book of matthew Archives | Core Church LA

Ten Virgins Decoded

In Matthew 25:1-4, Jesus tells the parable of the Ten Virgins. This story teaches us about being ready for His return. In this study, we’ll break down the elements of the parable and see what they represent. Getting the parable of the Ten Virgins decoded is all about being prepared for when Jesus, the bridegroom, comes back.

1. The Ten Virgins Decoded

The ten virgins in the story represent people who are waiting for Jesus to return. These virgins can be seen as bridesmaids who are waiting for the bridegroom to arrive for a wedding. Out of these ten, five are wise, and five are foolish. The five wise virgins stand for true believers. These are the people who are living their lives for Jesus and are prepared for His second coming. They have oil in their lamps, meaning their faith is alive and they are ready to meet Jesus.

On the other hand, the five foolish virgins look like they are believers, but they aren’t really prepared. They don’t have any oil for their lamps. This means that they may look like they are living for Jesus, but their hearts are far from Him. When the bridegroom (Jesus) comes, they won’t be ready to go with Him.

2. The Lamps and the Bridegroom

The lamps in this story represent how we live out our lives. Just like the virgins needed lamps to light their way, we need our lives to show that we are followers of Jesus. But here’s the important part: it’s not just about having a lamp (or looking like a believer), but also having oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, the power and faith that keep our lamps burning. The wise virgins kept their lamps full of oil, meaning they stayed faithful to Jesus. The foolish virgins, however, didn’t keep their lamps filled, showing that their faith was empty.

The bridegroom in the parable represents Jesus. His coming symbolizes His second coming when He will return for His people. The wise virgins were ready to meet the bridegroom because they had oil in their lamps. The foolish virgins, though, were not ready because they hadn’t prepared.

Conclusion: Are You Prepared?

This parable reminds us that we need to be ready for when Jesus returns. Just like the wise virgins, we need to keep our lamps filled with oil—living out our faith and staying close to Jesus. The foolish virgins missed their chance because they weren’t prepared. Let’s make sure we’re living for Jesus every day, so we’re ready when the bridegroom comes.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

Jesus Wants Slaves?

In Matthew 24:45, Jesus talks about the “faithful and wise slave,” which might sound strange at first. The word “slave” can bring negative thoughts to mind, but it’s important to understand what Jesus really means and why He wants slaves. Let’s take a closer look at this verse and how we can be a “slave” to Jesus in the best way possible.

1. What Does Slave Mean in the Bible?

In the Bible, the word “slave” is often used interchangeably with the word “servant.” In this context, being a slave to Jesus means willingly serving Him. It’s not about being forced into slavery like in the negative ways we might think about it. Instead, it’s a choice we make. We come to Jesus out of our own free will, wanting to be His servant because we love Him and know He is a good Master.

If Jesus is our Master, then being His slave is the best possible thing we could ever choose. He watches over us, cares for us, and leads us in a way that is good. When we serve Him, we live the life God intended for us, free from the bondage of sin.

2. Why Would We Want to Be Jesus’ Slaves?

Think about every wrong thing you’ve ever done. Lying, cheating, hurting others—these are all things that would make us stand guilty before God. Without Jesus, we would face judgment for these sins. But here’s the good news: for those who believe in Jesus, God has forgiven all of those sins. He has wiped them away. Not only that, but He also promises to be with us every single day. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Choosing to be a slave to Jesus means choosing to be free from sin and to live a life that pleases God. Jesus doesn’t demand this from us; He invites us to serve Him because He knows that His way leads to true life. We’re not forced into this relationship. Instead, we willingly serve a Master who loves us deeply and has our best interests at heart.

Conclusion: Serving Jesus as His Slave

In Matthew 24:45, Jesus calls us to be like the “faithful and wise slave” who serves his master well. When we choose to be Jesus’ slaves, we are choosing to follow a loving Master who forgives us, cares for us, and never abandons us. Serving Him is a privilege, not a burden. Jesus ultimately wants slaves who He Himself can serve. We may not know when Jesus will return, but we do know that being His servant is the best place to be when He does.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

End Times and Noah

In Matthew 24:36-39, Jesus gives us a clear warning about the end times. He says no one knows the day or hour of His return, but He compares it to the days of Noah. Let’s explore what this means and how it helps us understand what the world will look like before Jesus comes back.

1. What Were the Days of Noah Like?

Jesus said that the end times will be just like in Noah’s day. So, what was happening then? People were living life as usual—they were eating, drinking, getting married, and doing all the things they normally did. But something was wrong. According to Genesis 6:5, the wickedness of mankind was huge. Every thought and action was full of evil. People had completely turned away from God and lived however they wanted.

Noah built the ark while everyone else ignored God’s warnings. People didn’t believe that judgment was coming, and they continued in their sinful ways right up until the flood began. When it started to rain, it was too late for them to change.

2. The End Times Will Be Similar to Noah’s Day

Just like in Noah’s day, people in the end times will be focused on themselves. Many will party, eat, drink, and go about their lives without thinking about God. Sexual sin and perversion will run wild, just like it does today. People will ignore the seriousness of sin and its consequences. Uncontrolled sexual behavior will lead to unwanted pregnancies and, tragically, many abortions. In the place where a baby should feel safest—the womb—there will be no safety.

Divorce rates will also remain high, as Jesus mentioned that people will be marrying and divorcing as if it’s nothing. In our world today, the divorce rate in many places, like the U.S., is close to 50%. This shows how far people have drifted from God’s design for marriage and family.

3. Jesus’ Warning About the End Times and Noah

Jesus said that the end times will look just like the days of Noah. People will live for themselves, and many won’t believe that Jesus is coming back. But, like the flood, judgment will come suddenly. Jesus tells us to pay attention to the signs of the season. We may not know the exact hour, but we can see when the world starts to look like it did in Noah’s time. This is our wake-up call to stay alert and keep our eyes on God.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

After the Rapture

After the Rapture, God could easily walk away from all of humanity left on earth. Instead, God gives it yet another chance!

Matthew 24:14 says the gospel will be preached to the whole world during the tribulation period:

This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14

The eyes of the Jewish people will be opened. God’s chosen people will experience a massive revival in Israel. Revelation 7 says that 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, will preach the Gospel of Jesus!