all the outward features of
a Christian, and be lacking the main one. He may have the complete dress of a
saint, and yet not be one. He may have a good life, a sound creed, a strict
profession; he may be one who says and does many things excellent; he may be a
subscriber to all the religious societies in the land, a member of all their
committees, or a speaker at all their meetings, and a supporter of all their
plans; he may profess to be looking for Christ's coming, and going forth to
meet the Bridegroom, and yet not necessarily a Christian. He may lack the oil
the Holy Spirit. A religion without the Holy Ghost profiteth nothing. There is
the religion of the intellect, of the sense, of the fancy, of the flesh, of the
creed, of the liturgy, of the catechism, of nature, of poetry, of sentiment, of
mysticism, of humanity; but what are these without the Spirit. Christianity
without Christ what would that be ? Worship without God what would that be? So
religion without the Holy Spirit what would that be ? Go to them that sell, and
buy for yourselves. Not to men, or churches, or ministers, but to Christ. Go to
him. He is exalted to give it, and he will. Apply to him ere it be too late. - Horatius Bonar.
Do we possess this
oil? Do we have fire to cause the oil to provide light?
