Jesus is coming again – that’s the central lesson of this entire chapter. And Jesus Himself makes the application point of this parable in verse 13. Unlike some who comb through the Revelation trying to discover clues about exactly when Jesus will show up, Jesus simply says that we should always be ready for His coming. There’s simply no way to predict it.

But what does it mean to be ready? The women in this story were tasked with lighting the way of the bridegroom who was coming to the bride’s house to marry her. Our reading from I Thessalonians yesterday says that we will enjoy a similar privilege – to meet the Lord in the air and accompany Him on His triumphal return to earth, where He will be with us forever.

But since all Christians, living and dead, will be caught up together in the clouds, how can we possibly get ready for such an event? Verse 12 gives us a sobering clue by looking at the alternative. The bridegroom recognized those who waited on him with lamps as part of the wedding party. He did not know those who were not ready, and thus he did not admit them to the feast.

We know that Jesus will never turn away any who come to Him in trust. We know that He knows all who truly trust in Him, all those who have acknowledged Him as Savior and bowed the knee to Him as Lord. And we know that those who truly love and trust Him will do what He says in verse 13 – watch and wait for Him, longing for His return. Our readiness for the coming of Christ is thus largely determined by our attitude towards Him.

So, that’s the question for us today. Is Jesus our greatest desire, our greatest joy? Are we truly watching and waiting for His return? Or while we occupy ourselves with other, lesser things, will we miss the joy of the feast? Will we be left out in the dark?

Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV)

“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.