“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:10-13 NKJV
Let’s pick up where we left off last Friday with me opening with “Don’t get distracted and don’t get caught up with Pharisee and Scribe stuff either.” We are entering the last days of Jesus’s ministry. He is telling us all the deep things. He is referencing back to those key things we meditated on in the Old Testament. He is also repeating the same message: it will seem like He is never going to come back like He promised – but He will come and boy will it be a surprise to those who slacked.
Dear Heavenly Father – As always, please open eye to see and our ears to hear what you are saying! Lord – open our understanding that we may know you and give us wisdom. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Today’s reading is from the book of Matthew, chapter 25 (embedded below the image below for your convenience). The 10 brides. The parable of the Talents. And The Judgement. What do all of these have in common? In all someone is blessed and someone is not (and I am not talking about financial blessings).
“The kingdom of heaven is like…” is how we start today’s reading (below) as well as starting both parables this way.
10 brides are ready enough that they grabbed their lamps and went out to meet Him. Notice ALL fell asleep?!
Ten is an interesting number in the Bible: 10 Commandments, 10 plagues, Passover and the Day of Atonement both happen on the 10th day of a month. I believe 10 is used 242 times and 10th is used 79 time. I hear it signifies complete order, and the hand of God. I did a quick search right now and found other interesting things but could not verify. Is there significance to the parable having ten brides? I know many a sermon maker has searched for a connection and I think it was just a matter of simple math. Like today I was talking with someone and used the random number of 100 because my point was 10% and it was super easy to calculate so the person I was speaking with could easily understand. That would mean that if there was a point to the “math” in this parable it is that: easily half of us who think we are ready and have gone to meet our groom are actually NOT ready and at risk of Jesus saying He never knew us. Oof
He follows that with another parable were two-thirds were ready and one was not. In the parable of the talents – ready seems to be defined by being good stewards. In the parable “Talent” is actually the word for money. But if could also apply to the God given talents we have. But – it being sandwiched in between the 10 brides and the Judgment – maybe talent means obedience to God’s will for our lives.
Here it gets tricky. You can read and pray – and NEVER ENTER THE SECRET PLACE – the deeper intimacy, the walking in the spirit, the place where you get the constant download of go straight or turn, the true communion with God. I know this is an unpopular topic – but go back and read psalm 91 again. Then pop around those psalms and see when David discussed who can even get into that place with God! Your heart must be to seek him, you must be repentant and humble. Then God will make you untouchable and He will direct your path – and it becomes a literal thing not just “oh the Bible give you guidance” type of thing. I am not speaking of guidance – but a biblical, raw, honest relationship with Him. That is where you are told what the talent is and how to use it. (I am not saying not to follow the guidance of the Bible – God will never contradict His word. Push in deeper into the very word before you and ask God to explain if you do not know. He longs to a close relationship with you.)
The brides’ parable ends with I never knew you – they did not have a relationship with God. The talents’ parable ends with verse 30:
“And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Seems pretty harsh – but Jesus said what Jesus said. I have heard this parable a million times in sermons – but no one spends any time on this verse, if they even read it at all. Some people say preaching Hell is fear mongering – if you are afraid of God – that is NOT a bad thing. Outer darkness doesn’t sound like a place I want to learn about – ever been in a place so dark you couldn’t see you hand in front of your own face? Yeah, not fun. And I do not even want to imagine weeping or gnashing of teeth.
AND THIS IS FOLLOWED BY JUDGMENT! Oh Lord, help us today! We need to listen to hard words and understand. I mean – these are the words of Christ after all. So read today carefully, while inspecting yourself – repent from sins, pray down any strongholds preventing you from getting into the deeper relationship with God. Pray through for the breakthrough! Because God wants to have a relationship with you.
It is time you ate some meat and learned – He is real. He is powerful. This isn’t a game or a joke. No one is holy or just except through grace inside that secret place.
Some of you have been reading this long enough you know I have been saying it is time! Now is the time – God is doing a new thing! Look, look back and read them and see. Did you fall asleep?! Because NOW is NOW! Right Now! And therefore – this judgment is being poured out on our world. Remember when I got hung up in Haggai and said this passage is for now –
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:6-9 NKJV
Friends – are we not the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are you in the spirit? Can you understand then what this means right now. Yes – we are all shaken. Everything and everyone is shaken. Do not be distracted. Focus your eyes on God and do not look away.
“32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:32
Does this sound familiar? Remember Ezekiel?
“And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.” Ezekiel 34:17 NKJV
Or
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.” Ezekiel 34:20 NKJV
You better believe Jesus remembered Ezekiel 34. Maybe you might want to go reread it.
God is moving in judgment and grace. It will vindicate and bless the righteous and bring judgement on those who do not repent. So one last word of caution in this time. DO NOT JUDGE. Remember Job lost everything but it was not God’s judgement for His sin. Some may surrender all to God and God requires it of them and takes it. It could look like everything is falling apart – but it is life and God is moving everything into place.
RELATIONSHIP:
Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen
MEMORY WORK: This month we have another powerful verse to pick up and swing when you need a sword in your hand! Knowing the Word is our Sword and Jesus is the Word! Jesus accomplishes what He set out to do. Quoting this verse is therefore the very act of walking in the victory!
Isaiah 55:11
NKJV – “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
NAS – “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.”
ESV – “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
AMP – “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
NIV – “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Thank you for reading.
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
BIBLE READING: Matthew 25 NKJV
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose 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, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [c]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer [d]Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 25:6 NU omits is coming
- Matthew 25:13 NU omits the rest of v. 13.
- Matthew 25:31 NU omits holy
- Matthew 25:44 NU, M omit Him
If Not For Grace 