NL 134: Parable of the Bridesmaids

image: “Foolish Virgins” photo by Lawrence OP (Flickr)

Matthew 25:1-13

Initial Thoughts

Bible Study

  • Literary Context

    • Matthew 23 and 24 is skipped by lectionary

      • Started with the disciples being impressed by the Temple. Jesus then proclaims that the Temple will be destroyed. After he says this, they come to him wanting to learn more, and he goes into 24:4-51

      • Many warnings about coming trouble and the rise of false messiahs.

      • Ends with a warning to be prepared.

    • Next passage is covered in next week’s lectionary, but it is a second part of this general illustration about preparedness (interesting lead in to Advent, which is a season of preparation).

  • The parable

    • Virgins (NIV) is the literal translation, but could also be translated as "bridesmaids" which is how the NRSV translates it.

      • I would read bridesmaids instead of virgins. "Virgins" can lead to a focus on sexuality which is out of context in this story

    • Bridegroom - parousia of Jesus' second coming

    • Bridesmaid - the faithful community

    • Bride - ? Oddly absent, usually is the faithful community

      • Could the bride be the world? The bridesmaids as the church then it is our duty to prepare creation for the parousia (Jesus coming or the culminating Kingdom of heaven)

  • Bridegroom

    • Delay does not insinuate that the parousia will be delayed indefinitely, but emphasizes that the time is unknown

    • The arrival then is "the Kingdom of heaven"

    • John M Buchanan (Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 4: Season After Pentecost 2 ),

      • “—Jesus Christ comes when Christian people live in hope and never give up.

      • Jesus Christ comes when faithful disciples express love and compassion and work for justice.

      • Jesus Christ comes when critically ill people know they are ultimately safe in God's love.

      • Heaven breaks into earth when faithful women and men live in hope and give themselves to the work of the kingdom.”

  • Oil - according to M. Eugene Boring (New Interpreter's Bible Commentary, VII) are the good deeds that will count in the parousia

    • What counts? See Matthew 25:31-46 (TWIBLE)

    • What matters is not being faithful once (all the bridesmaids started with oil),  but a life of faith

    • the idea of buying oil at midnight is as absurd as pretending you have loved good and neighbor you while life when you haven't. (see v. 11 and Matthew 7:21-24)

  • Wise vs. foolish

    • Being prepared - they all look the same and act the same, but only the wise ones are prepared or ready

    • It is not until the midnight hour that you can really tell the wise from the foolish

    • Does not mean we will always be in a state of constant alertness because they all fall asleep (v.5…which seems to contradict v.13)

    • The foolish are not prepared for the “long haul” they only came prepared for the evening- are we in it for the long haul? Are we willing to wait and remain faithful knowing that the wait may be long?

      • Reminds me of Cathedral building which would take generations- are we Cathedral building or do we need instant gratification?

      • Mark Douglass (feasting on the word) argues that this text is a warning against those who are in it for the short run, constantly predicting Jesus’ return

  • Troubling aspect of the Parable - It just doesn't sound like Gospel

    • Greg Carey: “Is that how it works, that one apparently arbitrary decision marks the line between inclusion and exclusion from the ultimate party? This parable just doesn’t feel like the gospel.”

    • David Lose: “And while all these parables present their own distinct challenges, I have to confess that I find this one the most challenging. Three reasons:”

      • Cultural differences between modern weddings and what Jesus is talking about puts added distance between us and this story.

      • Written for a community that is under greater and greater duress (see destruction of Temple), and are really stressing out about the fact that they might have “missed” Jesus.

      • “The parable seems, quite frankly, a little unfair. All the bridesmaids brought oil, all waited, all fell asleep. And the decision about who gets in comes down to who anticipated the bridegroom would be this incredibly late and so brought more oil.”

    • David Roberts: “If the bridegroom is already with his bride when he arrives, then how can this parable be interpreted as the return of Christ for his bride? It can’t. Because this parable isn’t about the return of Christ.”

Thoughts and Questions

“What would have happened had the bridesmaids simply waited in the darkness of the night?

To me, this was their mistake. They left, when they should have stayed. The bridal couple surely would have welcomed their friends into the light of the banquet, unconcerned about the state of their oil lamps, happy just to see their friends waiting for them.

What faith it would have taken, though, to wait in such frailty, in such honesty!”

  • How do we nurture lifelong faith outside of Sunday worship?

  • Are we ready for Jesus? If Jesus were to come down from heaven and stand before you, would you be proud to show him your life (or your church)?

  • How do we respond as churches and individuals when the midnight hour strikes? Do we blame others for not sharing their "oil" or do we take responsibility and repent?

  • Are we willing to share with others- forgiving their foolishness and embracing generosity and grace? Or will we cling to our wise self-righteousness like Jonah (Jonah 4:2) and the Older Brother (Luke 15:28-29)

Year 1Eric FistlerMatthewComment