We dive into the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids with Sarah Stenson this week. Five wise bridesmaids were prepared for the bridegroom by bringing oil for their lamps. Compare that to the five foolish bridesmaids who came unprepared and demanded the wise bridesmaids share their oil only to be turned down, and, while they were off buying their own oil, the bridegroom showed up and the door to the wedding banquet was shut. We hear Jesus conclude this parable in a terrifying way: "Truly I tell you, I do not know you. Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." As you'll hear Kiri, Max, and Mason talk about with Sarah, notice your gut reaction to this text: are you automatically doing the mental math how you can keep awake and not be like the five foolish bridesmaids? You'll want to hear how Sarah takes this prescriptive hearing of this text and flips it to a depiction of how this demonstrates God's incredible promise that all of your sins are forgiven through Christ. 

CHALLENGE GRANT

A generous donor is sponsoring a challenge grant! If you sponsor an episode of Scripture First in the next few weeks, your donation will be matched (meaning you've doubled your financial impact on our organization!). You can find more information at lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate. Thank you ahead of time for your giving season consideration! 

SING TO THE LORD

Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the Lord! Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." To understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church, Lars Olson and Mason Van Essen sit down with Zachary Brockhoff each week to discuss the lectionary's hymns, their meaning and history, and how the music preaches the Gospel. 

• 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3IjGmMa
• 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3VHikh3
• 💻 Luther House of Study's website: http://bit.ly/SingtotheLord

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:1-13

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.)

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