PARABLES OF THE TEN VIRGINS AND THE TALENTS, DCLM, Adults Search
MEMORY VERSE: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh (Matthew 25:13).
TEXTS: Matthew 25:1-46; Luke 19:11-27
The Olivet Discourse consists of solemn truth about the end of the world, believer’s preparation for the rapture and the second coming of Christ. The parables of the ten virgins, the talents, and of the sheep and goats are intended to teach readiness, watchfulness, probity, stewardship, diligence and commitment to noble ideals. They are meant to forewarn Christ’s disciples to avoid carelessness in conduct and service. These parables share some similarities. One, each represents two groups of people with different characters -the wise and the foolish virgins; faithful and unfaithful servants; and sheep and goats. Two, there are two separate consequences and destinies-commendation and condemnation; reward and rebuke; and eternal life in heaven and everlasting punishment in hell. Three, each parable emphasizes the qualifying virtue for receiving the rewards. Four, each presents the Lord Jesus as the Bridegroom of the Church; the prudent Nobleman who would reckon with His stewards and the glorious King and impartial judge of the whole universe. The aim of the parables is to point to the certainty of Christ’s second coming with the implication that the saints should be ready at all times. Careless believers should wake up from their slumber; backsliders should return and be restored, while sinners must repent of their sins. In all, everyone is expected to prepare adequately for Christ’s return before it is too late.
READINESS FOR THE BRIDEGROOM’S RETURN (Matthew 25:1-13; 2Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 14:4; 19:6-9; Ephesians 5:25-27)
While He was leaving the world, our Lord Jesus Christ left His disciples in no doubt that He would come again to take account of His servants. He would reward the faithful ones but punish those that are slothful unfaithful and backslidden. In the parable of the ten virgins, which is specifically directed at believers, the Lord warns that some would be ready and others would not. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish” (Matthew 25:1,2). Christ was in the practice of illustrating “the kingdom of heaven” with persons and Objects (Matthew 13:24,31,33,44,45,47; 18:23; 20:1; 22:2). The virgins here represent two categories of believers who profess faith in Christ and are expecting to meet Him when He comes again. They are virgins because they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14; 19:8). Two, because they are not defiled or-polluted with sin (Revelation 14:4; Psalm 119:1). Three, they are sanctified and spotless (Ephesians 5:25-27). As believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), these virgins had lamps with them. Oil is used in the Scripture to anoint individuals and vessels for consecration, sanctification and dedication to the Lord (Exodus 29:7; 40:9; Leviticus 8:10-12). As the Holy Spirit is sometimes likened to anointing oil (1 Samuel 16:13]), The grace of God in the believer’s life is the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Spirit. Those with the extra oil are the saved and sanctified ones, filled and possessing sufficient grace that overcomes sin. These faithful and fervent believers understand that the bridegroom could tarry and they needed enough oil to sustain their lamps. The foolish virgins, though they took up the lamp of profession, were unconcerned for the oil of grace to fill and maintain their lives. “While the bridegroom tarries, they all slumbered and slept”. The bridegroom did not come at the time they expected, and they became weary of waiting and Slept off. This is a common danger and warning to all believers. As the coming of the Lord tarries, some Christians would tend to lower their consecration, become careless and let off their guards over their souls, which can lead to lukewarmness and backsliding; they ‘slumber’ and ‘sleep’, forsake personal devotion and become careless. Eventually, “the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was(Matthew 25:10). Behold, it was too late for the virgins who had no oil in their lamps and while they went to buy oil, as it were, to rekindle their first love, the door of final salvation was shut against them. Salvation is an individual experience which cannot be shared at the instance of meeting the Lord. Hence, we must make use of the opportunity we have now to possess the fullness of God’s grace in our lives and maintain the same till the end (Ephesians 5:14).
“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I Say unto you, I know you not” (Matthew 25:11,12). The unprepared Virgins were rejected. Mere profession corresponding works of grace will lead to a tragic disappointment on the last day. Those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof will be shut out of the marriage supper of the Lamb (2 Timothy 3:5). Believers must be diligent lest any fail of the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15). To avoid being disappointed, we must “Watch therefore, for [we] know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13).
RECKONING OF OUR STEWARDSHIP TO CHRIST (Matthew 25:14-30: Luke 19:11-27: 16:2; Mark 13:34; Romans 14:12; Matthew 16:27; 12:36; 1 Peter 4:5; 4:10; 1 Corinthians 4: 1; 2 Timothy 4:5-8)
he parable of the talents reveals that every Christian is endowed with one or more talents by God for the service of the Kingdom. “For the kingdom of heaven is as travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his go o ds. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come”(Matthew 25:14; Luke 19:13). Saints are stewards of the manifold grace of God. They are expected to use their endowments or talents for the advancement of the kingdom of God (Luke 19:13). The Greek translation of talent here is talanton“.It was a form of money used in those days, which means that the “nobleman’ expected each of the servants to “trade” with his money. In present-day usage, talent implies all the natural, spiritual and ministerial gifts a believer is endowed with. As the number of talents given to servants vary, so it is with believers. The Lord knows our individual abilities and has given us commensurate talents. This shows that there is no room for competition or carnal comparison. The fact that all gifts come from Him leaves no room for superiority or inferiority complex. Hence, the counsel: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”(1 Peter 4:10). One of the servants who received five talents traded with them and gained other five; likewise, he that had received two (Matthew 25:16,17). They worked diligently, conscientiously and wisely in order to multiply their talents. As stewards of God’s grace and endowments, we are expected to use our gifts, talents and resources in the most profitable manner to advance the Course of Christ’s kingdom. The emphasis is not on how great or small our talents are, but how faithful we are in putting them to profitable use. Our faithfulness in God’s vineyard will qualify us for greater and higher duties in the house of God. “But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money …saying,Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For í feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not Hown, and reapest that thou didst not sow” (Matthew 25:18; Luke 19:20,21). This servant, on the other hand, was displeased with the number of his talents, and, instead of prioritizing faithfulness above fruitfulness, he incurred the wrath of his master and lost everything. Those who fail to use their talents stand the danger of losing them and going into eternal punishment. There is a day of reckoning for everyone when we shall give account of our stewardship to God (Luke 16:2; 19:15; Romans 14:12; Matthew 18:23). This calls for sober reflection and conscious efforts to ensure that we work to receive commendation and not condemnation at the end of life. Every one of us should be careful with the way we spend our lives and the resources which God has graciously given to us.
RECOMPENSE AND RETRIBUTIONAT CHRIST’S COMING (Matthew 25:31-36; Acts 17:31; Revelation 1:7; Psalm 9:17; Matthew 7:23)
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). This underscores the certainty of Christ’s second Coming. He will come back in His glory. His first coming was in humility, but the second shall be with power and great glory. At His coming, there will be rewards for righteousness of the saints but retribution for sin and wickedness on sinners irrespective of their power, position and popularity. “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32). At this glory-circled throne of Judgment, there will be a separation of the sheep from the goats. The sheep represents the righteous, obedient, gentle Christian; the goats are the rebellious, stubborn and stiff-necked people who spurn the counsel of God. A distinction shall be made between the righteous and the unrighteous, between believers and infidels, between professors of religion and possessors of righteousness, between the faithful and the unfaithful, and between those who served the Lord and those who called Him Lord but did not do His will. The entire judgment shall be characterized by righteousness and justice. One, there shall be no miscarriage of justice. The Judge of all the earth shall do justly (Genesis 18:25). Two, there will be no hiding place or escape from the long arms of the law. Persons, who escaped human justice because they were well connected or could influence judgment with their position and power, shall be judged accordingly. Three, there will be no mistaken identity; offenders shall answer for their crimes and every person recompensed according to their works. Four, every labour or service for God’s kingdom shall be adequately rewarded. Five, those Who suffered for righteousness’ sake shall be ushered into everlasting bliss in the presence of the Lord. Six, those who mourned shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Seven, God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17; 21:4). Thus, separate destinies await saints and sinners at the close of time. The righteous are commended for manifesting the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) through service to God and humanity. They preached eternal life to others, ministered to the needs of the poor, sickly and destitute ones. The Lord invites them to ”..inherit the kingdom prepared for [them] from the foundation of the world. ’But the unrighteous that wrought wickedness and rejected God’s offer of salvation “shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous Into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).
Questions for review:
1.What is the major purpose of the parables in our texts?
2.Who do the virgins in the reference represent?
3.Why were the virgins categorised into foolish and wise?
4.What can we learn from the parable of the talents?
5. ltemise the character traits that mark our readiness for the Lord at all times.
6.In what ways are some believers today behaving Servant who hid his talent?
7.In what practical ways can love and care be demonstrated in the body of Christ according to Matthew 25:35-40?