The readings for Pentecost 24 are taken from Amos 5:18-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Matthew 25:1-13. With three Sundays left in the church year, the readings turn to “end of the world” kinds of texts, like the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
Amos corrects wicked people who assume that when God comes in judgment, they will be rewarded (just like the religious authorities thought Jesus would praise and reward them). Amos exposes and condemns the pretended worship of the wicked. What prepares us for God is what God Himself provides—justice and righteousness.
Paul corrects the deceit of many false teachings in 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Paul describes the sequence of events that will happen at the end of the world as an encouragement to all. Notice how Paul tells us the point of these verses at the beginning and end—that we may not be sorrowful, but rather have great comfort.
Matthew records the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Remember that “foolish” in the Bible means the opposite of faith/belief/trust (FBT); to be a fool is to be dishonest about what your life depends on. That is a product of a corrupt ego, vanity, self-assertion, and pretended autonomy, all aspects of the corruption of Adam from which God saves us. Notice that all ten are virgins and all ten are waiting and watching. But the foolish supposed they could meet the Savior on the Last Day on their own terms, in contrast to the wise who knew that their lives and future depended on God’s own Word and Spirit.