Parables of Judgment

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” —Matthew 24:44

MATTHEW 25:1-13

THE title assigned to this lesson by the International Sunday School Committee is not too appropriate to the scripture cited, which is The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. This parable is associated with the second coming of Christ, and apparently the Sunday School Committee held the false view that all who are not properly prepared to welcome the Lord are forever doomed, hence, the title, “Parables of Judgment.”

But the parable is not designed to portray those in the world who do not accept Christ prior to his return. The ten virgins of the parable all represent the professed people of God. They are all virgins—pure ones. It is simply that the foolish virgins were not properly prepared for the period of tarrying which was to be experienced. While these foolish virgins are barred from going into the wedding, this does not imply their being deprived of salvation and sentenced to eternal torture.

As noted, the parable is related to the return of Christ. It was given by Jesus as part of his response to the disciples’ questions, “What shall be the sign of thy coming [Greek, presence], and of the end of the world [Greek, age]?” (Matt. 24:3) The parable indicates that a seeming tarrying would be associated with Christ’s return. In Habakkuk 2:3 there is a prophecy which the Apostle Paul applies to the coming of the Lord, in which the prophet was told of a vision that would tarry, or seem long in reaching a fulfillment, and he was admonished to wait for it, for it would surely come to pass.—Heb. 10:37-39.

The disciples had asked Jesus not only concerning the sign of his second presence, but also about the time. In our memory text Jesus indicates that the time would not be known in advance. Indeed, he explains that no man knoweth the day nor the hour, that not even the angels knew this, and that he did not then know the time himself, that only his Heavenly Father knew this.—Matt. 24:36-39,42-44; Acts 1:7,8

Jesus’ admonition to “watch” because of not knowing the time implies that the watching ones would discern the fact that the Master had returned, while those who did not watch would be unaware of what had taken place. This suggests that for a time Jesus’ faithful followers would know of his second presence, while the unbelieving world would not know about it, hence the many admonitions to the Lord’s people to “watch.”

Just what are we to watch? Certainly not the sky. Peter answered this question. He wrote, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (II Pet. 1:19) It is through the prophecies of the Bible concerning the return of Christ, including the one given by Jesus in response to the question concerning the sign of his second presence, that we learn of the conditions in the world which would betoken the fact that our Lord has returned. The prophecies outline many of the major world developments which we see taking place today, so we can say with assurance, “Behold the bridegroom.” The word “cometh” is not in the Greek text.

Jesus explained that one of the signs of his second presence would be a time of great tribulation which would threaten the existence of the entire human race. (Matt. 24:21,22) The world today is facing this threat, which we believe is indisputable evidence of Christ’s second presence.

This false conception has led to the error that there would be no opportunity to repent and to be saved after our Lord’s return. According to the Bible, Jesus does not return to destroy the people, but to restore them to health and life during a period described by Peter as “times of restitution of all things.” Peter explains further that this time of restoration had been “spoken by the mouth of all his [God’s] holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-23) When Christ first returns he deals with, and rewards, his own followers. One aspect of this is represented in The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.

QUESTIONS

Why is the title of this lesson inappropriate?

To what period in the plan of God is The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins related?

What is the main lesson of the parable?

What point of truth is emphasized in our memory text?

What is the purpose of Christ’s return?

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