Today’s Bible Reading:
Matthew 25:1-13
Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Verse of the Day:
Devotional Reading:
We continue reading in Matthew today and Jesus is telling another parable that emphasizes how important it is to be ready for His return.
Key points of this story:
- Jesus is the groom in this parable.
- 10 bridesmaids, 5 wise and 5 foolish.
- The groom is delayed – this could be the way that Jesus tells the disciples His return won’t come quickly in their time on earth during their ministries.
- The groom returns in the middle of the night – a time when no one expects him.
- The wise bridesmaids had enough oil in their lamps to go out and meet the groom.
- The foolish bridesmaids did not have enough oil and had to go to the store to buy more. They are not back when the groom arrives.
- Jesus takes those that are ready to the wedding celebration and the doors are shut.
- The foolish bridesmaids arrive, but cannot get in and Jesus tells them that he does not know them.
- This is a sign that some will be lost while others will be saved.
- We must be ready – no one knows the day or hour.
I think about so many things with this story.
Related to weddings, I’ve been that person that was late to a wedding (because we had the time wrong of when it started!!) and we watched the end of the wedding from outside the doors of the sanctuary through a little window. Weddings are just those kinds of things that if you’re late, you miss out! It’s not respectful to enter as the bridal party is coming in. I wonder if weddings back in the time of Jesus were the same way?
Related to middle of the night – maybe Jesus made me a little more prepared than most others!!! Ha. I just had to throw that in there since I’m almost always up at midnight 🙂
We can choose to be wise: prepared, alert and ready.
Or we can choose to be foolish: unprepared, locked out and separated for eternity.
I like what Melissa said in the comments yesterday, “These are some of the scariest stories in the Bible!”
I totally agree.
There is no sugar coating what Jesus taught about the coming future.
We don’t have time to waste.
Lord, create an urgency in us that we can’t live a day without seeking You and working to impact Your Kingdom.
To illustrate today’s reading, I have another song for you – One of my all time favorites that talks about being ready at the Midnight Cry!
PS – reminder, tomorrow is our day of rest!
~Starr
What a beautiful song. If the Lord comes at midnight I am in trouble! Ha! Until you mentioned you being a night owl I never truly thought of Him coming in the middle of the night,I always imagine Him coming at dawn. My prayer for this Tuesday is to never take my eyes off him and always be prepared. 😊
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You will be good if He comes at dawn! Between the two of us, we’ve got it covered! Jk 🙂
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One of my all time favorites too, but my favorite version is by Mike Simmons! What a day of rejoicing that will be! How I long for that day when he steps out to bring his children home!
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I had not thought about Mike singing this song until you said that. But I would definitely agree!
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Agreed! Mike does this song sooo beautifully!
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I just did a double take… my words on the blog? 😉
What’s funny to me is that while reading this last night, I found myself thinking about how I am one of those people that tend to share the last of what I have. So would I have shared my oil with the others? And not have enough to last until He arrived? Just my thoughts.
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Great thought, Melissa! Thanks for always sharing your perspective!!
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Starr, you really think everyone believes that the reason we were late for a wedding is because we had the time wrong?!? Ha, that’s funny. 🙂
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Nope we know it was because Brian had to style his hair. And change clothes five times. 😉
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Bhahahah yeah, what she said!!!!
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Um. Yes. We got the time mixed up. For real!!!!
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I love Brian’s comments! Out of left field!! I too, love that song, and wait with anticipation, anxious for all my loved ones to be ready!
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