The Bridegroom Came - Matthew 25:10

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. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse ten of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said, “while they went to buy, the bridegroom came” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;” Matthew began with Jesus' words, “and while they” which means “and during the time the five foolish virgins” “went to buy” or “departed and left to the merchants to purchase oil”, “the bridegroom” which means “the groom who is eligible for marriage” “came” or “appeared and arrived”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “groom” arrived during the time the “five foolish virgins” went to buy more “oil”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew continued with Jesus' words, “and they that were ready” which means “the five wise virgins who were prepared” “went in with him” which means “left and departed to go in with the bridegroom” “to the marriage” or “to the wedding or marriage festival”: “and the door was shut” which means “the vestibule, passage or entrance was closed”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said the “five wise virgins” who were prepared for the “bridegroom” “went in with him” to the “marriage festivities”, and as soon as they went in, the entrance to the place was closed.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we learn how the “bridegroom” appeared during the time when the “five foolish virgins” went to buy oil for their lamps. The “five wise virgins” were prepared to meet the “groom” and were able to enter into the “wedding festivities”. The most telling part of the story was the “closing of the door” after the “five wise virgins” entered. This indicates there would be no others allowed to be a part of the marriage celebrations. God desires everyone to be a part of the “wedding” of His Son Jesus, and people accept their invitation by “believing and trusting” in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. May all who read these words never encounter the “shut door” to the “marriage of Jesus” who is the precious “Lamb of God”.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how, “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us”, 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.