Matthew 25:1-13 "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 foolish.3 They that 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: 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"
Verse
1 tells me that both wise and foolish have lamps, both have knowledge of the Word of God.
Psalm 119:105 "NUN.
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
But to have knowledge of the Word of God
does not mean that person has Salvation.
Verses 2 tells me that five were wise and five foolish.
Psalm
107:43 "Whoso wise, and will observe these, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD"
To
trust and understand God's Salvation is to understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Psalm 5:5
"The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity"
The foolish virgins are
workers of iniquity.
Remember Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22 Many will say
to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"
Notice,
these workers of iniquity come before the Lord with trust in their doings.
Luke 13:22-27 "22
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are
there few that be saved? And he said unto them,24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able.25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin
to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know
you not whence ye are:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our
streets.27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all workers of iniquity"
Verses
3 and 4 tell me that the foolish took no oil, but the wise took oil in their vessels.
What is this oil? This oil
is what makes the difference in verse 8; the foolish have no oil when the bridegroom cometh; but the wise have oil in their
vessels.
Lets hear what the Spirit of the Chief Shepherd says to His sheep:
Isaiah 61:1-3
"1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he
hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to bound;2 To
proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3 To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit
of heaviness; that they be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he be glorified"
Isaiah 61:3 "the oil of joy for mourning" the oil of joy is what makes the difference, the joy of Salvation.
Psalm
51:12 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me free spirit"
The wise
virgins are God's chosen people.
Romans 9:14-23 "14 What shall we say then? Unrighteousness with God? God forbid.15
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.16
So then, not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh,
Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I shew my power in thee, and that my name be declared throughout all
the earth.18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth
he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump
to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?22 If God, willing to shew wrath, and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:23 And that he make known the riches of his glory
on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory"
He has made me as a vessel
of honour/mercy; I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for the Salvation of my soul. False teachers have tried to make me
believe that Salvation is Christ PLUS physical works (physical water baptism, give money, eat crackers, drink juice, got to
make a decision, got to accept Jesus, and etcetera) but the Lord Jesus Christ put the oil of joy in this vessel; the joy of
Salvation to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Chosen you to Salvation
2 Thessalonians
2 13-14 "13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:14 Whereunto he called
you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Isaiah 61:10 "I
will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth with her
jewels"
And by giving me His Salvation, this has happened: 2 Peter 1:10-11 "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"
The
fall in verse 10, refers to believing lies and heresies that false teachers bring. I used to believe that what I was doing
would get me to glory, and if I believe this freewill of man doctrine I would fall in the same snare. But by God's power and
grace, His chosen people will come to be free through trusting and understanding His Salvation in Christ.
Proverbs
26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
2
Peter 2:18-22 For when they speak great swelling
words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them
who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning. For it had been better for them not
to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Psalm 64:10 "The righteous
shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart
shall glory"
Isaiah 51:4-6 "4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me,
O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.5 My righteousness
near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall
they trust.6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke,
and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be
for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished"
If the bridegroom cometh today: Do
you have the oil joy, the joy of Salvation in your vessel?
PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
