Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

Matthew 25:1-13 July 8, 2007

The Long Haul
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer

We’re having a “Summer of Parables.” I missed you last week, although I heard that Rev. Miller preached on the parable of the week. I think that was awesome of him to go with “our flow.” But since I haven’t been with you since two Sundays ago, I must ask this question: How is everyone doing at forgiving perfectly? That’s what we were learning about together 2 weeks ago in the parable of the unmerciful servant – forgiving 7 x 70 or 7 + 70 = complete, perfect forgiveness. This parable was aimed at us, the church. So, I’m conducting a checkup: How are we doing at keeping the past in the past, not regurgitating how we have been hurt and offended by others (to the offender or anybody else), except in the context of seeking healing and wholeness? How are you doing at perfect forgiveness? Remember, Jesus said that if we don’t forgive, he’s not going to forgive us.” I don’t want to go there. I’m assuming you don’t either. We can do this. By God’s grace, we can do this in a way that eases our burdens and sets us and others free!
Well today, we have quite the parable to unpack. It’s a very interesting one because there are a couple of very different ways people interpret it.
Let’s begin with a reminder of what a parable is and isn’t. Let’s remember that a parable is not an allegory. An allegory is a made-up story where mostly everything in the story has some important meaning outside the story. A parable, on the other hand, is a made-up story with one goal: to make a point for life instruction. Jesus used parables to make important spiritual points. Let’s listen now to the parable in Matthew 25:1-13:
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Let us pray: Oh Father, those who have ears, let us hear what the Spirit is saying to us. This we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

In order for us to understand what point Jesus wants to teach in this parable, we need to understand a little bit about Jewish wedding customs. There are three steps to consider:
The parents of the potential bride and groom get together to work out the compensation to the bride’s family for the loss of their daughter. If all was agreed upon, the bridegroom would begin to prepare a house for his bride. No one knew when the house would be finished and the bridegroom would come for his bride. She and her bridesmaids were to maintain a constant state of preparedness – ready for the wedding whenever the bridegroom would come.
The second step was the coming of the bridegroom for his bride.
The third step was what happened after the bridegroom came for his bride, which was a 5 to 7 day wedding banquet that would break out for family & friends!

Now, it became a bit of a test for the bridegroom to see if he could come to get his bride at a completely unexpected time. He wanted to try to catch her off-guard – to surprise her! Often he would come in the middle of the night and whisk her away when everyone else had fallen asleep and was not paying attention.
Let’s start the parable again:
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Obviously, word had come back to the bride & bridesmaids that the bridegroom was on the way. (So much for sneaking up on them!) The bridesmaids then planned to go out and light the path to his bride with oil lamps (no flashlights in those days). But there’s a problem:
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. This wouldn’t have been a problem except for what we learn next:
As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Can you see it all in your mind now?

Jesus is telling us: Be ready. Don’t get ready. BE ready. Be ready NOW – and stay ready for the long haul, no matter how long you must wait.

If you’re going on a trip, at some point you get serious about getting ready. At some point before leaving your house, you get out your suitcase, pack some clothes and personal stuff, in order to get ready.
Jesus is telling us that we should always have our suitcase packed and in the trunk.
I remember a particular Christmas Eve service here. All of the weeks of Advent we lit the advent candles. It’s a big deal when it’s finally time on Christmas Eve to light the big, white, Christ candle. Everything looked ready for the big moment. The wick was lit – but within minutes, it went out. We hadn’t filled the candle with oil. We weren’t ready. We looked ready. But, we weren’t ready.

Jesus is telling us we need to be ready, now. He’s not saying, “start getting ready.” He’s saying, you better be ready.

Now, the question for interpretation is this: Be ready for what?

Some interpreters of this parable think it’s all about things that will happen at the end of the age. The disciples thought Jesus was talking about what was going to happen at the end of the age. We can see this at the beginning of what is called the Olivet Discourse, in Matthew 24 (because Jesus was teaching about these things while sitting on the Mount of Olives). Jesus is talking about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Listen to the beginning of the conversation, “As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
John Calvin, one of the fathers of Presbyterianism, says this: “Since many [Jews] had considered from childhood that the temple would stand to the end of time and had this idea deeply rooted in their minds, they had not thought that the temple could fall down as long as the world’s created order stood. So, as soon as Christ said the temple would perish, at once their minds turned to the consummation [the end] of the age.”
So, many people, because the disciples mentioned it, believe this parable is about being ready for the end of the age. Many people believe Jesus is telling us that we better make sure we have our spiritual houses in order. If there’s someone in our lives we want to make sure is in heaven with us, we better not delay in showing them where and from whom to get their oil. It’s a good message. We should be ready, now, and not delay in doing all we can to help the people around us be ready, too.
But what history has shown us, is that Jesus wasn’t talking about the end of the age in his Olivet Discourse. He was talking about what was going to happen in the year 70. Jesus was saying these things around year 32. He was talking about a historical event that was going to occur in about 38 more years. It’s as if Jesus were here and started telling us about something that’s going to happen in 2045. That’s not that far away, but the disciples couldn’t see the whole picture like Jesus could. The temple was completely burned to the ground by the Romans in 70. Rabbi Ken Spiro says, “We [the Jews] are still living in the consequences of the destruction of the Second Temple, spiritually and physically.”
Jesus was talking to the Jewish Christians – and therefore, to us as well - about the time that would follow the destruction of the temple. Let me continue with verse 4 of chapter 24: Jesus said after he spoke about the temple being destroyed, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the popular author, Christopher Hitchens who recently wrote, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Hitchens especially hates Christians who are focused on bringing others to their beliefs. “We all know this stuff (stories about Jesus) is completely puerile [silly, childish] fantasy and invention. None of it ever happened or ever could have. And the belief in it is attractive in children, perhaps. A fairy tale bit. But it’s not really attractive in grown ups, and it can’t be taught to people as if it were true. And it’s wicked to say to people: If they don’t believe it, they’ll be tortured forever.” (From an interview with beliefnet.)
I believe that in the parable of the 10 bridesmaids, Jesus was telling his followers to be ready for his coming, for sure. It’s a consistent message he gives us throughout his teachings: Don’t be getting ready – BE ready, now, for no one knows the day or the hour of his return. But, I also believe Jesus is telling us that we need to make sure our spiritual tanks are always full to overflowing. We need to be filled with the renewing presence, and igniting power of the Holy Spirit every single day. We don’t know what trouble is around the bend, but woe to us, if we find ourselves without any spiritual reserves on the day things come crashing in. I often hear people say that they look forward to coming for Sunday school and worship because they need that “recharging.” Yes. We do. But, we also better be hitting the ‘fill ‘r up’ button on the days in between, too. Reading the word, praying, serving others, listening to good Christian music, talking with others about the Lord, obviously worship & group study – these are ways we keep our spiritual tanks full so that we are ever ready to face the circumstances of life.
Jesus makes a point of talking about 10 bridesmaids. He could have just talked about 10 friends. But, I think part of what he is teaching us is that these ten people all looked the same on the outside. Bridesmaids usually dress alike, right? So, from outer appearance they all looked ready to do their part. Just like we all might look ready. But, it wasn’t until push came to shove, that it became apparent that some were unprepared.
As I close, listen to these wonderful scriptures that help us take what we’ve heard today deep into our hearts:
Jude 19-23, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering.”
1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Revelation 21:22-27, “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
The Holy Spirit who lives within believers testifies within us that we belong to God. If you aren’t sure today if you are ready, please pray with me this prayer for salvation:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge today that I am a sinner, completely helpless apart from your gift of grace and forgiveness. Please forgive me for the ways I have failed to live a life of love and mercy as you have shown me in your word. I turn away from the ways of self-centeredness and pride. I turn away from the sin that so easily grips me. I turn to you, and choose your ways from now on. I choose to receive your gift of forgiveness, and the gift of your Holy Spirit to live within me forever. Thank you for this gift. I pray in the name of my Savior and my Lord, Jesus Christ – Amen.

Let us stand, and make a declaration of our faith:
I believe in one God, the God of the Bible, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe in Jesus Christ
as the sinless, perfect, Son of God.
I believe Jesus came to save me,
and to save the world from eternal punishment from our sin.
I believe Jesus is the only way I can be saved from eternal life apart from God.
I believe Jesus died on the cross in my place.
I believe Jesus rose from the dead.
I believe Jesus perfectly paved the way for me to live in right relationship with God,
on earth and in heaven.
I believe I belong to God,
body, mind, and spirit.
I believe the Holy Spirit lives inside of me, teaching me, helping me, guiding me,
and growing me from the inside out.
I believe, by His grace, He will help me stay close to Him for the long haul.
I believe there is already a place for me at the wedding banquet with Jesus.
(Let us pray):
Help me, merciful God,
to long for your words of truth,
to grow hungry for holiness,
to crave a passion for your righteousness,
and to live joyfully in faithfulness.
Fill my lamp, Lord. Fill my lamp.
Amen.

Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

07-08-2007