20 Presumption. . . .

25:1-13

Ten virgins

25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of the heavens will be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps went forth to a meeting with the bridegroom. Now five of them were foolish and five prudent. The foolish ones, on taking their lamps did not take oil with them. But the prudent ones took oil in vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom delayed everyone slumbered and slept. Then in the middle of the night there was a cry. “Behold the bridegroom is coming. Go forth to meet him.” Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish said to the prudent

ones. “Give us some of your oil because our lamps have gone out. But the prudent ones answered saying “In case here is not enough for both us and you go rather to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves. But while they were away buying it the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding festivities. The door was shut. Later on the remaining virgins came saying “Lord Lord open the door for us.” But He answering said “Truly I say to you I do not know you. Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour."

It might be commented that the ‘hook’ of “Jesus said” here is from the bridegroom rather than from Jesus himself. But the previous passage is talking about the coming of the Son of Man (that is, Jesus). Also Jesus refers to himself elsewhere as “the bridegroom” for example in relation to his group of disciples when he was asked why they did not fast. Also again, the idea of Jesus speaking through others is being developed here. It continues into more paragraphs to follow. Later the idea of 'a living voice' speaking through others will be further developed by the two gospel writers Luke and John c/f 'the living word' The following paragraph may appear somewhat harsh. But it could present a "reality check" for the way things are.

21 Lack of development. . . .

25:14-30

dug earth and hid

25:14-30 There was once a man going away from home and he called his own slaves and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one - each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately on his going the one who had received the five talents traded with them and gained another five. Similarly the one receiving the two gained another two. But the one who had received the one talent on going away dug a hole and hid his lord’s silver. Then after a long time the lord of those slaves came to make an account with them. The one who had received five talents approached and brought the other five talents saying “Lord you delivered five talents to me. Behold I gained another five talents.” His lord said to him (Note: Jesus as Lord) “Well done good and faithful

slave. Because you were faithful over a few things I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord." Then the one who had received the two talents approached and said “Lord you delivered two talents to me. Behold the two further talents I gained. “ His Lord said to him "Well done good and faithful slave. Because you were faithful over a few things I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Then the one who had received one talent approached. He said “Lord I knew you and what a hard man you are, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter. Being afraid I went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold what is yours.” And answering his lord said to him. “Evil and slothful slave. (Continued over)

Continued You knew that I reap where I did not sow and I gather from where I did not scatter. It behooved you therefore to put my silver pieces with the bankers so that on coming I would have received my money with interest. Therefore take from him the talent I gave and give it instead to the one who			has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given in abundance. But from the one who does not have even what he has will be taken from him.” And as for the useless slave you will be cast out into the outer darkness where there will be wailing and the gnashing of teeth.
As a follow on from the apocalyptic ‘end time’ descriptions of Jesus the final paragraphs of this section deal with the ‘end time’ of the individual. It would appear that Jesus envisions the future life - beyond death, as a wonderful figurative banquet. But people need to prepare for this beforehand. There is a logical basis for this. If one assumes that the Originator of Life has certain qualities then the more one develops such qualities within themselves during their lives, then the more they will be attuned to the presence of life’s Originator beyond their death. If they fail to do this they will be on the ‘outer’ and regret their lost opportunities.
	22 lack of accountability . . . .	25:31-46		the least

23:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him he will sit on a throne of glory. Assembled before him will be all the nations. He will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats and he will set the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right. “Come blessed ones of my Father. Inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I hungered and you gave me to eat. I thirsted and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger and you entertained me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him saying “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsting and give you drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothed you? and when did we see you ailing or in prison and

come to you?”And answering the king will say to them. “Truly tell you inasmuch as you did this to one of these the least of my brothers you did it to me. Then he will say to those on the left. "Go from me cursed ones into eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not give me to eat. I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not cloth me, ill and in prison and you did not visit me." Then they also will answer saying. Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsting or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and did not minister to you?" Then he will answer them saying “Truly I tell you, inasmuch as you did not do these to one these least ones neither did you do it to me. These will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous will go into life eternal”.

Jesus is placing himself here at the very heart and even definition of whether one will be able or not to share in the life of the Originator of life and the universe. In terms of the line of logic of Reality Search where would such an assertion fit? Jesus portrays the balanced reality of God who has created both time and place. In later gospels when his presence is seen in a “cosmic” sense, there is a connection shown between his individual reality and the reality of everything. Yet he is not totally identified with the world as a pantheistic view may have it. Perhaps a somewhat parallel description of his connection with all creatures is reflected in verses from the Hindu Upanishads e.g. "Even as a spider sends forth and draws in its thread, even as plants arise from the earth and hairs from the body of man, even so the whole creation arises from the Eternal." .

"And it came to pass when ended the Jesus all the words these" (26:1)