The lectionary gospel reading for the third Sunday before Advent at the end of Year A is Matt 25.1–13, known as the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. This forms part of the second half of Jesus’ teaching about the future. In Matt 24.3, in response to Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple, his disciples have asked him a two-part question:
“Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
In response, Jesus answers the first question (‘When will this happen?’) in Matt 24.4–25, and then changes to answer the second question (‘What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’) from Matt 24.36 (‘But concerning that day and hour…’) through to the end of chapter 25.
So this parable is firmly located in Jesus’ teaching about the end of the age and his return.
Come and join James and Ian as they discuss the passage, its meaning, and its implications.
Thanks for this Ian and James,
I’m wondering if the shout that woke the drowsy was John’s? Jesus coming, ‘like the sun rising to run it’s course’ (Ps19). The Bridegroom is now with them but only those who have been waiting in faith receive Him.
Jesus concludes “you don’t know the hour?”. the answer should be, from those who first heard this story— It now is!
In other words, this parable is for ‘today, if you hear his voice’, and only vaguely an outline of eschatology.
Thanks also for the lamp being the same word as for torch. That puts me in mind of the torches before the throne. Perhaps the torches are the same gold lamp stands with clay lamps on. They represent the Spirit and the Bride.
The future tense of the verb, it’s location in this place, and the focus on all the parables around together say this is a parable about his return.
Yes. Thanks. But it must have had an edge when He first said it. People must have been excited, as Simon was at His birth. Some must have been filled with the Spirit and took the words to be for them at that time.
Not a comment about this post, but, this morning your enthusiasm on Premier be Radio as you answered biblical questions was apparent, thanks.
As it happens I turned it on in the car when you were answering a question, I think, as I didn’t hear the question on 144,000 in Revelation. I great answer, thanks, worth listeneing to again, if you could put it up here.
As a parable of the kingdom this one indicates that half the expected guests were unprepared.
The lack of oil perhaps could have been as a result of falling a sleep with the light on,
If we were ro put aside what this meant to the guests for a moment
How would this look as a modern parable?
If the lamps were for instance, mobile phones, Through carelessness or procrastination, they were out of communication and their batteries were flat, so not available as torches.
Readiness was a feature of Nehemiah .Nehemiah 4:23, along with their swords always in their hands by day, for the city was always at risk of attack, as is the Church, The enemy always wants to wipe it from the map. An excellent word study would be AWAKE in our times. Romans 13 v 11 – 14
If people didn’t see this elsewhere, what the evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics said to Justin Welby last Friday. Welby asked if he should resign and Lee Gatiss said yes.
I imagine we will hear more of this in ‘Anglican Unscripted’ this week, as the presenters of that youtube channel run Anglican Ink.
https://anglican.ink/2023/11/06/lee-gatiss-reports-on-traditionalist-meeting-with-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-at-lambeth-palace-on-llf/
There’s at least one song based on this parable: “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (see https://hymnary.org/text/keep_your_lamps_trimmed_and_burning)