Three Parables in Matthew 25

Three Parables in Matthew 25

September 17, 2014 at 7:09am

PublicFriendsFriends except AcquaintancesOnly MeCustomClose FriendsPine Tree AcademySee all lists...Naples Christian ChurchFamilyNaples SDANaples, Florida AreaPioneer Valley AcademyAssociated Contracting, Inc.New ContactPTA AlumLocalsSo LancasterPVA AlumMusicianFriendsSLA AlumSDA GeneralKC's FamilyBaptistBrunswick MEBethel Franco Haitian SDA ChurchFirst Haitian Church of GodAdd to ListNorth Naples Baptist ChurchParkway Life Church, Naples, FLLiving Word ChurchFanRiverview SchoolNew Hope SDADestiny ChurchNorth Naples United Methodist ChurchFirst Haitian Free Methodist Church Youth   Crosspoint Christian ChurchNaples FlatbreadCalvary SDA ChurchNaples New Haitian Church of the Nazarene Youth GroupChrist-Church NaplesUnited Hatian Baptist ChurchStoneham Memorial SDA ChurchGrace Bible ChurchAll Nations SDA ChurchCrosspointEgeiroReverbnationKitumba SDAAssociated Contracting, Inc.Associated Contracting, Inc.AcquaintancesGo Back

The Ten Bridesmaids and their stewardship: In the parable of the ten bridesmaids (or virgins) found in Matthew 25:1-13, the oil is not a gift; it must be purchased. In this case, the currency is not cold, hard cash but faith that buys the gift.

The oil’s presence or absence has eternal consequences for the ten bridesmaids. Notice, too, that the parable is about ten virgins, five foolish and five wise, rather than about five wise virgins and five foolish prostitutes. The reference to virgins is a symbol of purity. One could say that the fact that they are all virgins signifies a purity of religion. But what distinguishes the wise bridesmaids from the foolish ones is their actions. The wise virgins not only have faith, but a living faith. The wise virgins keep a reserve of oil, planning ahead. They are good stewards, or custodians, of the light they have been given.

In the light of day, it might be hard to tell the difference between the foolish and the wise virgins. But in the darkness, the difference between the lamps with oil and those without shines forth. The ones without oil have no light or warmth to impart to others. A lamp without oil in it is useless; so, too, a life without the Holy Spirit to inspire us to act as diligent stewards of all with which we’ve been entrusted.

The Master and His Property: The parable of the talents, found in verses 14–30, is the one you would expect to find in a presentation about stewardship, and we will indeed spend more in-depth time on it later. For now, the most important point is that the property clearly belongs to the Master. He entrusts His servants with His property, but these are not gifts; He expects an account of His property, and its return, when He comes home from His trip.

Why is the Master so upset with the third servant who merely returned His Master’s property without improving it? Some truths about good stewardship are still just as evident in our society today as they were then. Careful stewardship is still usually rewarded with more property or resources to invest, whereas lack of stewardship is cause for the removal of the property or responsibilities that we have.

The Sheep and the Goats: The story of the sheep and goats follows hard on the heels of these two parables, in verses 31-46. Have you ever thought of this parable in the context of stewardship? It is clear that the sheep and goats are both blessed with considerable material and temporal blessings. Neither the sheep nor the goats recognize how the use of these blessings has affected their King, but the King directly acknowledges their stewardship with regard to the poor, the suffering, the sick and the oppressed in the world; and it has consequences of eternal death or life, as did the parable of the talents. Clearly God considers stewardship a life-and-death matter! Why do you suppose that is?