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Pastor Richard "Buddy" Wimberly "Religious But Lost" Matthew 25:1-13


Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,
which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with
them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our
lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough
for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh.

There are ten virgins likened unto the Kingdom of Heaven, they all took
their lamps and went out together. Five of them are accounted as wise
because of their preparation with additional oil. The other five are
accounted as foolish because of their lack of prudence to prepare. All
ten are pious in their apparent commission to religion but only the five
wise have committed for the long haul (the bridegroom tarried). All the
virgins left their lamps lit awaiting the groom’s return but because of His
tarrying they all grew weary and fell asleep.
Then at a time when they thought not – He came and the call rang out to
go and meet Him. They all supposed themselves to be ready (v7). But
the foolish had not sufficient Grace to finish. The request of the foolish
to receive from the wise was met with the sobering answer that all must
work out their own salvation.
If you are just resting among the righteous in hopes that there will an
opportunity to get right at the end, please do not wait until it’s too late.
The foolish could have gone and purchased oil anytime before the call
went out, but after the call… it was just too late.
Notice the response given to the foolish in v 12 and compare it to the
statement of our Lord in Matthew 7:23 concerning the religious lost