The Midnight Cry - Matthew 25:6

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 in chapter twenty-five and verse six of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said all the virgins, “at midnight there was a cry made” where we read:

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.

The verse reads, “And at midnight there was a cry made, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' words, “and at midnight” which means “and in the middle of the night” “there was a cry made” or “there was a clamor and outcry of notification”. Matthew shared how Jesus said during the middle of the night there was an “outcry of notification”.

The verse goes on to say, “... Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.” Matthew added Jesus' word, “behold” which means “look, lo and see”, “the bridegroom” or “the groom who was eligible for marriage” “comes” which means “arises, appears and shows himself”; “go you out” or “depart and proceed” “to meet him” which means “to encounter the bridegroom”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “outcry” announced the “appearance” of the “groom” and instructed the “virgins” to proceed to encounter him.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we learn more of the story of the “ten virgins”. They were expecting the “bridegroom” to appear at any time, however, they were going about life as usual and were sleeping when the announcement was made. The “bridegroom” appeared, and the “ten virgins” were instructed to “go meet him”. God desires everyone to be looking for the return of His Son Jesus who came to die for all sin, rose from the dead and is now on the right hand of God waiting for His time to appear. Those who are wise will yield their lives to Him and be ready when the “midnight cry” is made and meet Him when He appears. (See 1 Corinthians 15:52)

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how, “all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps”, 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.