Sermon -- 24th Sunday after Pentecost (November 12, 2023)

MATTHEW 25:1-13

BE WISE AND BE WATCHFUL.

In the name + of Jesus.

     In the Old Testament, the patriarch Jacob fell in love with a woman named Rachel.  In exchange for Rachel’s hand in marriage, Jacob agreed to work for her father.  The Bible states, “Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (Genesis 29:20).  As the seven years came to their fulfillment, the marriage feast was announced.  Guests came together to celebrate.  That marriage feast lasted a week, during which time the groom took his bride and consummated the marriage.  The custom of a week-long marriage feast continued up to the time of Jesus’ parable.  During that week, the groom would make a procession from his home to collect his bride and the wedding party with her.  Then they would all parade back to the groom’s residence for the wedding feast.

     In Jesus’ parable, there were ten bridesmaids.  They attended the bride and waited with her for the groom to come.  They knew the wedding feast was imminent, but they did not know the exact hour the groom would arrive.  “As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.  At midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him’” (Matthew 25:5-6).  If sunset was about 6 PM, it is no wonder they got drowsy.  Midnight was well past a normal bedtime.  Up to this point, there was no distinction among the ten bridesmaids whether any of them were wise or foolish.  They all knew the groom was coming.  They were all waiting for the same feast.  The distinction between the wise and the foolish came when it was too late to do anything about it.

      “At midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.’  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out’” (Matthew 25:6-8).  The lamps would light the way to the wedding hall, but the foolish virgins did not have the oil to light their lamps.  The groom’s timing caught them by surprise, and they were unprepared.  Something had distracted them.  They had not thought about bringing oil for their lamps.  They may have argued, “It’s not our fault.  The groom came at an inconvenient time.”  But their task was to expect the groom in order to greet him.  Inconvenient time or not, they knew he was coming.  Having the oil did not matter, until it did.  Then it was too late. 

     The point of Jesus’ parable is this: Be wise and be watchful.  Jesus was warning his disciples about the Day of Judgment which will come upon the world.  He concluded the parable by saying, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).  No, you and I do not know the day or the hour, but we do know that it is coming.  Jesus has assured us, and we confess it every week: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ Creed). 

     Be wise and be watchful.  Even though it will come at an hour you do not expect, the Day of Judgment should come as a surprise to no one.  Your own conscience tells you that you will face judgment.  When you sin against God’s Commandments, your conscience afflicts you with guilt.  It accuses you of wrong-doing.  So, we ask a few questions: Who put that conscience there?  Who set the standards of right and wrong by which your conscience accuses you?  And why does your conscience afflict you with guilt and fear when you sin?  If you suffer guilt and fear, then it means you are accountable to someone.  Everyone has to give an answer for his life. 

     Atheists claim that there is no God, and therefore we are not accountable to him.  They insist that there is no judgment to face.  Why, then, would anyone feel guilty about their actions?  And why should anyone restrain themselves from doing anything?  If there is no final judgment, what reason do human traffickers, murderers, or rapists have for feeling bad?  Why would they stop?  Because other people won’t like them?  Do you think they care about that?  Is it because they are accountable to society, to laws, and to the criminal justice system?  They know their actions are criminal, but that does not stop them.  If wicked people continue all their lives doing wicked things, what justice do they face if there is no God?  Is death justice?  Some might think so, but everyone dies at some point.  Death happens to everyone, whether wicked or noble, whether young or old.  So, where is justice?  If there is no God, no standard to uphold, and no judgment according to that standard, then morals become relative, and you are not allowed to judge anyone because their truth may be different than your truth.  Tell that to the victims and their families.

     But there most certain is a God.  There most certainly is a standard of right and wrong.  And there most certainly is a day when we will be judged according to it.  Jesus declared, “The Father … has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  And Jesus told us what the standard of judgment will be: “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  And Jesus warned, “You know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13), so be wise and be watchful. 

     Now, I know what side you want to be on.  But what does an honest assessment tell you?  What did we confess?  We have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.  As much as you want to protest, your conscience tells you that this is true.  But that is why Jesus came the first time.  He makes the great exchange with you.  He takes upon himself your sins and suffers the just judgment.  Since he bore all guilt, he died the cursed death.  Jesus’ death on the cross was divine justice.  Jesus became the guilty one and was damned for it.  So, what becomes of Jesus’ innocence?  It is yours.  Jesus credits you with his holy obedience.  Therefore, you are commended by God as people who are not merely good, but holy. 

     Jesus has made you wise for salvation.  This is how you are able to stand before God with a clean conscience.  St. Peter wrote, “Baptism … now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21).  If your conscience convicts you, Jesus overrules it.  For, he has taken away all your sin and guilt.  He has rendered your verdict already: Not guilty.  Child of God.  Heir of everlasting life.  Therefore, be wise and be watchful.

     Now, going back to the ten virgins.  When the cry went out at midnight, “‘Here is the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him,’ all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves’” (Matthew 25:6-9).  The point is not that some should have shared with others.  After all, this is about the final judgment.  The oil for the lamps stands for faith.  Whoever does not have faith will be unprepared for the final judgment.  And whoever does have faith will joyfully greet the Lord when he comes.  As the Bible teaches, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  But just as the oil could not be shared, neither can faith.  I cannot believe for you, and you cannot believe for anyone else.  Also, our fondness for others does nothing for them at the final judgment.  We all love our family and friends for a good reason, but a husband cannot vouch for his wife.  A mother’s love cannot save her children at the judgment.  Your co-workers cannot eulogize you into heaven; nor, for that matter, can they slander you into hell.  Each person will be judged individually. 

     Be wise and be watchful.  The five foolish virgins did neither.  For whatever reason, being prepared to greet the bridegroom did not matter until it did.  Only then, it was too late.  The bridegroom came and led the procession into the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut.  Eventually, the five foolish virgins returned.  They were banging on the door, pleading to enter into the marriage feast, “Lord, lord, open to us” (Matthew 25:11).  They heard the most chilling words they could have heard.  The master responded, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12).  Even though those five virgins had been invited to the wedding feast, they were not wise and they did not keep watch.  They were denied access and even acknowledgement.  They remained outside in the darkness.

     You have been made wise for salvation.  You know how to keep your lamps lit.  The Psalms declared, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).  It is God’s word which has made you wise for salvation.  It is God’s word which sustains you and strengthens you in the saving faith. 

     Therefore, you do not need to fear hearing the chilling sentence, “I do not know you.”  The Lord does know you.  You have been baptized into his name.  In baptism, the Lord put his name on you and delights to call you his very own.  He has written your name in the Book of Life.  And just as you are eager to confess him among sinful people, so the Lord Jesus will be eager to confess your name before his heavenly Father.  We continue in God’s word to remain wise for salvation.  We devote ourselves to God’s word so that we will be watchful against all that could deceive or distract us. 

     Be watchful.  “For you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).  The Lord Jesus is coming again the judge the living and the dead.  And be wise.  Although you do not know the hour of Jesus’ return, you do know his verdict.  Therefore, you do not need to live in terror of that day.  Rather, we are eager for our heavenly Bridegroom to bring his Church into the heavenly wedding banquet.  He will deliver us out of a world of sorrow and bring us into the joys of Paradise.

     “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).  The Lord Jesus has made you ready, and the Lord Jesus will keep you ready. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.