This document is a sermon about Jesus' imminent return and the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25:1-13. It discusses how the parable illustrates the need for Christians to be prepared for Jesus' second coming through faith and good works. The sermon warns that Jesus will deny entry into heaven for those who claim to know him but are not truly doing the will of God. It emphasizes living holy lives as we await Jesus' return, which will come suddenly like a thief in the night. Believers must have oil in their lamps like the wise virgins to be ready to meet the bridegroom.

1. Matthew 25:1-13
Maud church of Christ
By Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, Sept. 14, 2014

2. Jesus is coming soon
Revelation 22:20 ESV He who
testifies to these things says,
"Surely I am coming soon." Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!

3. Jesus is coming soon!
• Background Destruction of the Temple &
Jerusalem in 70 AD, Matthew 24:1-2.
• The disciples asked three separate questions.
Matthew 24:3 ESV As he sat on the Mount of Olives,
the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us,
when will these things be, and what will be the sign of
your coming and of the close of the age?”

4. The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1. To better understand the Parable of the Ten Virgins
we need to understand Jewish wedding customs
(particularly in Palestine) of the 1st Century.
• The bride was taken to the bridegroom’s (he was
not there) to await his arrival. When a messenger
announced the coming of the groom, the bride’s
friends (virgins) would go out to meet the
bridegroom and escort him back to the house
where the marriage ceremony took place.
(Jackson, The Parables in Profile, 109)

5. Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened
to ten virgins who took their lamps and went
out to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1
NKJV)

6. Now five of them were wise, and five were
foolish. Those who were foolish took their
lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise
took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
(Matthew 25:2-4 NKJV)

7. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they
all slumbered and slept. "And at midnight a
cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is
coming; go out to meet him!' (Matthew 25:5-
6 NKJV)

8. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their
lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give
us some of your oil, for our lamps are going
out.' 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.‘ (Matthew 25:7-9 NKJV)

9. 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!' (Matthew
25:10-11 NKJV)

10. 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
25:12-13 NKJV)

11. The Church
Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened
to ten virgins who took their lamps and went
out to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1
NKJV)
Christ
Revelation 19:6-9
Christians, members of the church,
Rev. 19:9; 2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous
for you with godly jealousy. For I have
betrothed you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ.

12. Faith; Heb. 11:6;
Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access
with confidence through faith in Him.
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their
lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give
us some of your oil, for our lamps are going
out.' 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.‘ (Matthew Works
25:7-9 NKJV)
James 2:26 NKJV For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also.

13. 2nd Coming of Christ
Matthew 24:36 NKJV "But of
that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of
heaven, but My Father only.
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they
all slumbered and slept. "And at midnight a
cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is
coming; go out to meet him!' (Matthew 25:5-
6 NKJV)
Matthew 24:44 NKJV Therefore
you also be ready, for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour you do
not expect.

14. I Know You Not
1. Remember we are talking about Christians.
1Co 2. A 10:Christian 12 ESV can Therefore fall away., let anyone 1 Cor. 10:who 12
thinks that he stands
3. take “I heed do not lest know he fall.
you” – know - perfect tense in Greek
4. God wants all to repent, but there will come a time when it is
too late.
5. How sad here we have those who were once known, but are
now forgotten for all eternity.

15. Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV "Not everyone who says to
Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
(22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’

16. Are You Prepared?
1. What have you done to be prepared?
2. Cannot get into heaven based on others deeds.
3. When Jesus comes again, it will be too late to change.
4. Does Jesus know you?
2Co 5:10 ESV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the
body, whether good or evil.

17. Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV "Therefore whoever hears these
sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise
man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain
descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded
on the rock.

18. Matthew 7:24-27 continued (26) "But everyone who hears
these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like
a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and
the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was
its fall.”

19. BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

20. 2 Peter 3:9-12 NKJV The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and
the works that are in it will be burned up.

21. 2 Peter 3:9-12 continued (11) Therefore, since all these
things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because
of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and
the elements will melt with fervent heat?