Does keeping watch mean to frantically watch world events worried about every terrorist plot or rumor of war, to lack sleep and be constantly on alert for potentially fulfilled prophecies? Such an interpretation seems to contradict the context of Matthew’s sleeping virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Can we safely follow Jesus’ suggestion to rest or Sabbath in him (Matthew 11:28)? The virgins in the parable are admonished to keep oil in their lamps not be “arisen” or constantly awake as a word-study ignoring the context might imply. Matthew’s account of keeping watch does not seem imply a restlessness, but being ready even while we rest in Christ. The spiritual preparation in this parable implies an individual duty that nobody else can do for us. It is a readiness that involves knowing God, or more precisely, him knowing us, and readiness.Keep Watch
Does keeping watch mean to frantically watch world events worried about every terrorist plot or rumor of war, to lack sleep and be constantly on alert for potentially fulfilled prophecies? Such an interpretation seems to contradict the context of Matthew’s sleeping virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Can we safely follow Jesus’ suggestion to rest or Sabbath in him (Matthew 11:28)? The virgins in the parable are admonished to keep oil in their lamps not be “arisen” or constantly awake as a word-study ignoring the context might imply. Matthew’s account of keeping watch does not seem imply a restlessness, but being ready even while we rest in Christ. The spiritual preparation in this parable implies an individual duty that nobody else can do for us. It is a readiness that involves knowing God, or more precisely, him knowing us, and readiness.
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