5. The Bridegroom

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:1

Matthew 25:1

The subject of the parable may be the ten virgins nevertheless the focus of this parable is the bridegroom. It is the bridegroom that the virgins were waiting for. It is the bridegroom who is coming. It is the bridegroom who closes the door. Like with other elements of the parable so with the bridegroom the Lord does not refer to new concepts and ideas but rather uses those things which are known from Scripture to paint the picture of the Kingdom of Heaven. The prophet Isaiah famously illustrated the rejoicing of God over His people as a bridegroom rejoicing over the bride: “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5).

Early in Christ’s ministry the Lord gave evidence that He was that bridegroom of Isaiah 62 and that He is one and equal with God, when He said, “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” ( 9:15). Immediately after revealing Himself as the bridegroom, a ruler came to Jesus worshipping Him. What greater confirmation of the identity of the bridegroom than this? Jesus revealed Himself as the bridegroom and immediately Jesus the bridegroom was worshipped. Jesus Christ Himself is the bridegroom.

All that is good but now we can go even further with the evidence for Christ the bridegroom. We could revisit the glorious mystery concerning Christ and His church in Ephesians 5 but I would prefer to use the remaining time in the immediate context of the parable. Notice the transition that takes place within the parable. First we read of the bridegroom. For ten verses, everything is about the bridegroom. Then that great event takes place at the end of verse ten, the door was shut.

From that point onward, we no longer hear of the bridegroom but the name transitions. In verse eleven, the remaining virgins cry out “Lord, Lord.” In verse thirteen, the bridegroom who is coming is declared to be the “Son of man” coming. In verse six the bridegroom is coming. In verse eleven, “Lord, Lord.” In verse thirteen the Son of Man is coming. They are not three different persons but one person. The bridegroom is the Lord. The bridegroom, the Lord, is the Son of Man. In verse six the Bridegroom is regarded in mercy and hope. In verse thirteen His title of rule, power, dominion, and judgment is given – Son of Man. There we have it, the bridegroom is Jesus Christ, the bridegroom is the Son of Man. Now the floodgates of Biblical comparison are opened and the connection to chapter 24 is made explicit.

Jesus warned in the prior chapter ,“…so shall also the coming of the Son of man be…watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come… therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh…Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (24:39,42,44,46).

Now we declare based on the Word of God through the prophet Isaiah and the Word of God through His Son Jesus Christ, that the bridegroom is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord.  The bridegroom is coming. The Son of man is coming. The Lord is coming. There are three titles but one and the same person – the God Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The bridegroom’s arrival then is representing Christ’s return and the end of this present evil age. May we prepare with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind to be ready when He comes that we might go forth to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Copyright ©, LikeTheGreatMountains.com, 2022

.

.