One Of Which Bunch

Matthew 25:1

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

The scene opens with the text using the word then. All Jesus had talked about is now on the horizon. Jesus spent a lot of time talking about the kingdom. As a matter of fact, when he taught us the model prayer, He said one of the things that you need to do is to pray for the coming of the kingdom. Anything you pray for, you will work to get it done. There are several ways of looking at the kingdom. You could say the kingdom has already come. And you could say the kingdom is here. And you could very easily say the kingdom is coming, which means it was yesterday and today it is on it way. The kingdom is so important that Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

So the kingdom will come. The kingdom is connected with a will, for He said when you pray that the kingdom would come and the will would be done. Now if there is a kingdom, there must be a king. And if there is a king and a kingdom, then there must be a will. If there is a will, then the will must be done. If the will is going to be done, kingdom builders must do it.

Jesus introduces three categories of people. First of all He brings the focus on the Jewish people. Then He reminds us of the Gentiles. Next he lets us know He wants us to be familiar with the church. Within these categories, there are groups of people. One group is wise; one group is foolish. Some groups are like wheat while others are as tares. Some are like goats and others resemble sheep. Some spend time at the straight gate while others spend time on the broad way. What Jesus was telling us is that either you’re saved or you’re lost. You are a part of one of the groups.