17.
Afterward, later, how much later we are not told but what is very apparent is that it was too late! The dilatory, the procrastinator, the indifferent, the lukewarm will find themselves outside the banqueting hall. Mt. 25:11 If we have a problem with the two different categories we find here, we might take a look at the people who receive the seed, the Word, into good ground. They are divided into three groups, thirty, sixty and one hundredfold. Their spiritual lives would be of an entirely different appearance and measure. Only the one hundredfold could be counted among the wise virgins. Mt. 13:23 Solomon, in his proverbs made a great gulf of existence between the wise and the foolish. The wise inherit the glory of the Lord. When we look at the woman of Revelation twelve we have to agree. She is wondrously clothed. In the mean time, the foolish are just that, foolish and are put to shame. Prov. 3:35 What a different story it would be had the foolish but prepared for this wonderful moment.
Lord, Lord., open to us. One can imagine that every type of plea will be made here. Some with tears, others demanding, some pleading, others begging all very seriously seeking entrance into the marriage, but it is too late. This introduces us to a very serious issue. In spite of the fact that they are capable of calling on the name of the Lord, not all who appear or sound to be spiritual will be accepted into the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is made up of those who DO the will of the Father. It is an astonishing thing when we consider the works of those whom He excludes. They have acted in His name and have prophesied, cast out devils and done many wonderful works, but they are rejected because they also committed works of iniquity. Mt. 7:21-23.
There is yet another lesson to be learned here. The Lord always answers our prayers but not always the way we want. We have to know that He can answer in the negative as well as the positive. Too often we feel that He can only respond according to our will. Whatever answer He gives us, it is always for the best and for our own good. Knowing His will (as revealed in the Word) and praying accordingly will bring far better results than miscellaneous prayers. Seeking those things which are from above, from the Lord will bring good results. To seek something because of a desire of the flesh is to ask amiss and will result in correction from the Lord. James 4:3.