Matthew 25:10,11

THE CLOSED DOOR

‘And the door was shut.’

Matthew 25:10

Very solemn tone in these words, even standing alone; this feeling increases when you see in what connection they occur. They are not words of ornament, but have their own meaning for the attentive soul.

I. Passing away of last chance.—The shut door is the token of this. No one’s penitence, prayers, or groanings shall any more open the door. The ‘shut door’ is not the fastening down of the bars of hell upon the lost, but it is the ceasing of all opportunity of amendment. What boyhood is to youth and youth to manhood, that is this life to the life beyond the grave. Our life here and hereafter is not two but one, and what we make ourselves in the last portion of our being before we die, that shall we find ourselves when we stand within the borders of eternity.

II. The final and complete severance between good and evil is also foreshadowed here. It is the great separation. Here upon earth the righteous and the unrighteous are intermingled. Once exiled from the Lord and His saints, what chance of amendment can there be in the pit? And if there can be no recovering unto holiness, how any admission unto heaven?

The words are big with despair.

—Bishop Woodford.

Illustration

‘It cannot be questioned but that practically, to each one of us, the moment of the Bridegroom’s coming is the approach of death—in whatsoever way that approach of death may be indicated to us—whether by the gradual increase of disease, till it reaches the point of hopeless danger, or by the rapid stroke of some visitation—it is the signal which gives the solemn note, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” Rise, soul, rise: this is death; meet death! And as the parable is true, you cannot deny it, but that that moment will be to many persons the discovery of a secret which they never knew before, and they will find out for the first time that they are not prepared. Observe well who these persons are. They are persons who once stood in the Saviour’s train—they associated with His people—they wore His robes—they carried His lamps—they used ordinances—they said prayers—they liked forms, and at one time or other—this is the affecting part—at one time or other, their lamps had burnt; they had felt in a measure, the right feelings, and they had made their lights shine abroad; but now, it is all flickering, or dead.’