Proper 27 Series A
Amos 5:18–24
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Matthew 25:1–13
Collect for Proper 27 –Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
The Gospel Prepares Us for Our Heavenly Bridegroom’s Coming
The Lessons for this coming week help us prepare for the coming of our Lord. In the Old Testament lesson, the prophet Amos encourages us to prepare for the day of the Lord by exceeding justice. In the Epistle lesson Paul assures us that at the Judgment Day Jesus will bring with him all who died and the Christian people still living on earth will go with them to heaven. The Christians of Paul’s day believed that Christ’s return was at hand. This caused concern for those who already died. Would they miss the glorious event and the opportunity to go with Jesus to heaven? Paul assures them that the dead in Christ will come with him and then he will gather the living. Together the dead and living will go to heaven to be forever with Christ. In the Gospel lesson, we find the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Only Matthew gives the parable. It concerns the return of Christ. His coming is delayed. During the delay, foolish people go to sleep and run out of oil for their lamps. At midnight when least expected, the bridegroom (Christ) comes. The unprepared have the door shut in front of them.
The Day of the Lord is “darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18, 20) for all who trust in their own righteousness and piety. The Lord will not accept their “burnt offerings and grain offerings,” nor will He look upon their “peace offerings” (Amos 5:22). Instead, He desires a heart of faith that trusts in Him, which lets “justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24) in love for the neighbor.
For the “lamps” of our lives to burn brightly with such love, we must be filled with the “oil” of forgiveness through faith in our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:1–4). Therefore, as we await His coming, wisdom directs us “to the dealers” (Matthew 25:9), that is, to the ministers of His Gospel. Thus, we wait upon the Lord, and we “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Waking or sleeping, we are prepared to meet Him when He comes “with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God,” and “we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
Paul uses “sleep” to describe the dead in Christ. They are asleep in Jesus. “Sleep” is a comforting concept of the Christian dead. When we sleep, we are at rest. Our labors are over, and we rest at peace. When we sleep, we are not dead but alive. We shall wake up out of sleep. We fall asleep on earth to awaken in heaven for a fuller, better life with Christ.
We grieve over the loss of loved ones, but not as those who have no hope of heaven. In Paul’s day, people were grieving because they were worried lest the departed miss the return of Christ. They wanted the dead to share in His victory, to see the destruction of Satanic powers, and to rejoice in the spectacular glory of Christ. For Christians, the end time will be a glorious time and we want our loved ones to share it.
When Christ returns at the end of time, the living and the dead in Christ will be together. When Christ leaves heaven for earth, He will bring with Him those who died in faith.
There is going to be one great, colossal reunion of heaven and earth! Since this is the case according to Paul, we know where our departed loved ones are now. They are with Christ in heaven. To be with Christ is to have life, love, joy, and peace. What more could we want for ourselves or our dearest?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
The first Christians expected his return in their lifetimes. Since this time, there were Christians in each century who expected the last great day to happen within a short time. Here it is the beginning of the twenty-first century, and He still has not come.
We humans tend to get weary in waiting to the point that we conclude He is not coming in our time.
This results in carelessness expressed in “sleep” (v. 5) and not having an adequate supply of “oil” (v. 3). The delay is fraught with danger for us.
Matthew 25:1
Τότε ὁμοιωθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν δέκα παρθένοις, αἵτινες λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας [a]ἑαυτῶν ἐξῆλθον εἰς [b]ὑπάντησιν τοῦ νυμφίου.
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet the bridegroom.[b]
a. Matthew 25:1 Or torches
b. Matthew 25:1 Some manuscripts add and the bride.
Then the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins going to the feast of the bridegroom.
This is “last days” theology as we close out the church year.
The kingdom shall be likened to… (See 1 Thessalonians 4)
Going out to see a conquering King. All turn and ride out to meet him.
They are a part of the visible church.
They know Christ is coming back. But not all have ears to hear.
These lacking have faith in their membership, faith in their faith.
Or, they rely on the faith of someone else, such as the faith of an illustrious Christian ancestor. Illustrated best in the sitcom Cheers (Season 10 – Episode 15) in which Carla’s son Gino decides to enter the priesthood. Carla thinks she goes automatically to heaven and can do whatever she wants. Commenting to Rebecca Howe, “And I get myself a get-out-of-hell-free card!”
Matthew 25:2
πέντε δὲ [c]ἐξ αὐτῶν ἦσαν [d]μωραὶ καὶ πέντε φρόνιμοι.
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Five were morons φρόνιμοι.
five were wise, prudent, "sober minded."
Matthew 25:3
αἱ γὰρ μωραὶ λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον·
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
The “morons” took lamps for themselves but not oil with them. They were thinking only of themselves and not the bridegroom and the sustaining oil. They were unthinking.
Historically oil has been connected to faith; how the bridegroom is received. See Ephesians 2:8-9
Consider the seed in the shallow soil - enamored by the pomp and thrill. But it is short lived. “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a brief time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” Matthew 13:20-21
Matthew 25:4
αἱ δὲ φρόνιμοι ἔλαβον ἔλαιον ἐν τοῖς [f]ἀγγείοις μετὰ τῶν λαμπάδων [g]ἑαυτῶν.
but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
The mindful/proper ones took oil.
They took the Sacraments with them.
They knew what they had in themselves was not enough. See the parable of the wedding feast. “Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So, the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes…” Matthew 22:9-11
Matthew 25:5
χρονίζοντος δὲ τοῦ νυμφίου ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι καὶ ἐκάθευδον.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
All die. The morons and prudent alike. So be about the business of the day.
See the raising of Lazarus. (John 11:1-44) Jesus knows what he's going to do when He get there. He will raise them up. (See also the Epistle lesson)
The bridegroom is delayed...all slumbered...all slept. You do not know the hour. It will be a while. So, in the meantime, live within your vocation. If you're a farmer, shell corn. If you're a teacher, plan that lesson. If you're a laborer, show up on time. Take pride in your work. If you're a stay-at-home Mom, love those little ones. Live as if the end is now. "The end of all things is at hand. Plant and sow but do not despair if we don't see the harvest." –Walther
See Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”
Matthew 25:6
μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς κραυγὴ γέγονεν· Ἰδοὺ ὁ [h]νυμφίος, ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν [i]αὐτοῦ.
But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
In the middle of the night a cry occurred.
Ἰδοὺ “right here and now in front of you in time and space reality” - the bridegroom!
They greet the victorious, heroic, conquering King.
The only thing dead people can do is hear. The voice is passive.
“But at midnight ‘a cry happened!’" It's a bit awkward in English, but the word Jesus uses here γέγονεν [gegonen] means "it came into existence," in other words, "it happened!" The word is often used to underline the significance of the event. In the middle of the night of chronological time, there is-"a cry"-and "behold! The bridegroom showed up!" It happened!
Matthew 25:7
τότε ἠγέρθησαν πᾶσαι αἱ παρθένοι ἐκεῖναι καὶ ἐκόσμησαν τὰς λαμπάδας [j]ἑαυτῶν.
Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
They all were raised and prepared their lamps. All will be raised. (See the Epistle lesson for this week.)
This is how it will look, appear, and function within the Church militant.
It is not our obligation to root out the tares growing amongst the wheat. “The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’
But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest…’” Matthew 13:28-30
There is no mention of the bride; hence they are virgins. The marriage had not yet been consummated.
Matthew 25:8
αἱ δὲ μωραὶ ταῖς φρονίμοις εἶπαν· Δότε ἡμῖν ἐκ τοῦ ἐλαίου ὑμῶν, ὅτι αἱ λαμπάδες ἡμῶν σβέννυνται.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
"Our wicks are being extinguished" they are thinking only of themselves.
Matthew 25:9
ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αἱ φρόνιμοι λέγουσαι· Μήποτε [k]οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν· [l]πορεύεσθε μᾶλλον πρὸς τοὺς πωλοῦντας καὶ ἀγοράσατε ἑαυταῖς.
But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
The mindful answered, “there absolutely will not be enough!”
Oil is the means to receive the bridegroom.
The oil sellers are not open, and you cannot buy it.
“There is nothing left to tell you.”
Jesus gave up all on Calvary and there faced the outer darkness. That is why the Christian's judgment day is always Good Friday.
The five foolish girls represent the "wisdom of this world--the live-by-what-you- can-see wisdom" that the LORD has turned upside down. The five wise virgins represent the "wisdom of faith" the wisdom of trusting in Christ's complete redemption of the world.
As a sign of how the five foolish virgins live by the ways of this world, they wind up going to the marketplace to try to buy some more oil. While they were participating in the established market system--the status quo of the world--the bridegroom interrupted chronological business-as-usual time by breaking in and making His dramatic arrival.
Matthew 25:10
ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι ἦλθεν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ ἐκλείσθη ἡ θύρα.
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
As they were going to buy the bridegroom came and the door was slammed shut.
You do not need to hear this! Your name has been tattooed into Christ. Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life with indelible ink, the blood of Christ.
The prepared are those who know they are not the prepared in and of themselves.
Matthew 25:11
ὕστερον δὲ ἔρχονται καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ παρθένοι λέγουσαι· Κύριε κύριε, ἄνοιξον ἡμῖν·
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
Matthew 25:12
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς. 13 γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε τὴν ἡμέραν οὐδὲ τὴν [m]ὥραν.
But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
The groom will say to them, "If you belonged at this event you would already have been present." Later the rest came and cried, “Lord, Lord, open to us” and He replied, "I do not know you." “And the door was shut.”
Five of the most dreadful words in all the Scriptures, Old or New Testament, are recorded in this parable.
Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord will enter."
The will of the Father is Jesus…faith…
Matthew 25:13
γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε τὴν ἡμέραν οὐδὲ τὴν [m]ὥραν.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Watch! Be on the lookout for you know not the day or the hour.
Working outline
It is important to be prepared for life’s exigencies - tests in school, fluctuations in grain markets, and in the business world. There will be changes, and challenges along the way. It happens in grammar school, in high school, and in college. It creeps up in middle life, and into old age. Yet it is more important still to be prepared for the final event in human history - The Lord's final coming.
Jesus begins His parable differently this morning. He says, "The kingdom of God WILL be like..." He speaks about the future. There is a transition here. For the next three weeks, we will listen to Jesus as He speaks directly concerning the end. Hence, this parable is read at the end of the church year.
1 You are foolish if you do not prepare.
A. The foolish said to the wise, “give from your lamps for ours are ceasing/going out."
1. Riding on the coat tails of another's faith will not do. There's more than enough now but in the end - not.
2. Jesus has previously warned us. "Do not claim to have Abraham as your father." "Do not expect more because you worked harder." That kind of thinking, well, it's moronic.
B. You are not prepared if you rely on someone else’s faith.
1. You can't rely on the faith of your parents.
2. You can't rely on the faith of an illustrious Christian ancestor.
C. Without proper preparation, you will be left in darkness behind the closed door.
1. Five of the most dreadful words in all the Scriptures, Old or New Testament, are recorded in this parable. "And the door was shut." And "I do not know you!”
2. “Of that day or hour no man knows.” Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to live as the five wise, prudent, "sober minded" maidens.
Transition: To be inadequately prepared is foolish because when Christ comes it will be too late to make proper perpetration. Without proper preparation, your fate will then be forever fixed.
2 Yet you are wise as you are prepared.
A. The wise were focused on the bridegroom. The prepared ones went with Him into the wedding banquet.
B. You must have an ample supply of oil. Only through Christ are you adequately prepared. Only by faith do you receive the forgiveness of sins that Christ earned for you. Wise preparation is possible because of the LORD and His gift of faith.
C. You must trim your lamps. A regular use of God’s Word and Sacraments must nurture faith. As faith is nurtured, you go about your business, your ordinary activities in a quiet confidence as you are prepared to meet Christ whenever He comes.
The only hope you have is to focus on the bridegroom. To be prepared is wise because you have addressed what is most important –your standing before Christ. Christ knows you as His own. Now, and then - at His return. Keep watch. You do not know the time or hour. Be on the alert! You do not know when the bridegroom will choose to show up. But you can bank on it. He will appear. As the old song sings, “Soon and very soon, we’re going to see the King!”
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