How Do You Eat an Elephant? One Bite At a Time

• Sixth Sunday in Easter

Matthew 25:1-13, ten bridesmaids (five wise, five foolish)

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• Cartoon Patient: Doc, I don’t feel well, and I’m not sure why.
Doctor: I want you to meditate for 20 minutes twice a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, avoid processed foods, eat plenty of organic fruit and vegetables, limit your alcohol, television and computer use, spend more time outdoors, and stop worrying about things you can’t control. Come back in 3 weeks.

We all know that’s good habits for healthy living. And at the beginning of the year, there are many enthusiasts. You may not be able to tell the enthusiasts from the dedicated ones. But wait a couple months later, and you’ll see the fruit of peoples’ lives and decisions.

• Apocalyptic parable, this story of wise and foolish bridesmaids.
What is theme / design of Matthew? Discipleship.
See sermon on mount.

This parable addresses duration of discipleship.
How long? How long shall I live life of discipleship?
How long shall I be merciful and peacemaker?      

Discipleship is a way of life, not an occasional thing.
Not a Sunday-but-not-weekday thing.

From the New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary:
Being a peacemaker for a day is not as demanding as being a peacemaker year after year when hostility breaks out again and again… Being merciful for an evening can be pleasant. Being merciful for a lifetime requires preparedness.

• The bridesmaids / bridegroom shows us relationship and church community. And like the fitness example, no visible distinction at beginning between wise and foolish, long-term and short-term, who will persevere and who will not.

• Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

• You will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16

• So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,
for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

• Hymn 616 Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast

*Matthew 25:1-13        (Common English Bible) 

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring oil for them. ⁴ But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil.

⁵ “When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the groom! Come out to meet him.’

⁷ “Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones,
‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out.’

⁹ “But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘No, because if we share with you, there won’t be enough for our lamps and yours. We have a better idea. You go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they were gone to buy oil, the groom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding.
Then the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the other bridesmaids came and said,
‘Lord, lord, open the door for us.’

¹² “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore, keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour [of the coming of the Son of Man].