“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” Matthew 25:10 NLT
The experience of being locked out of something creates feelings of loneliness and abandonment. This may even occur when you lock yourself out of your home, automobile, or your private office. The good news is that these lockouts are not permanent, and outside of some embarrassment you’ll be back in. But there are some permanent lockouts in life, such as being denied access to where you lost that privilege due to your own actions. And there is a greater future denial of access that is due to not acting while we have the time before the door is locked keeping us out.
Preparedness for the Lord’s return is the heavenly meaning of Jesus’ story of the ten bridesmaids. And yes again, the kingdom of heaven is in view. Jesus starts by saying, “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.” (Mt.25:1 nlt) The bridesmaids were to wait in anticipation for the bridegroom to come and receive his bride beginning the wedding ceremonies. They were to be ready to meet him and be in the procession to the bridegroom’s home. But as we will see, not all of them were ready. They didn’t make it inside the reception hall.
Jesus told this parable about a future lockout as part of His Olivet Discourse in the gospel of Matthew. Among the ten bridesmaids “Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.” (Mt.25:2 nlt) In Jewish weddings of Jesus’ day, the bridegroom would go to his bride’s home being met by the bridesmaids for religious ceremonies before taking his bride to his home for continuation of the festivities. The bridesmaids were to be ready and watching for the coming of the bridegroom. “The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.” (Mt.25:3-4 nlt) But the bridegroom was delayed in this parable and falling asleep the bridesmaids were suddenly awakened with the announcement of his arrival.
At midnight the announcement was made the bridegroom was on his way.” All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.” (Mt.25:7 nlt) Light was needed to make their through the darkness to the bridegroom’s home. The foolish ones realized they did not have enough oil to make their way into the procession. They “asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’” (Mt.25:8 nlt)
This is a picture of us in the world today. The bridegroom represents Jesus Christ and His return. People today are the bridesmaids, both the foolish ones, and the wise ones. The foolish ones brought no oil for their lamps to light the way to the bridegroom, the wise ones did. Oil being symbolic in the Bible as the Holy Spirit is what the foolish ones did not bring with them. Tragically this represents all who make a profession of being a Christian (bridesmaid) only to find out they never accepted Christ as their savior. They don’t have the His Spirit in them, the oil for the lamp to light the way to the kingdom of heaven.
The five foolish bridesmaids tried to buy oil for their lamps at the midnight hour, but all the stores were closed, it was too late. Upon returning to the bride’s home, the door was shut and locked. They requested entrance but the bridegroom responded, “Believe me, I don’t know you!” And then he added a warning for us today, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” (Mt.25:12-13 nlt) Jesus is going to return one day suddenly and unexpectedly and if you haven’t had your lamp filled with the presence of Christ by accepting Him for salvation, it will be too late. Fill your lamp today and don’t be locked out!
Read: Matthew 25:1-13 NLT – Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids – Bible Gateway
Word for the Soul 