Reading for Friday, July 13: Matthew 25

In this chapter, Matthew offers us another teaching on the importance of readiness (the Parable of the Ten Virgins). Those who are not ready are the ones taking improper action in the parable — specifically, not having enough oil for their lamps, running to the dealers to buy oil at midnight, etc. In the following parable, the Parable of the Talents, we find a teaching about proper activity — we might say “readiness in action”. In this parable, what is held up is the wise investment of gifts by the master’s servants. It seems that this section of Scripture encourages us to think not only about the second coming of Christ, but also our giftedness and what role we can play as Kingdom investors. God has gifted us with abilities and talents and He intends for these to be deployed as we await the Day of Judgment, which concludes this section of Scripture. This chapter spells out explicit action that Christ expects, behavior befitting our ready posture: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me,” (v35-36). And the King says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

This is the kind of readiness the Lord desires.