The Parable Series - Fear and Oil

The Parable Series - Fear and Oil The Parable Series - Fear and Oil

In a teaching from Founded In Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els explores the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, providing guidance on navigating the end times and living a purposeful life grounded in love and truth. The discourse aims to steer believers away from both fear-based speculation and apathy, encouraging a focused and intentional walk with God.

Understanding Matthew 24 and 25

The teaching begins by addressing common anxieties related to eschatology, or the study of the end times. Vander Els admits a past struggle with both extreme views and apathy regarding the end of the world. Instead of offering a timeline, the emphasis is on pastoral encouragement, urging believers to remain steadfast in a broken world.

A key point is the interpretation of Matthew 24, where Jesus discusses the destruction of the temple and signs of his coming. The speaker divides the chapter into two sections: verses 4-35, which answer the question of when the temple will be destroyed, and verses 36-51, which address the signs of Jesus' return and the end of the age.

Regarding the destruction of the temple, it is asserted that Jesus was speaking of events that would occur within a generation, around 40 years, after his pronouncement. This aligns with the historical destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The speaker draws on the works of scholars like N.T. Wright, Tim Mackey, and Frederick Murphy to inform his understanding.

However, the speaker cautions against interpreting these prophecies as a precise timeline, and the discussion highlights the use of hyperbole and proto-apocalyptic language common among Hebrew prophets. Examples from Isaiah 13 are used to demonstrate how near and distant events are intertwined with exaggerated, poetic language to emphasize God's vision.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Readiness and Intention

The message transitions to the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, where five wise virgins prepare for the bridegroom's arrival with extra oil, while five foolish virgins do not. The oil symbolizes living with intention as ambassadors of Christ, focused on the kingdom of God. The wise virgins represent those who actively live out their faith, while the foolish are distracted by fear, apathy, and worldly concerns.

It's emphasized that Jesus' message isn't about adhering to a prophecy chart, but rather about pastoral encouragement: acting in a broken world by remaining submitted to the scriptures. The ultimate mission is to love God and love one's neighbor, which is described as the spear tip or most important aspect of God's kingdom.

Avoiding Fear and Apathy

The teaching identifies two detrimental responses to the brokenness of the world: succumbing to fear and falling into apathy. Fear manifests in obsession with conspiracies, sensationalist media, and reliance on self-proclaimed prophets. Apathy, on the other hand, leads to disengagement from creation and the mandate to care for it.

Instead, the call is to stand firm, endure, and stay focused on proclaiming the gospel and building the Kingdom of God. The new people of God are dispatched to all nations, to proclaim a new creation. This involves actively loving God and others, resisting the urge to conform to worldly standards, and bearing witness to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Application for Everyday Life

• Focus on Loving God and Your Neighbor: Make these the priority in your daily actions and decisions.
• Resist Fear and Sensationalism: Be aware of media that feeds on fear and conspiracy theories, and instead focus on truth and love.
• Stay Engaged with Creation: Recognize that caring for the earth is a spiritual responsibility.
• Live Intentionally: Emulate the wise virgins by living each day with the expectation of Christ's call, prepared and focused.
• Endure and Persevere: Maintain focus, stay focused, and don't be afraid, because we are part of the birthing of the kingdom into the now.

Key Takeaways

• The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was a historical event with prophetic significance, but not the end of the world.
• The Parable of the Ten Virgins teaches the importance of readiness, intention, and persistent faith.
• Fear and apathy are detrimental responses to a broken world; instead, believers should focus on love, service, and proclaiming the gospel.
• The kingdom of God is being birthed now, and believers are called to be ambassadors of this new creation.

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References

• Matthew 24:3
• Matthew 24:4-35
• Matthew 24:33
• Matthew 24:34
• Matthew 24:36-51
• Matthew 25:1
• Matthew 28
• Mark 14:62
• Luke 14:26
• Luke 17:24
• Acts 5
• Acts 11
• 1 Peter 3:22
• Exodus 11:6
• 2 Kings 18
• Daniel 7
• Isaiah 13
• Numbers 32:13

Resources

• The Bible
• Books by N.T. Wright
• Books by Samuel Dakiaki

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