Matthew 25:11-15
Mat 25:11 (KJB)
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
The Lord does not tell us whether the virgins returned with oil in their lamps
or if they decided to give up on that knowing that the procession would have
been over and now all they wanted to do was to join the festivities. The major
emphasis here is that they were too late. They had now knocked on the door and
had commanded the groom to open. The word “open” in the Greek is in the
Imperative Mood making it a command. They no doubt were banging on the door in
hopes to get in. Unfortunately, it seemed that their opportunity to get into the
wedding was now gone. This is also a picture of people who think that they have
free will and can command God to save them anytime they want. Not so, because
all the names on the guest list were written before the foundation of the world.
(Rev 13:8 KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose
names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world.
Mat 25:12 (KJB)
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Here is a very sad verse because many on the last day are going to hear these
words. You see the five foolish virgins were known by the five wise virgins but
that did not mean that the bridegroom knew them. We can never count on salvation
by association with people in the body of Christ nor through association with a
church. Salvation comes through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Salvation is
never given out through the body of Christ, the body of Christ simply points the
people to Calvary and it is God’s choice who He will save. This is why the
bridegroom did not know the five foolish virgins because they represented the
unsaved who will not be ready when the Lord returns. Just because someone works
for a church or does altruistic acts does not mean they are saved. (Mat
7:21-23 KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
{22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity. In verse 11, these five foolish virgins were
demanding to go into the wedding reception and calling the bridegroom Lord, Lord
and they heard those awesome words that he never knew them. A tremendous warning
for all today but especially those who have lived their life steeped in religion
because their religion will not save.
Mat 25:13 (KJB)
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh.
Then Jesus sums up the lesson of the parable of the virgins and that is one is
to be prepared for His return. For one to be prepared they must be saved and
then faithfully working at the ministry which the Lord has for them. (Eph
2:10 KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. This is a
recurring warning in the New Testament that we will not know the day nor the
hour. Even when the signs begin to happen which the Lord gave us, the length of
time is also unknown to us. We must continue to watch and that does not mean
date setting because Matthew 24:36 straightly tells us that no one will ever
know the day nor hour. Date setters are wasting their time when they could be
out evangelizing with the Gospel instead of being disobedient and trying to
figure out what God tells them they will never know. In essence, date setting is
nothing more than rebellion and is just like the five foolish virgins who did
not prepare.
Mat 25:14 (KJB)
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called
his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
On the heels of the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus gives this parable as one
which is connected in principle and designed to emphasize the fact of His return
being at a time when one does not expect it. Jesus is the man who is going to a
far country and that would be when He is resurrected and goes back to Heaven.
Jesus calls His own servants and gives them the goods. The goods would be the
Gospel that He now entrusts to Christians to send forth the Gospel and bear much
fruit.
Mat 25:15 (KJB)
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every
man according to his several ability; and
straightway took his journey.
Several - Individual
So the man gives his three servants which he calls a certain number of talents.
To one he gives five, to the second two, and to the third he gives one talent.
Now this man knows exactly what capabilities these servants have and he is not
forcing them to go beyond the abilities they have. So he doles out the talents
according to their abilities. This does not mean that he thinks more highly of
one than another. It means that he knows some have the ability to produce more
than others and that is not to take away from the person who does not possess
that ability. For example, a person who hands out tracts on the streets has a
ministry which is just as important as one who has a worldwide ministry.
(Acts 10:34 KJV) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive
that God is no respecter of persons: If God gives a person a small ministry,
then all He asks is faithfulness in that ministry.