The ten virgins in the parable in Matthew 25 weren't there to become brides. Even in a polygamous culture, no groom marries ten women in a single night. These women were part of the bride's wedding party, like bride's maids in our wedding customs today.

Trying to find out how this works and how to meet others. :wave:

TEACHING OF YESHUA MOSHIACH --- PART 6

Yeshua and Paul:
Many have found a problem in linking the Gospels with their detailed presentation of the acts and teachings of Yeshua with Moshiach who is so central in Paul’s beliefs. The problem arises because the apostle does not refer to any specific incident in the life of Yeshua and does not reflect in His epistles any acquaintance with the large amount of teaching material in the Gospels. Does this suggest that Paul had no interest in the historical Yeshua? Or could it be maintained that he knew nothing about Him? Those who have driven a wedge between Paul and Yeshua have not given sufficient weight to those indications that Paul knew a great deal more about the historical Yeshua than he states in his letters. He wrote, for instance, about the meekness and gentleness of Moshiach -- 2 Corinthians 10:1, suggesting that he knew that Yeshua had said of Himself that He was meek and lowly of heart -- Matthew 11:29. Moreover, Paul spoke of the poverty of Moshiach -- 2 Corinthians 8:9 and must have known that the Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head. He certainly knew the details of how Yeshua instituted the Adonai’s Supper -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and He was aware of His death by crucifixion. It seems reasonable to conclude that Paul assumed that his readers would be acquainted with the Gospel material. It is perhaps useful in this connection to inquire whether the life and teachings of Yeshua played a significant part in the early believer’s proclamation. In Peter’s address to Cornelius, he spoke of YHVH’s anointing of Yeshua of Nazareth. He said that Yeshua went about doing good works and healing all who were under the power of the devil -- Acts 10:36-38. It is clear that some account of the acts of Yeshua was included in the early preaching and there is no reason to suppose that this was not a regular procedure.

Yeshua in Other Epistles:
Yeshua’s example was a powerful motive for promoting right behaviour. Peter appeals to it in encouraging Christians who were suffering for their faith -- 1 Peter 2:21. Paul also knew the value of imitation (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). Yeshua Himself never sinned -- compare to 2 Corinthians 5:21. His behaviour patterns were and are invaluable for those who need a new standard for moral action. While this idea of example is unquestionably present in the New Testament, it was not a major part of the believer’s doctrine. There are a few references to the teachings of Yeshua in other portions of the New Testament besides the Gospels. The Letter of James refers to the teachings of Yeshua more than anywhere else in the New Testament. This is especially true in echoes of the Sermon on the Mount and it shows the strong contribution that the moral teaching of Yeshua had on the ethical values of the early believers. To what extent is knowledge of the life and teachings of Yeshua relevant to the 21st century? Some want to separate the historical figure of Yeshua from the Moshiach of faith, saying only the latter is important. However, the object of our faith is the same One who lived and taught in Galilee and Judea. The One who broke into history 2,000 years ago is the same One who comes into our lives by faith as Saviour and Adonai.

Yeshua Called People to Repentance:
[From then on, Yeshua began to preach, turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. -- Matthew 4:17 Yeshua started His ministry with the very word people had heard John the Baptist say: [Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH. The message is the same today as when Yeshua and John gave it. Becoming a follower of Moshiach means turning away from our self-centeredness and self control and turning our life over to Moshiach’s direction and control. The Kingdom of Heaven has the same meaning as the Kingdom of YHVH in Mark and Luke. Matthew uses this phrase because the Jews, out of their intense reverence and respect, did not pronounce YHVH’s Name. The Kingdom of Heaven is still near because it has arrived in our hearts.

Yeshua Demanded Complete Commitment From His Hearers:
[Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfil them. -- Matthew 5:17. Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Yeshua gave it on a hillside near Capernaum. This sermon probably covered several days of preaching. In it, Yeshua proclaimed His attitude toward the Law. Position, authority and money are not important in His Kingdom; what matters is faithful obedience from the heart. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets who like Yeshua, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance.

Yeshua Preached the Values of the Kingdom of YHVH:

There are at least four ways to understand the Beatitudes:

1 -- They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct for all believers.
2 -- They contrast Kingdom values [what is eternal] with worldly values [what is temporary].
3 -- They contrast the superficial faith of the Pharisees with the real faith Moshiach wants.
4 -- They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new Kingdom. These Beatitudes are not multiple-choice-pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe what we should be like as Moshiach’s followers.

Yeshua Taught His Followers to Live for the Kingdom of YHVH:
With Yeshua’s announcement that the Kingdom was near -- 4:17, people were naturally asking, [How do I qualify to be in YHVH’s Kingdom?] Yeshua said that YHVH’s Kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms. In the Kingdom of Heaven, wealth and power and authority are unimportant. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits and they have different attitudes. Are your attitudes a carbon copy of the world’s selfishness, pride and lust for power or do they reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Yeshua, your King?