Daily Devotional For Thursday, February 26, 2026

Good day Southside. We are making our way through the Gospel of Matthew and today we come to the parable of Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. Because of the length of this passage, we are going to take several days to look it:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. (3) For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, (4) but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. (5) Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. (6) But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ (7) Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. (8) The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ (10) And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. (11) Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ (12) But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ (13) Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Today we are going to pick up where we left off from yesterday with this parable beginning with verse 8. Notice how it begins, “The foolish said to the prudent . . .” That ought to tell you something there. The unprepared bridesmaids realized their torches were burning out and so asked the prudent and the prepared bridesmaids to give them some of their oil. This was not only selfishness, but unthoughtfulness. One of the responsibilities of the bridesmaids is to escort the bridegroom to the bride. If the prudent and prepared loaned some of their oil, yes, there would not be 10 lighted torches, but 10 lighted dim torches. There would not be enough light to burn brightly to do the escort, which could be dangerous for everyone.

So the wise bridesmaids refused and told the unprepared bridesmaids to go to the dealers and buy more oil for themselves. Those prudent and prepared bridesmaids needed all their oil to make their torches burn brightly as the procession went into the night. Jesus’ focus is on unpreparedness and pursuing and engaging in secular desires at the moment of heightened spiritual need. This means that whenever Jesus decides to take us home, either by our death, or His Second Coming, we must be ready. Contrary to some opinions, spiritual preparedness cannot be borrowed or bought at the last minute. We have to grow our relationship to God. 

We see the harsh reality of this in verses 10-12. While the foolish and unprepared bridesmaids were off trying to get ready, the bridegroom came. Those who were prepared went in with Him and the door was closed. If we are not ready, we forever miss our opportunity to spend eternity with Him. There is a finality of the closing of the door. Here is another warning: to be part of the party or the church is not enough. When God orders the gates of heaven sealed, they will be sealed forever just like in the days of Noah with the door to the Ark was closed and sealed. Those who ignored and were unprepared  . . . . perished. This is why we have to keep watch because we do not know the hour or the day. “Keep watch” means “stay prepared,” not like in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Stay awake.” 

One of the main warnings in this passage is that those who claim to be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, should not refuse to count the cost of persevering discipleship. We are commanded by Jesus to count this cost in Luke 9:23 and Matthew 10:38-39. These foolish young women resemble the seed that fell in the shallow soil in Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21. In verse 12, Jesus says, “I do not know you.” This does not mean Jesus has no idea who we are. Instead it means we are not His – we are not saved. We are not redeemed. We are making it to heaven. Such people may have been in church, BUT they were never in Christ. Huge difference!

We may profess intimacy with Jesus, but professing it is not the same as having and experiencing it. New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg says this parable teaches 3 truths:

• “Like the bridegroom, God may delay his coming longer than people expect.
• Like the wise bridesmaids, his followers must be prepared for such a delay—discipleship may be more arduous than the novice suspects.
• Like the foolish bridesmaids, those who do not prepare adequately may discover a point beyond which there is no return—when the end comes it will be too late to undo the damage of neglect” (Source: Craig Blomberg, Matthew, Vol. 22, “Parables,” p. 371).

As we wrap-up, we have seen in Matthew 24 and now in Matthew 25, several truths stand out about the Second Coming of Jesus that New Testament Daniel M. Doriani says are found in comparing Matthew 24 & Matthew 25:

• “Jesus will return unexpectedly. We see this in Matthew 24:42, 44.
• Jesus will come personally. He will not send an angel or angels. We see this in             1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Matthew 24:30-31.
• Jesus will return visibly and audibly to all to see and hear. We see this in Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30 Revelation 1:7 and Revelation 19:11-14.
• Jesus will gather His people. We read this in Matthew 24:31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 15:23.
• When Jesus comes, He will judge the world. We read about this in Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31-32, 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:11-16.
• Jesus will welcome His children into His presence. We read this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
• When Jesus returns, He will raise the dead. We read this in 1 Corinthians 15:43-45, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 2 Peter 3:10-12” (Source: Daniel M. Doriani, Matthew 1 & 2, Vol. 2, p. 389).

Reflection Assignment: Based on this devotional, are you ready right now, this very second to meet Jesus by your death or His second coming? Why or why not? Being in church is not enough. You have to be in Christ. If you have to explain this to someone who is not a Christian, how would you explain this to them?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 10:38-39, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I want to be in Christ, not just in the church. I want to be in You, not in some external organization that may be gone in the future. I do not want to be caught unprepared and left out. Lord convict me to persevere in my discipleship with You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly