Matthew 25: 1 - 13, continued 5th post. The Ten Virgins.
When we decide to follow Christ, we are like the ten virgins. It is up to us, which type of virgin will we be. Will we be found actively standing at our post with all of our materials at our fingertips ready for work at a moments notice. Or will we be like the five foolish virgins, that made a commitment a while ago, and have stopped working and growing along the way, so when the time for action comes we are found to be unprepared and have to go and get our materials and return ready for action, but find the door locked, with us outside? The wedding feast in this story is how Jesus told His listeners His Second Coming would be like. We are to wait to enter until He arrives and then proceed inside with Him at our side. It is interesting to note, what Jesus says to these foolish virgins when they finally are ready to enter and find the door closed. They call out to the people in the inside to open the door, but get this reply instead, "Assuredly I say to you, I don't know you."
Jesus was saying that once He has entered and the door closed, no one else can enter. I have run out of room again will continue next post.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
515th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Ten Virgins Con't. - Matthew 25: 1 - 13 Con't. 4th Post.
Matthew 25: 1 - 13 Con't; The Ten Virgins con't. - 4th Post.
Jesus said that the wise and the foolish virgins both groups slept, waiting for the bridegroom to come. Jesus tells us that we should be about advancing the Kingdom when the Lord returns. What does this mean? We are to be about the business of teaching others about Jesus Christ. The wise virgins took extra provisions with them in anticipation of an unexpected delay. To understand this, you need to look at how weddings were handled in the ancient world. This was before rapid transit, and the long distances had to be traveled on foot or on some sort of animal. Covering the distance was hard and could be dangerous. This made estimating time of arrival very difficult, especially if you were traveling in a large group, that these marriage entourage's could be quite large. The job of these virgins was to escort the bridegroom into the wedding whenever he would arrive. This was a job of hurry up and wait. They had to arrive before the bridegroom, but could not enter themselves until the bridegroom was there to accompany them.
Jesus said that the wise and the foolish virgins both groups slept, waiting for the bridegroom to come. Jesus tells us that we should be about advancing the Kingdom when the Lord returns. What does this mean? We are to be about the business of teaching others about Jesus Christ. The wise virgins took extra provisions with them in anticipation of an unexpected delay. To understand this, you need to look at how weddings were handled in the ancient world. This was before rapid transit, and the long distances had to be traveled on foot or on some sort of animal. Covering the distance was hard and could be dangerous. This made estimating time of arrival very difficult, especially if you were traveling in a large group, that these marriage entourage's could be quite large. The job of these virgins was to escort the bridegroom into the wedding whenever he would arrive. This was a job of hurry up and wait. They had to arrive before the bridegroom, but could not enter themselves until the bridegroom was there to accompany them.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
514th Post Jesus Said in Parables Con't. - Parable of the Ten Virgins Con't. - Matthew 25: 1 - 13 Con't. - 3rd Post.
Matthew 25: 1 - 13; continued The Parable of the Ten Virgins. 3rd post
Jesus prophesied about the total destruction of the Temple, and that this generation would not pass away until all was fulfilled. I believe this is where the disconnect between what Jesus Said, and what the disciples and the early Church understood takes place. No where did Jesus say the destruction of the Temple and His Second Coming would come at the same time. When you read Acts and further in the New Testament, the timing of the Second Coming is preached as being close at hand. Is this really what Jesus taught? If this is so, Jesus is a false teacher. It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus spoke these words, and He has not come yet. Please understand I am not saying Jesus is not coming. I am only trying to point out, that the disciples misunderstood what Jesus Said, and we can make the same mistakes if we don't pay closer attention to what Jesus says, and what He did not say. In this parable the bridegroom was delayed, it would be longer than what the people expected before the bridegroom would come. I believe remembering this fact will help you interpret this parable correctly. Continued next post.
Jesus prophesied about the total destruction of the Temple, and that this generation would not pass away until all was fulfilled. I believe this is where the disconnect between what Jesus Said, and what the disciples and the early Church understood takes place. No where did Jesus say the destruction of the Temple and His Second Coming would come at the same time. When you read Acts and further in the New Testament, the timing of the Second Coming is preached as being close at hand. Is this really what Jesus taught? If this is so, Jesus is a false teacher. It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus spoke these words, and He has not come yet. Please understand I am not saying Jesus is not coming. I am only trying to point out, that the disciples misunderstood what Jesus Said, and we can make the same mistakes if we don't pay closer attention to what Jesus says, and what He did not say. In this parable the bridegroom was delayed, it would be longer than what the people expected before the bridegroom would come. I believe remembering this fact will help you interpret this parable correctly. Continued next post.
513th Post Jesus Parables Con't. - Parable of the Ten Virgins Con't. - Matthew 25: 1 - 13; Con't 2nd Post
Matthew 25: 1 - 13; Parable Ten Virgins Con't. - 2nd Post.
Jesus told this parable to give us an idea what will happen in the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable has many different parts, and could mean more than one thing. We will try to address all of these parts and their meanings correctly. The ten virgins represent believer's and how they react to Jesus' messages. The 5 wise virgins are the ones who listened to all Jesus said and taught and took it to heart. The 5 foolish virgins were the ones who heard all that Jesus said and taught and did not put into practice. Are the foolish virgins, foolish only because they did not foresee the need for additional oil? Or is this only one part of their foolishness. Why did Jesus wait until this point of His Ministry to tell this parable and include it with His statements concerning End Times. All of these things fit together, but not necessarily the way the disciples and the early Church interpreted them. the succession of this parable and the succession of His talk to the disciples, need to be looked at together in order to unlock the true meaning of this parable. I have run out of room for this post, so will continue next post.
Jesus told this parable to give us an idea what will happen in the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable has many different parts, and could mean more than one thing. We will try to address all of these parts and their meanings correctly. The ten virgins represent believer's and how they react to Jesus' messages. The 5 wise virgins are the ones who listened to all Jesus said and taught and took it to heart. The 5 foolish virgins were the ones who heard all that Jesus said and taught and did not put into practice. Are the foolish virgins, foolish only because they did not foresee the need for additional oil? Or is this only one part of their foolishness. Why did Jesus wait until this point of His Ministry to tell this parable and include it with His statements concerning End Times. All of these things fit together, but not necessarily the way the disciples and the early Church interpreted them. the succession of this parable and the succession of His talk to the disciples, need to be looked at together in order to unlock the true meaning of this parable. I have run out of room for this post, so will continue next post.
Monday, May 14, 2012
512th Post Jesus Parables Con't. - Parable of the Ten Virgins - Matthew 25: 1 - 13 - 1st Post.
Matthew 25: 1 - 13. The Ten Virgins 1st Post.
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and for you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you." Watch therefore, for you neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
This was spoken by Jesus during the last week of His life before the crucifixion, this is part of the Olivet Discourse. Explanation continued next post.
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and for you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you." Watch therefore, for you neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
This was spoken by Jesus during the last week of His life before the crucifixion, this is part of the Olivet Discourse. Explanation continued next post.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
511th Post Jesus Parables Con't. - Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders - Matthew 7: 24 - 27.
Matthew 7: 24 - 27; Luke 6: 47 - 49. Wise and Foolish Builders, 1st post.
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1 - 1.1/2 years into His earthly Ministry, and is included in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was telling the people that there was more to serving God, then just going to the Temple and offering Sacrifices. They were to listen to the Word of God that was preached to them, and then go out and do what the Word of God taught. By doing so, they were living the Word of God. This was God's plan from the beginning. This was part of the teaching of Moses, but the people did not continue to hear and do God's Word. This is a trap, we can fall into today as well. We need to be not hearer's only, but doers as well.
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1 - 1.1/2 years into His earthly Ministry, and is included in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was telling the people that there was more to serving God, then just going to the Temple and offering Sacrifices. They were to listen to the Word of God that was preached to them, and then go out and do what the Word of God taught. By doing so, they were living the Word of God. This was God's plan from the beginning. This was part of the teaching of Moses, but the people did not continue to hear and do God's Word. This is a trap, we can fall into today as well. We need to be not hearer's only, but doers as well.
Friday, May 11, 2012
510th Post Jesus Parables Con't. Parable of the Marriage Guest Ejected Con't. - Matthew 22: 2 - 14- 4th Post.
Matthew 22: 2 - 14; 4th Post. Why did Jesus Tell This Parable.
Jesus told this parable during the last week of His ministry, to explain the Kingdom of God, and His role in it. The first invitees to the wedding feast, are the Jews, who were offered the Kingdom of God, and rejected it. Sending the servants over and over to invite the guest to the wedding, represents God's prophets, and God's long suffering in trying to get them to be interested in it. This also shows God's mercy, in not reacting to the anger their attitude and behavior caused Him. The city that was burned and the inhabitants killed, represents Jerusalem, who has a long history of killing God's Prophets. The king sending out the servants to the highways to look for new guests, represents the believer's of the New Testament, who believe if Jesus, God the Father and The Holy Spirit. The Marriage Guest represents all who enter heaven, must be first counted as believer's as a group, and then individually, by the life they lived. It takes more than good living, to get you into the Kingdom of God. You must also believe the Jesus is the Son of God, and that He rose to save you from your sin.
Jesus told this parable during the last week of His ministry, to explain the Kingdom of God, and His role in it. The first invitees to the wedding feast, are the Jews, who were offered the Kingdom of God, and rejected it. Sending the servants over and over to invite the guest to the wedding, represents God's prophets, and God's long suffering in trying to get them to be interested in it. This also shows God's mercy, in not reacting to the anger their attitude and behavior caused Him. The city that was burned and the inhabitants killed, represents Jerusalem, who has a long history of killing God's Prophets. The king sending out the servants to the highways to look for new guests, represents the believer's of the New Testament, who believe if Jesus, God the Father and The Holy Spirit. The Marriage Guest represents all who enter heaven, must be first counted as believer's as a group, and then individually, by the life they lived. It takes more than good living, to get you into the Kingdom of God. You must also believe the Jesus is the Son of God, and that He rose to save you from your sin.
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