The Bridegroom Delayed: Why Jesus Waited 40 Years

Video Details

Description: When the Bridegroom delayed, every virgin grew drowsy. In this third message on Matthew 25’s parable of the ten virgins, Bryan continues a series on the last days of the Old Covenant through the Olivet Discourse. After reading verses 1–13, he returns to verse 5: while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
Jesus is the Bridegroom. He said He would come back in that generation, then waited forty years—long enough that many thought He was not coming. Habakkuk 2 says the vision is for the appointed time; though it tarries, wait for it, for it will not delay. The righteous live by faith. At the end of Matthew 24, the evil slave who decides his master is not coming for a long time is judged when the master arrives unexpected. Second Peter 3 records scoffers asking where the promise of His coming is. The Lord is not slow as some count slowness, but patient, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Christ delayed to bring in all of His elect.
Physical sleep was normal. Jesus is after spiritual wakefulness. In Gethsemane the disciples’ heavy eyes pointed to that deeper need. Old-covenant people had to stay spiritually awake because Christ was coming in judgment. Song of Solomon shows a heart awake even while the body sleeps: “I was asleep, but my heart was awake.” Marriage in Ephesians pictures Christ and the church. Luke 18 asks whether God will delay long over His elect who cry day and night—and whether the Son of Man will find that faith on the earth. He always has a remnant. Romans 13 calls them to awaken from sleep, put off deeds of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5 says, “Awake, sleeper,” walk as wise, and understand the will of the Lord through the Word. The foolish lacked that extra oil. First Thessalonians 5 tells the church they are sons of light: do not sleep as others do; be awake and sober, clothed with faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
At midnight there was a shout: “Behold, the bridegroom.” Bryan ties the shout to the trumpet of Matthew 24:31 and Isaiah 27—harvest, judgment, and gathering. John 5 joins hearing His voice with resurrection of life and resurrection of judgment. First Thessalonians 4 describes the Lord descending with a shout, the archangel’s voice, and the trumpet of God; the dead in Christ rise first, and the living meet Him. First Corinthians 15 speaks of the last trumpet and being changed. The shout marks God’s presence and a wedding feast: new-covenant people marrying Christ. The same word can mean outcry. God answered the outcry of Sodom, Egypt, Babylon, Nineveh, and distressed Israel. After old-covenant Israel is judged, Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21 promise no more weeping for the new-covenant people.
Then all the virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. “Trimmed” means to set in order or adorn. Solomon adorned the temple. Yahweh adorned Israel, who trusted her own beauty and played the harlot. The Pharisees put the house in order outwardly while remaining empty inside. Israel loved an adorned temple more than inward righteousness. God wanted the virgins adorned with good works. The New Jerusalem comes as a bride; her fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. That is how they were to be ready.
The invitation is Jesus’ own: stay awake. You do not know the day or the hour. Put on Christ. Keep the oil of the Word. Adorn yourself with righteousness before the door is shut.

Uploaded By: schuttemeier

Uploaded On: October 24, 2026, 11:25 PM