25 - Smart or Silly

Some of Jesus's teachings are simple to understand, while there are a few that leave us scratching our heads. If you read through Matthew 25, you will notice three classic parables - The first one is about the 10 Young Women (virgins), then Jesus shares about the 3 servants and their bags of gold, followed by a teaching on the final judgement, where there will be a separating of sheep and goats.

In the light of our Lent period coming to an end and the Easter weekend upon us, read these words from Matthew 25:1-13 and see if there is a message for you in this. Ask yourself these questions as you go through it:

1. What does it mean for us to "have extra oil on stand-by?"
2. What makes us "tired" as Christ-followers?
3. Does this parable make God seem unfair to you?

^1-5 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
⁶ “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
^7-8 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
⁹ “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
¹⁰ “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
¹¹ “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
¹² “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
¹³ “So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

Living in Grace
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