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St Matthew 25:1-13
He Who Opens, and No One Shuts
Divine Service II
Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 20, 2005
Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO
Dear Saints of God,
There is a troubling tone of incomprehensibility and severity in the parable today, it should put us a bit on edge. For the parable of the ten virgins, which the church hears every year on the Last Sunday of the Church year, is troubling, full of unexplainable behavior.
First, who can explain the foolishness of the five foolish virgins? They bring no oil for their lamps. All they were supposed to do was watch and be ready to light their lamps, but they brought no oil.
And then the five wise virgins, who, when asked by the foolish to share their their oil, reply, “No! There may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” Could not they have shared a bit with their needy companions? Did not Jesus Himself teach His followers to give to all those who ask of you?
But most shocking of all is the behavior of the bridegroom. When the foolish virgins return from their late-night oil-shopping they knock on the closed door. “Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!” And listen to the severity, to the judgment, “I tell you the truth, I do not know you!” Did not the Lord promise, knock, and it shall be opened to you? Surely there was room in the wedding banquet for just a few more?
Jesus is the One who opens the door, and He is the One who will shut it. As St John heard in the Revelation, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” [Revelation 3:7] When Jesus opens the door it cannot, by anyone or anything, be shut; but when Jesus shuts the door, it cannot, by anyone or anything, be pried open.
This parable, this story of the wise and foolish virgins, is not about the time of the open door, but of the shut. It is not about now, the day of God's patience, but about the end of all things, the great Last Judgment, the end of the Lord's patience. Then the door will be closed forever, and those who are outside will be outside forever, in darkness forever, weeping and gnashing their teeth forever.
We need to remember this, remember that the Lord Jesus is the judge, and He will execute judgment. Yes, Jesus is patient, withholding His judgment out of love. As we heard in the Epistle lesson, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” [1 Peter 3:9] But that is not the end of the story, His patience will not last forever, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” [1 Peter 3:10] The shout will ring out, “The bridegroom comes, Awake!” And with a loud noise the heavens will pass away [1 Peter 3:10], the loud bang of the shutting door. He shuts, and no one opens. The time of mercy and God's grace are over. This is truly a great and terrible day, totally different than any day you or I have ever know.
For we live, dear saints of God, in the time of the open door. The door to heaven and the way to everlasting life is open for us. The one who opens and no one can shut says to His church, “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” [Revelation 3:8], and more, “I am the door,” Jesus says, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” [St John 10:9] And when Jesus says, “anyone,” He means “anyone.” Any who enter by Him, who come in through His door, His crucified body, His spilt blood, His promise, His Word, any who believe this and trust, they are invited into the wedding feast, welcomed in, drawn in, brought in to everlasting life and salvation and the forgiveness of all sins.
Rejoice, for we live in the day of the open door, but dear saints, hear the voice of Jesus, commanding us, warning us. “Watch, therefore, because you do not know the day or the hour,” the day or the hour of His return, the day or the hour of the Lord's shutting the door, the day or the hour of the last judgment. And we do not want to be found without oil in our lamps, that is, without faith in His promises.
And woe to those who are not ready on that day, who do not have oil in their lamp, who do not have faith in the Lord's promises, for their reward will be the closed door and the Lord's rebuke, “I do not know you,” and an eternity of death.
May it not be so with us. May the Lord grant that we are found ready, with oil in our lamps, with faith in Him and His promises. May the shout, “The Bridegroom comes, awake!” fill our hearts with joy and expectation. May we wait for that day with hope (and not dread), watchfulness (not sloth), sincerity (not hypocrisy), knowing that the day of our salvation is drawing nigh. May we, each and every one of us, be the ones who look for a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. And may the Lord bring us into His wedding banquet, to rejoice forever with Him in life eternal.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
And now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen.
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Pastor Wolfmueller