Are you Wise or Foolish?

Matthew 25:1-13

In this parable Jesus is sharing about the ten virgins, He is comparing them and their preparation for the kingdom of heaven.  It was the custom in Jesus’ time on earth for these steps to enter into marriage:

1.     The ketubbah (plural is ketubboth) was a legally binding document whose primary purpose was to protect the bride, even though she did not even sign it. The father of the bride would use his wisdom to look out for the best interests of his daughter.

a.     The bride was seen as being completely under her father's control.

2.     The groom and the father of the bride would negotiate a legal document with conditions that clearly laid out:

a.     The "Dowry": money to be paid to the father by the groom: “Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage.” (Genesis 34:12)

3.     The First stage of a Jewish marriage (the signing of the “ketubbah”) is the last stage of modern weddings (the signing of the marriage license that you buy at city hall).

a.     Since Jewish marriages were sealed when the father of the bride and the groom signed the “ketubbah”, with or without the consent or knowledge of the bride, the "dating" (get to know you stage) began after they were "married".

b.     Just like today's legal documents, the ketubah was signed in triplicate where the father, the groom each got a copy and a third one was "filed" with the court (synagogue) with a seal to be broken only by a judge.

The finial stage is where we find the parable of the ten virgins, for the couple may have been married for well over a year and the agreements have been met and this is what happens next.  When the father consented to the groom, he was allowed to come to the home of the bride and consummate the marriage in her own house. Afterwards, he would lead her in a ceremonial procession to a wedding feast at his house. (Stage 3) The parable of the ten virgins (Mt 25:1f) illustrates both stage 2 and stage 3 of the marriage. (By Steve Rudd)

Now we have more understanding of what Jesus is telling us in Matthew 25:1-13, the ten virgins are waiting, as we are for the Father to tell our groom Jesus that His bride is ready.  But only five of the ten were prepared and all ten of them had oil in their lamps, but they all became drowsy and slept.  Now it is the midnight hour and a cry awakens them and the bridegroom has come to take his bride.  The five virgins who were wise took the flasks of oil and added it to the lamps, but the five unwise virgin’s lamps were going out, and ask for oil from the wise, but they were told to go to the dealers and buy for yourselves.  While they were gone the groom came and they went into the marriage feast and the doors were shut. 

The other five return with oil, but it is too late, we have the account from Jesus in verse 11-13, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A message from Jesus to You

Matthew 24:45-51

“What a person says is much less important than what others hear.”  (Economist George Stigler’s)  I often wonder how so many people can read the Scriptures and have different views on its teachings.  Most speakers want the ones they are addressing to understand the thoughts and message they are proclaiming with the exception of maybe politicians.  When it comes to a dad with his children, he desires them to grasp the instruction so that they stay safe and learn from his wisdom. 

So we must ask this question, is it God’s fault we do not understand the clear message of His great love for us, or could the problem lie at the feet of the one Jesus calls the thief, who has come to steal, kill, and destroy?  I am assuming you by faith have placed your eternal and daily hope in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, and Him only.  The apostle Paul makes clear in his letter to the church at Corinth, that a natural person, one without the Spirit of Christ living in them, has no understanding of the truths in the Bible.  “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)  But there is another reason why many in the church do not hear what is said; it is called the flesh, and the apostle Paul addressed that issue to the Romans.  “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:7-8)

Now I must take this exception with the quote of George Stigler’s, for when God has spoken on a subject, what one hears does not change the message, God will always do according to what He says.  And to make sure you and I have ears that can hear, God has given us His Spirit to make clear in our mind and heart what He has stated.  These are Jesus’ words; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17)

Shall we look into Jesus’ words about two servants, one was faithful and wise and the other was wicked.  The faithful and wise servant obeyed the master and watched over those he was in charge of and was found faithful when his master returned.  The wicked servant abused those over him, and this is what Jesus said would happen to that servant; “But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place their will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51)

As a parent, teacher, boss, or pastor, we should listen very carefully to these words and ask the Holy Spirit to let us hear the message Jesus has shared with you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Without Notice

Matthew 24:36-44

I’m a long way from a slob; in fact, I do not like clutter unless it is controlled as seen on my desk or sometimes the garage.  But I am married to Jan, who keeps a beautiful house and has taught me the application of cleanliness is akin to godliness.  It would be a small window when one would come to our home and see the place in disarray, but when expecting company, the house is transformed; it is ready for inspection for all must be in order for the ones coming.  Now most of the time we have a time and a date when the guest will arrive, but Jesus is telling us in Matthew 24:36, about His return and it comes without notice, but not without forewarning.  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

As one who is reading this, take to heart that Jesus tells the truth, and when you act on that truth it is called faith.  So as one who has never seen Jesus with my physical eyes, it is going to require that I see by faith, and by acting on my faith God calls that obedience.  It’s time to open your eyes and believe these words of Jesus: “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37)  Now we understand that Noah heard from God and obeyed and began to build an ark in a world that had never seen rain.  It took many years and Noah was the talk of his world, and if it were today CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, and CBS would all be making Noah the brunt of it by saying, can you believe this guy?  God calls him a righteous preacher, so that removes doubt that Noah did not tell others what God was going to do.  Is it not the same with our world, have we not had many warnings to be ready for the soon coming of Jesus, have we not had books written on the “Return of Jesus”?  And yes, we have the recorded teachings of Jesus telling us in the Gospels of His return, and yet, Jesus tells us that many will be as in the days of Noah.  It is recorded in Matthew 24:38-39, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

A word to the wise from Jesus: “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  (Matthew 24:40-44)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

For the fool it matters not

Matthew 24:35

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

We are told in Scripture that Satan has/had access to the throne of God, you will find the account in the book of Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”  The apostle John saw and recorded this in the book of Revelation chapter 12:7-9, about a war in heaven where Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon and his angels.  And we are told they were not strong enough to stand against Michael and his angels and so they were forever put out of heaven.  And John gives us the identity of the dragon, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan.  And we are told this adversary who deceives the whole world was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him.  Listen and take to heart what John reports in verse 10: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”  I do not understand when this takes place, but I have the assurance that it will happen.  I find great peace, and yes contentment in verse 11, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” 

We are earth critters and our earthsuit does not work well above about 14,000 feet, and being a time critter, often I try to put God in my box of 24/7.  When we reduce God, even in our minds, it is a big problem for us, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the Creator of time, and He operates outside of those boundaries.  

So a message to the wise; you were formed out of dust and you are heading for the dirt, and Jesus is the only hope you have.  All the stuff you count on, like degrees, titles, and wealth for your distinctiveness will past away with the heaven and earth, but if you by grace through the faith God has given you to believe and understand, have bowed your knee to Him, you will live forever with our great God.  For the fool it matters not, for in his own mind he has chosen to rebel with that old serpent and his angels, and by doing so reap the same wage for his sin.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Looking to the Eastern Sky

Matthew 24:32-35

When one begins reading verse 32, you would wonder if you had picked up the farmers magazine and turned to the part on growing fig trees.  One of the dangers in reading the Bible is not asking the question, Lord, what is the lesson You have for me?  The “Fig Tree” in the Bible has many messages for us, so what is the Lord teaching us this time?

Do you recall Adam and Eve after they had rebelled against God’s command, their eyes were open and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths?  (Genesis 3:7)   We know that God killed an animal and made clothes for them, it required the shading of blood to cover sin.  It brings to mind Hebrews 9:22, “In deed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” 

The prophet Ezekiel was given this information almost 600 years before Christ or Messiah showed up in the flesh on planet earth.  The book of Ezekiel is often referred to as a mystery book; it is much like Daniel and Revelation.  It gives prophesy of the departure of the glory of the Lord from the temple in chapters 10:16-18 & 11:23.  The fall of Jerusalem in chapter 33:21 and the building of a new sanctuary in chapters 40-42 and the returning of the glory of the Lord in chapter 43:4-5 and in chapter 44:3-4.

“Sometime in the sixth or seventh century, the Byzantines rebuilt the Eastern Gate. The exact year they did so remains a matter of debate. However, for our purposes, what happened after it was rebuilt is of much greater importance. In the year 1541, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I sealed the Eastern Gate. Historians disagree as to why he did this, but legend abound that, learning of the prophecies which predicted the Messiah’s entrance through the Eastern Gate, Suleiman tried his best to make sure it wouldn’t happen during his reign. And just in case a sealed entrance didn’t thwart the Messiah’s coming, Muslim built a cemetery directly in front of the gate – conventional wisdom being that a Jewish Holy man would never defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery.
It’s been over 465 years since Suleiman sealed the Eastern Gate, and despite numerous well-documented attempts to open it, the gate has remained sealed just as the Lord proclaimed to Ezekiel over 2,600 years ago.” (Britt Gillette Titled “The Messiah’s Gate”)
I must give you one more bit of history, and I’ve lost the authors name, but it is very well done.

An amazing analogy!

“If we go back in time to the end of WW2 and about 1945, the Jews under great difficulty and opposition began to filter back into Palestine. In symbol we could liken this to the planting of the branch. Three years later, in a similar way to the tree, the first buds appeared. In 1948 the time when the first young fruits would appear on a literal tree planted three years earlier, the state of Israel was proclaimed by the United Nations. And not only that, it was in May 1948, which would have been the time of the appearance of the young fruit on the natural fruit trees.

There is a most significant prophecy for us today related to the fig tree. It comes from the Messiah's prophecy on the Mt of Olives. It is recorded in both the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke. It is only a short prophecy, like a hidden gem, but it is most significant for we who are living in the last days. It relates to the coming Kingdom.”

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”  (Matthew 24:32-34 ESV)

We should be looking to the eastern sky, for Jesus is a promise keeper.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A world without the Church

Matthew 24: 29-31

My mother was a Golden, and the Golden’s had a family gathering each Summer that included all of my mothers family plus their cousins and it was something we always looked forward to.  As a child, I can remember my grandfather, and his brother Sam and all of their kids, plus some from the other brother’s family; it was the best of times.  It mattered not your status in life, you were a member of the family, and it was the best time of the year, one that I, as a child, looked forward to.  I do not recall anything that ever caused me to fear at those reunions, I was with my family, and I was loved; with this one exception, I did fear not getting a second serving of my Aunt Violets homemade yeast rolls.

Now Matthew 24:29-31 is telling us about a great gathering, and this gathering is like none the world has ever seen.  The world has been going through an unbelievable time of trials, wars, and rumors of wars, of famines and earthquakes in some of the most unusual places, and both Christian and Jews are hated by most of the people in the world.  And there are many false preachers, some claim to be prophets of God, but all they are doing is telling the people they need to worship little gods who have no power, and yet many are running to those little gods. 

These are the words of Jesus from Matthew 24:29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”    The Golden reunions were great, but in light of this gathering they were not even an insignificant light, in that before His appearance the light will be turned out, no sun and no moon and even stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the light of the world, His name is Jesus, will shine through the darkness and the world will see the Son of God.  Those of us who have been awaiting His return will recall these words spoken by Jesus in John 8:12, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Much of the world will mourn when they see Jesus, they will have clarity of mind of who is and who is not God.  Many of the Jews will also mourn because they clearly understand it is Messiah, the one they rejected.  But this is the coming, not the return of our Lord, for it is clear that Jesus will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Many in the Christian faith believe this will be the rapture of the church, both the living and the dead and once the Church is removed, so will the Holy Spirit of God.  What will happen to a world without the influence of the Church, keep reading, the world is going to see things it cannot imagine.  If you think it is dark now, wait and watch a world without hope.  But also in these times many will come to Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Let's not be Foolish

Matthew 24:15-28

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

I have no desire to be a fool, so let me be clear that I have no understanding of when this will take place, or if it has taken place.  Often when it seems that God is quiet on a Scripture I will look to see what has been reveled to others, and that is what I am doing in this paper.  In the Holman Study Bible, the authors have this to say about verses 15-24, “These verses probably describe events related to the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in A.D. 70.” (Page 1660)  We do know that in A.D. 70 a Roman general and later the emperor Titus held Jerusalem under siege and on August 28, A.D. the Roman troops torched the temple as is reported by the historian Josephus.  Now back to Holman Study Bible.  “However, Matthew 24:29, closely associates this tribulation period with the second coming of Jesus.  This implies that these events closely parallel things that will occur immediately before Jesus return (2 Th 2:3-4).   The entire period ranging from the destruction of the temple to the events preceding Christ’s return may be described as a period of great tribulation for Christ’s followers.  The abomination that causes desolation is an idolatrous object that will desecrate the Jerusalem temple as foretold in Daniel 9:27.  Though Josephus identified it as the shedding of priestly blood in the sanctuary several years before the destruction of the temple (War 4.147-201; 4.343; 5.17-18; cp. Matthew 23:29-36), Jesus’ description of the abomination as standing in the temple implies that it is an object, not an event.”

Two things that we can grasp hold of are those who by faith have trusted in Jesus will not perish, and that Jesus’ return will be visible to everyone on earth.  Even in tribulation we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. As Children of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, we are on the winning side.  So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus told us; “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice