All Slumbering and Sleeping - Matthew 25:5

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “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. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse five of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said all the virgins, “were slumbering and sleeping” where we read:

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

The verse reads, “While the bridegroom tarried, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “while” which means “but, moreover and now” “the bridegroom” or “the groom who was eligible for marriage” “tarried” or “lingered and delayed”. Matthew shared how Jesus continued His story by referring to the “lingering” of the “groom”.

The verse continues, “... they all slumbered and slept.” Matthew added Jesus' words, “the all” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the virgins” “slumbered” or “nod in sleep, fell asleep and dropped off to sleep” “and slept” which means “and fell asleep, dropped off to sleep”. Matthew shared how Jesus said everyone of the “virgins”, both “wise and foolish”, were falling asleep or were already asleep.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how there was a time of waiting before the “bridegroom” appeared. All ten of the “virgins” “slept” while they waited, but they knew he could appear at any time. The idea is the “ten virgins” went about their lives in a normal fashion as they slept, but we shall see how “five” were “wise” and “five” were foolish in their preparations for his appearing. God wants people to be prepared for His Son Jesus' return, and those who are “wise” will not only go about life in a normal way, but also be “prepared” for His imminent coming. May all who read these words yield their lives to Jesus and be prepared for the “Savior's” soon appearing.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus declares, “at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.