What is the meaning of Matthew 25:12? But he replied The scene is the closed door of the wedding feast (Matthew 25:10). The bridesmaids who neglected their lamps plead for entry, but the Bridegroom answers. • His answer shows that Christ is personally involved—He doesn’t delegate this moment to angels (cf. John 10:3, 27). • A reply implies responsibility: what He says is perfectly just, echoing His earlier warnings about preparedness (Matthew 24:42–44). • The immediate response underscores that there is no further negotiation once the door is shut, paralleling Noah’s ark once God closed it (Genesis 7:16). Truly I tell you Jesus prefaces the verdict with “Truly,” a word He reserves for weighty, irreversible statements (Matthew 5:18; John 3:3). • It signals absolute authority—He speaks as Judge, not merely as Teacher (John 5:22). • It confirms the certainty of what follows; the words are not a scare tactic but a settled decree (Revelation 19:11). • In every use of this formula He draws attention to eternal realities, urging listeners to respond now (John 6:47). I do not know you These five chilling words reveal the ultimate issue: relationship, not mere association (Matthew 7:21-23). • “Know” expresses intimate recognition, as between shepherd and sheep (John 10:14). • The virgins had proximity, lamps, and the right event, yet lacked genuine connection—mirroring nominal believers who have form without faith (2 Timothy 3:5). • The Bridegroom’s denial is final, aligning with Luke 13:25-27 where latecomers hear, “I do not know where you are from.” • The closed door illustrates irreversible judgment (Hebrews 9:27); once Christ returns, opportunity for repentance ends (2 Corinthians 6:2). summary Matthew 25:12 warns that when Christ returns, readiness must be relational, not merely external. His authoritative reply, sealed with “Truly,” declares that those without a living relationship with Him will be excluded, no matter their proximity to religious activity. Now is the time to ensure He knows us, because once the door shuts, His verdict is final. |
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