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.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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.
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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The Kingdom parables are not telling us the destiny of the non-Christians, but the judgment coming upon those who claim to be Christians but are not – the hypocrites, the false conversions.
What is that judgment? Why is there weeping and gnashing of teeth?
Not the cries of regret from those who never “prayed the Sinner’s Prayer”.
They are the cries of anger and pain and shame from those who thought they were destined to rule and reign with Jesus, but are excluded because they (among other things) never embraced the Cross and became a disciple.
They called Jesus “Lord” but didn’t do His Will. Matthew has shown us this a dozen different ways.
Matthew 25, for example, speaks of foolish virgins, unprofitable servants, and goats.
All the virgins had the same Bridegroom.
All the servants had the same Master.
Both the sheep and the goats had the same Shepherd.
But Jesus separates between the wise and foolish, between the profitable and the unprofitable, between the sheep and the goats, between the ones whose heart is to do His will, and the ones who think that because they said a certain prayer or did a certain ritual (like baptism), they are headed for heaven.
The parable conveys a sense of urgency to stop playing games and get serious about the things of God that we may ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and reveal to us who is the object of our trust. Jesus and His saving death and resurrection? or something we have said or done.
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Bibloscope 