Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity Sunday, Proper 27, Year A
De wijze en de dwaze maagd - The wise and the foolish virgin by Jan Adam Kruseman, 1842, Museum Jan Cunen
Les vierges folles by Henry Daras, 1923, Musée d'Angoulême. This is the one painting that I could find that features one of the women knocking at the door, trying to enter.
Job Offering a Sacrifice on his Return to Prosperity by John Linnell, 1845, Fitzwilliam Museum. This is for Amos 5:22.
I cannot find any fine art for the First Thessalonians passage, probably because no theologian has taken it literally until the last 150 years.
The playlist of songs and hymns for this week is available on YouTube.
Amos 5:18-24
CSB
Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!
What will the day of the Lord be for you?
It will be darkness and not light.
It will be like a man who flees from a lion
only to have a bear confront him.
He goes home and rests his hand against the wall
only to have a snake bite him.
Won’t the day of the Lord
be darkness rather than light,
even gloom without any brightness in it?
I hate, I despise, your feasts!
I can’t stand the stench
of your solemn assemblies.
Even if you offer me
your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
I will have no regard
for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.
Take away from me the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice flow like water,
and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.
Who wrote Amos: attributed to the prophet Amos, a shepherd and a sycamore fig farmer born in Tekoa (near Bethlehem)
Who Amos was written to: the residents of Samaria and Bethel
When Amos was written: Amos was actively prophesying circa 760–755 BCE
The purpose of the book of Amos: to encourage justice to run down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
Things I noticed:
Who Amos was written to: the residents of Samaria and Bethel
When Amos was written: Amos was actively prophesying circa 760–755 BCE
The purpose of the book of Amos: to encourage justice to run down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
Things I noticed:
18. Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!: see also Isaiah 5:19, Isaiah 28:15-22, Jeremiah 17:15, Ezekiel 12:22, Ezekiel 12:27, Malachi 3:1-2, 2 Peter 3:4, Isaiah 13:6
What will the day of the Lord be for you? It will be darkness and not light: see also Isaiah 5:30, Isaiah 9:19, Isaiah 24:11-12, Jeremiah 30:7, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:10, Joel 2:31, Zephaniah 1:14-18, Malachi 4:1, 2 Peter 3:10, Isaiah 8:22, Isaiah 22:5, Isaiah 59:9, Lamentations 3:2, Ezekiel 34:12, Luke 23:44, Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Exodus 10:21-23, Psalm 105:28, Amos 8:9, Habakkuk 3:8-11, Acts 2:20, 2 Samuel 22:10, Jeremiah 4:28, Revelation 6:12, Revelation 8:12, Job 3:4-6, Job 10:21-22, Isaiah 13:9-10, Nahum 1:8, Matthew 22:13, Jude 1:13, Revelation 16:10, Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24, Ezekiel 30:3, Isaiah 3:16-26, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 1 Corinthians 7:31, 1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Ezekiel 32:7
19. It will be like a man who flees from a lion only to have a bear confront him. He goes home and rests his hand against the wall only to have a snake bite him: see also Lamentations 3:10, Amos 9:1-2, 1 Kings 20:29-30, Job 20:24-25, Isaiah 24:17-18, Jeremiah 15:2-3, Jeremiah 48:43-44, Acts 28:4, Exodus 14:25, 1 Kings 13:24, 1 Kings 19:17, Ecclesiastes 10:8, Isaiah 15:9, Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 11:11, Jeremiah 16:16, Obadiah 15, Amos 3:4, Amos 3:12, 1 Corinthians 15:32
20. Won’t the day of the Lord be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it?: see verse 18 above
21. I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies: This is a reference to Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, which all required pilgrimage to Jerusalem to take part in these feasts. See also Exodus 23:15-17, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 21:27, Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 1:11-17, Isaiah 66:3, Jeremiah 6:20, Jeremiah 7:21-23, Hosea 8:13, Matthew 23:14, Leviticus 26:31, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 4:18, 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 43:23-24, Isaiah 61:8, Hosea 2:11, Hosea 6:6, Malachi 1:10, Malachi 1:13, Matthew 5:23, Mark 12:33, Acts 17:25, Hebrews 10:4-5, Malachi 2:3, 1 Corinthians 11:20-22
22. Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle: see also Psalm 50:8-14, Isaiah 66:3, Micah 6:6-8, Amos 4:4-5, Leviticus 7:12-15, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 107:21-22, Psalm 116:17, Numbers 7:27, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 21:27, Isaiah 43:23-24, Jeremiah 6:19-20, Hosea 8:13, Hosea 9:4, Malachi 2:12, Hebrews 10:4-5, 1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Psalm 40:6, Psalm 51:16, Isaiah 1:11-17, Jeremiah 7:22-23
23. Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps: see also Amos 6:5, Amos 8:3, Amos 8:10, Zechariah 7:13, Micah 3:4
24. But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream: see also Amos 5:7, Amos 5:14-15, Job 29:12-17, Proverbs 21:3, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:8, Mark 12:32-34, 2 Samuel 8:15, Isaiah 48:18, Hosea 12:6, Zechariah 7:9, Zechariah 8:16, Malachi 3:5
Verse 24 is the lynchpin of the whole book. See the literary structure of the whole book and this passage.
Psalm 70
CSB
God, hurry to rescue me.
Lord, hurry to help me!
Let those who seek to kill me
be disgraced and confounded;
let those who wish me harm
be turned back and humiliated.
Let those who say, “Aha, aha!”
retreat because of their shame.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation
continually say, “God is great!”
I am oppressed and needy;
hurry to me, God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Who wrote this Psalm? attributed to David; the Jewish scholar and rabbi Malbim said that Psalm 40 was written when David was running from Saul and then he reprised Psalm 40:13-17 when he was running from his son Absalom
Who was this Psalm written for? for the choir director as a "song to bring remembrance" -- for individual lament; it's possible that the choir would sing this psalm to guide the king in prayer during times of warfare
When was this Psalm written? If it was written by David, it would have been written somewhere around 1000 BCE/BC.
What is the purpose of the book of Psalms? The Psalms are songs for worship, both public and private.
Who was this Psalm written for? for the choir director as a "song to bring remembrance" -- for individual lament; it's possible that the choir would sing this psalm to guide the king in prayer during times of warfare
When was this Psalm written? If it was written by David, it would have been written somewhere around 1000 BCE/BC.
What is the purpose of the book of Psalms? The Psalms are songs for worship, both public and private.
Things I noticed:
1. God, hurry to rescue me. Lord, hurry to help me!: see also Psalm 40:13-17, Psalm 69:18, Psalm 71:12, Psalm 143:7, Psalm 38:22, Psalm 7:10, Psalm 21:1, Psalm 22:11, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 54:4
2. Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and confounded; let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated: see also Psalm 6:10, Psalm 35:4, Psalm 35:26, Psalm 71:13, Psalm 109:29, Isaiah 41:11, Isaiah 28:13, John 18:6, Psalm 25:3, Psalm 31:17, Psalm 40:14, Jeremiah 17:18
3. Let those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame: Heach! Heach! a note of extreme contempt; marking insult and triumph at the same time. See also Psalm 40:15, Acts 1:18, Psalm 35:21, Psalm 35:25, Proverbs 24:17-18, Ezekiel 25:3, Ezekiel 26:2, Ezekiel 36:2, Job 39:25
4. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “God is great!”: see also Psalm 5:11, Psalm 35:27, Psalm 40:16, Psalm 97:12, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 65:13-14, Lamentations 3:25, John 16:20, Psalm 132:9, Matthew 7:7, Acts 10:46
5. I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay: see also Psalm 40:17, Psalm 69:29, Psalm 109:22, Psalm 141:1, Psalm 13:1-2, Hebrews 10:37, Revelation 22:20, Psalm 38:22, Psalm 9:9, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 27:9, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 30:10, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 59:17, Psalm 62:8, Psalm 63:7
First Thessalonians 4:13-18
CSB
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Who wrote First Thessalonians: the Apostle Paul (Saul), along with Silvanus and Timothy
Who First Thessalonians was written to: the church at Thessaloniki; from I Thessalonians 1:9 and Acts 17:1-4 it is reasonable to assume that the majority were not Jewish originally
Who First Thessalonians was written to: the church at Thessaloniki; from I Thessalonians 1:9 and Acts 17:1-4 it is reasonable to assume that the majority were not Jewish originally
When First Thessalonians was written: probably the first book of the New Testament to be written around 49-51 CE/AD; likely written from Corinth
The purpose of the book of First Thessalonians: the book is an exhortation to live holy lives
Things I noticed:
The purpose of the book of First Thessalonians: the book is an exhortation to live holy lives
Things I noticed:
13. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters: see also Romans 1:13, 1 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Peter 3:8
concerning those who are asleep: Even back then, people had euphemisms for death, like sleep. See also 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 1 Kings 1:21, 1 Kings 2:10, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 27:52, Luke 8:52-53, John 11:11-13, Acts 7:60, Acts 13:36, 1 Corinthians 15:6, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 2 Peter 3:4, Psalm 4:8, Proverbs 3:24, Mark 5:39, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 1 Corinthians 15:51, 1 Kings 11:43, 1 Kings 14:31, 1 Kings 15:8, 1 Kings 15:24, 1 Kings 16:6, Isaiah 43:17
so that you will not grieve like the rest: The Gentiles had no comfort that they would see their loved ones again or that there was any good in the afterlife. Note that this is not a prohibition against grief! It is instead a comfort that we have hope during our grief! The next phrase in the verse is the key to seeing this! See also Genesis 37:35, Leviticus 19:28, Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 2 Samuel 12:19-23, 2 Samuel 18:33, Job 1:21, Ezekiel 24:16-18, John 11:24, Acts 8:2, Ezekiel 44:25, Luke 7:13, Acts 9:39
who have no hope: The initial concern that the believers in Thessaloniki had was that the believers who had already died would be disadvantaged in any way over those who would remain alive at the time of the return of Christ. See also Ephesians 2:12, Job 19:25-27, Proverbs 14:32, Ezekiel 37:11, 1 Corinthians 15:19
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep: see also Isaiah 26:19, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, Revelation 1:18, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Revelation 14:13, Genesis 49:19, Zechariah 14:15, Matthew 24:31, Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Jude 1:14-15, Daniel 12:2, Hosea 13:14, Matthew 27:52, Mark 13:27, John 5:28, John 11:11, John 11:25, Acts 4:2, Acts 24:15, Romans 6:8, 1 Corinthians 6:14,
15. For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: Jesus specifically spoke these words to the disciples/apostles. See also 1 Kings 13:1, 1 Kings 13:9, 1 Kings 13:17-18, 1 Kings 13:22, 1 Kings 20:35, 1 Kings 22:14, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:37, Matthew 24:39
We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming: see also 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9
will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep: see verse 13 above, Isaiah 26:19, Revelation 14:13, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
16. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven: see also Isaiah 25:8-9, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:30-31, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 26:64, Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 1:7, Psalm 96:13, Zephaniah 1:14, Mark 13:26, 2 Timothy 4:1, Isaiah 2:10-12, Isaiah 13:6, Isaiah 13:9, Ezekiel 7:19, Ezekiel 13:5, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:14, Amos 5:18-20 above, Zephaniah 1:7-8, Zephaniah 1:18, Zephaniah 2:2-3, Isaiah 31:4, Zechariah 14:3-4
with a shout, with the archangel’s voice: The Talmud says, "'Like the roar of the mighty waters' – this is the angel Gabriel. 'And the earth was lit up by His Presence' – this is the face of the Shekhinah (the Divine Presence of God). And is it not all the more so that if Gabriel, who was but one of many thousands and thousands, and tens and tens of thousands, who stand before God, had a roar that went from one end of the world to the other, then the King of all kings, the Holy Blessed One, who created the whole world, created the upper realms and created the lower realms, even more so!" Avot D'Rabbi Natan 2:6 See also Numbers 23:21, Psalm 47:1, Psalm 47:5, Zechariah 4:7, Zechariah 9:9, Jude 1:9, Matthew 25:6, Joel 2:11, Matthew 24:30-31, Amos 2:2, Isaiah 42:13
with the trumpet of God: The trumpet was primarily used as a signaling device in ancient times, not as a musical instrument. See also Exodus 19:13, Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:19, Exodus 20:18, Isaiah 27:12-13, Zechariah 9:14, Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 8:2-13, Hebrews 12:19, Joel 2:1, Zephaniah 1:14-16, Revelation 9:1, Revelation 9:13-14, Revelation 10:7, Revelation 11:15, Psalm 47:5
the dead in Christ will rise first: see also 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 20:5-6, Psalm 50:5, Ezekiel 37:12, verse 14 above
17. Then we who are still alive, who are left: Unlike what the dispensationalists say, you want to be Left Behind because the people who are Left Behind are living Christians; Tim LaHaye got it all wrong. See also verse 15 above, 1 Corinthians 15:52
will be caught up together with them: The Greek word translated here as caught up together is harpazo, which means to take by force, to seize. See also 1 Kings 18:12, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:16, Acts 8:39, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Revelation 11:12, Revelation 12:5, Psalm 50:5, Luke 17:34, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:10
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: In the Tanakh (Old Testament), theophany (the appearance of God) is associated with clouds. Clouds also accompany descriptions of battle, due to the smoke of burning cities. The meeting (apantesis) refers to the ancient custom of emissaries going out to meet royalty or a royal representative visiting their city and escorting that person and their retinue. So first the dead people are resurrected and go out to escort the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Jesus) into town, and then the living Christians go out and join in the parade to escort Jesus into town, presumably into Jerusalem. Note that the clouds are part of apocalyptic language that should not necessarily be interpreted in a literal fashion, just as the dragons in Revelation should not be interpreted literally. See also Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62, Acts 1:9, Revelation 1:7, Ezekiel 30:3, Exodus 13:21-22, Exodus 14:19-20, Exodus 14:24, Exodus 16:10, Exodus 19:9, Exodus 19:16-17, Leviticus 16:2, Numbers 9:15-22, Numbers 10:11-12, 1 Kings 8:10-12, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, 2 Chronicles 6:1, Nehemiah 9:12, Nehemiah 9:19, Psalm 97:2, Isaiah 19:1, Ezekiel 1:4-28, Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34-35, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, Revelation 14:14-16, Daniel 7:13, Joel 2:1-2, Ezekiel 32:7
so we will always be with the Lord: see also Psalm 16:11, Psalm 17:15, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 73:24, Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 60:19-20, John 12:26, John 14:3, John 17:24, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 7:14-17, Revelation 21:3-7, Revelation 21:22-23, Revelation 22:3-5, Psalm 84:7, Psalm 140:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:10
18. Therefore encourage one another with these words: see also 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Isaiah 40:1-2, Luke 21:28, Hebrews 12:12, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ecclesiastes 4:10, 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:31, 2 Corinthians 1:4, 2 Corinthians 5:8, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Colossians 4:8, Hebrews 3:13
You can find the literary structure of this passage here.
Matthew 25:1-13
CSB
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’ When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’ Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Who wrote Matthew: traditionally attributed to the apostle Matthew, also called Levi. He was a Hellenistic Jew who had been a tax collector for the Roman occupiers (quite the despised outsider).
Who Matthew was written to: Jews, possibly in Israel, but mostly Diaspora--we can tell this through the lack of explanation of Jewish customs (other Gospels explain Jewish customs to some extent, but not at all in this Gospel)
When Matthew was written: before the fall of the Temple
The purpose of the book of Matthew: evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah and how he fulfilled prophecy along with hope for outsiders
Things I noticed:
Who Matthew was written to: Jews, possibly in Israel, but mostly Diaspora--we can tell this through the lack of explanation of Jewish customs (other Gospels explain Jewish customs to some extent, but not at all in this Gospel)
When Matthew was written: before the fall of the Temple
The purpose of the book of Matthew: evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah and how he fulfilled prophecy along with hope for outsiders
Things I noticed:
1. At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like: It is important to note that the kingdom of heaven is like this whole story, not like a virgin or a groom or a single part of the whole story. See also Matthew 24:42-51, Luke 21:34-36, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:44-47, Matthew 20:1, Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-22, Luke 13:23-30, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 18:23, Luke 12:35-40
ten virgins: It's important to not read too much into this parable a special significance to the word virgin: as in, virginity being better than non-virginity since both the foolish and the wise groups are virgins. This Greek word parthenos also applies to men who are virgins. The significance of choosing female virgins in this parable is that The Church is always referred to as feminine in Greek and most other languages that have gendered nouns. The significance of the number ten is that it represents divine order and completion and receiving reward or punishment for actions, as in Ten Words (Commandments), 10 plagues, 10 righteous people needed in Sodom, 10 spies with a bad report, 10 generations between Adam and Noah, 10 generations between Noah and Abraham, 10 lepers, 10 I AM statements in the book of John. Ten is especially important because it is the number of men or people needed to form a minyan. See also Psalm 45:14, Revelation 14:4
who took their lamps: In the Near East, a moral woman will always have a lamp with her to light her face when out of the house after dark so that everyone knows who they are and that they have upright intentions, according to Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey. See also Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15-16, Leviticus 24:2
and went out to meet the groom: In traditional Near Eastern cultures, the groom and his friends go out to the bride's home before the wedding feast to escort the bride to the wedding feast at the groom's home while creating a parade through the village so that all residents can cheer on the wedding party. Some of the witnesses to the wedding would wait at the groom's home for the wedding party to arrive so that the party could really start. See also 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:13-15, 2 Peter 3:12-13, Matthew 9:15, Matthew 22:2, Psalm 45:9-11, Isaiah 54:4-6, Isaiah 62:4-5, Mark 2:19-20, Luke 5:34-35, John 3:28-29, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-33, Revelation 19:7, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9, Ezekiel 16:8, Hosea 2:19
2. Five of them were foolish and five were wise: The symbolism of the number five is grace and favor along with sacrifice; 5 books of Moses, 5 offering types in Leviticus 1-3, 5 stones for David to kill Goliath, 5 loaves to feed 5000, 5 animals approved for sacrifices as seen in Genesis 15:9, 5 shekel redemption of the firstborn son, 5 ingredients in the anointing oil, and 5 ingredients in the incense. See also Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 13:19-23, Matthew 13:38-43, Matthew 13:47-48, Matthew 22:10-11, Jeremiah 24:2, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 1 John 2:19, Jude 1:5, Job 2:10, Ephesians 5:15
3. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them: see also Matthew 23:25-26, Isaiah 48:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:5, Hebrews 12:15, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:15-16, Proverbs 21:20, Proverbs 31:18
4. The wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps: see also Psalm 45:7, Zechariah 4:2-3, John 1:15-16, John 3:34, Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27, Jude 1:19, Proverbs 21:20, Luke 12:35
5. When the groom was delayed: see also Matthew 25:19, Matthew 24:48, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 12:45, Luke 20:9, Hebrews 10:36-37, 2 Peter 3:4-9, Revelation 2:25
they all became drowsy and fell asleep: see also Matthew 26:40, Matthew 26:43, Jonah 1:5-6, Mark 14:37-38, Luke 18:8, Romans 13:11, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Peter 5:8, Matthew 13:25, Mark 13:36, Revelation 3:2
6. In the middle of the night: see also Matthew 24:44, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 12:20, Luke 12:38-40, Luke 12:46, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Revelation 16:15, 2 Peter 3:10, Exodus 11:4, Joshua 8:3, Judges 7:19, Job 34:20, Mark 13:32
there was a shout: see also Matthew 24:31, John 5:28-29, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Here’s the groom!: see also Matthew 25:31, Psalm 50:3-6, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 98:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Jude 1:14-15
Come out to meet him: see also Isaiah 25:9, Amos 4:12, Malachi 3:1-2, Revelation 19:7-9, John 11:20
7. Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps: see also Luke 12:35, 2 Peter 3:14, Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 3:2, Revelation 3:19-20,
8. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil': This is a very rude demand/command. See also Matthew 3:9, Luke 16:24, Acts 8:24, Revelation 3:9, Proverbs 21:20
because our lamps are going out: see also Matthew 13:20-21, Job 8:13-14, Job 18:5, Job 21:17, Proverbs 4:18-19, Proverbs 13:9, Proverbs 20:20, Luke 8:18, Luke 12:35, Hebrews 4:1, Job 12:5, Proverbs 24:20
9. The wise ones answered, 'No, there won’t be enough for us and for you': see also Psalm 49:7-9, Jeremiah 15:1, Ezekiel 14:14-16, Ezekiel 14:20
Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves: see also Isaiah 55:1-3, Isaiah 55:6-7, Acts 8:22, Revelation 3:17-18
10. When they had gone to buy some: see also Matthew 25:20-23, Amos 8:12-13, Luke 12:36-37, Colossians 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 1:13
the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet: see also verse 6 above, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20
The door was shut: see also Genesis 7:16, Numbers 14:28-34, Psalm 95:11, Luke 13:25, Hebrews 3:18-19, Revelation 22:11, Luke 11:7
11. Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’: Another rude demand/command. See also Matthew 7:21-23, Hebrews 12:16-17, Isaiah 55:6, Ezekiel 20:31, Hosea 8:2, Luke 6:46
12. He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’: In Middle Eastern cultures, this no would not be a hard no; the person asking is supposed to ask multiple times. BUT this is also an insult because of course the groom knows these people since they all live in the same village. This is an intentionally rude response to the terrible insult of the wedding party's families' honor perpetrated by the bridesmaids who weren't ready for the party. The Talmud says, "A door that is locked will not be opened quickly." Bava Kamma 80B:10 See also Proverbs 1:28, Malachi 3:2, Zechariah 7:13, Psalm 1:6, Psalm 5:5, Habakkuk 1:13, Luke 13:25-30, John 9:31, John 10:27, 1 Corinthians 8:3, Galatians 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:19, Ezekiel 20:31, Luke 12:9, Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 7:21-23
13. Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour: If you want to make sure that Jesus doesn't come back, announce your prophecy that Jesus is coming back on a certain date or certain year. God will make sure that you are exposed as a false prophet by not returning then! See also Matthew 24:42-44, Mark 13:32-37, Luke 21:36, Acts 20:31, 1 Corinthians 16:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 2 Timothy 4:5, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 16:15, Matthew 10:23, Matthew 24:36, Luke 12:37-38, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 3:2-3, Matthew 6:10, Luke 19:11
You can find the literary structure for this passage here.
Compare this parable with the following from the Talmud: "We learned there in a mishna that Rabbi Eliezer says: Repent one day before your death. Rabbi Eliezer’s students asked him: But does a person know the day on which he will die? He said to them: All the more so this is a good piece of advice, and one should repent today lest he die tomorrow; and by following this advice one will spend his entire life in a state of repentance. And King Solomon also said in his wisdom: 'At all times your clothes should be white, and oil shall not be absent from upon your head' (Ecclesiastes 9:8), meaning that a person always needs to be prepared. Similarly, Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said the following story as a parable to this lesson: The situation is comparable to a king who invited his servants to a feast and did not set a time for them to come. The wise among them adorned themselves and sat at the entrance to the king’s house. They said: Is the king’s house missing anything necessary for the feast? Certainly, the king could invite them at any moment. The fools among them went to attend to their work and said: Is there such thing as a feast without the toil of preparing for it? While the feast is being prepared, we will attend to other matters. Suddenly, the king requested that his servants come to the feast. The wise among them entered before him adorned in their finest clothes, and the fools entered before him dirty. The king was happy to greet the wise ones and angry to greet the fools. The king said: These wise servants who adorned themselves for the feast shall sit and eat and drink, but these fools who did not adorn themselves for the feast shall stand and watch. There is a similar outcome for people who think that their day of death and judgment is far away and do not prepare themselves for it." Shabbat 153a:5-7. Just because a person claims to be a follower of Christ and says that they are eagerly awaiting the return of the Messiah, doesn't mean that they are ready for that return. We've all got to be making ourselves ready by following Jesus' teachings diligently.
The Midrash also has the following: "'May your garments be white at all times, and may the oil on your head not be lacking' (Ecclesiastes 9:8). If the verse is referring to white garments, how many white garments are there among the nations of the world? And if the verse is referring to oils, how many oils are there among the nations of the world? It is referring only to mitzvot, good deeds, and Torah. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi stated a parable; to what is this matter analogous? It is to a king who made a feast and invited guests. He said to them: ‘Go bathe and anoint [yourselves], press and launder your garments, and prepare yourselves for the feast.’ But he did not set a time for them when they should come to the feast. The clever among them strolled at the entrance to the king’s palace. They said: ‘Does the king’s palace lack anything?’ The fools among them paid no heed and were not scrupulous regarding the king’s instructions. They said: ‘Ultimately, we will sense when the king’s feast begins. Is there any feast that does not require preparation and [arranging] seating [for the guests] next to each other?’ The plasterer went to his plaster, the potter to his mortar, the blacksmith to his coal, the launderer to his laundry room. Suddenly, the king said: ‘Everyone to the feast.’ They hurried them. These came in their glory, and those came in their repulsiveness. The king was pleased with those who were clever, who fulfilled the king’s instructions, and moreover, they brought honor to the king’s palace, but he was angry at the fools who did not fulfill the king’s instructions, and disrespected the king’s palace. The king said: ‘Let those who prepared themselves for the feast come and partake in the king’s feast, and those who did not prepare themselves for the feast will not partake of the king’s feast.’ One might [think] they would take their leave, [but] the king then said: ‘No, but rather these shall recline, eat, and drink, and those shall stand on their feet, be punished, observe, and suffer.’ So it will be in the future; this is what Isaiah said: 'Behold, My servants will eat and you will starve; [behold, My servants will drink and you will thirst; behold, My servants will rejoice and you will be ashamed]' (Isaiah 65:13)." Kohelet Rabbah 9:8:1
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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