The Parable of the Ten Virgins
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
It seems like just a handful of years ago the group DC Talk was popular and everyone was listening to their music. One of the songs they sang that just stuck in my head was “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” I mention it because as I have been preparing for the series on Revelation, Matthew 25 is a chapter I have been reading.
In this chapter, Jesus tells the Parable of the ten virgins. It is not a parable that is focused on them as virgins, it is focused on a wedding party that is to be waiting to welcome the bridegroom. In Israel, the marriage that was to take place had three main parts to it. The first was engagement – a formal agreement made by the fathers. The second was betrothal – the ceremony where mutual promises are made. The third was marriage – approximately one year later when the bridegroom came at an unexpected time for his bride.
In the parable, the first two parts had already taken place; so now those who are invited and are to escort the bridegroom are waiting for his arrival. Jesus points out that some were wise and were prepared, having extra oil and others were foolish having no extra oil. While they are waiting, the bridegroom becomes delayed. There is no reason given, but the delay had been a while and all the virgins had become drowsy and slept.
When the bridegroom finally arrived with a shout of his arrival, the five who had oil lit their lamps and went out to see him. The wording here is a little misleading–the word for lamp is actually that for a small handheld torch. The extra oil was used to keep the torch lit, so the foolish virgins did not have what they needed to light their torches.
The foolish virgins ask the wise for oil, but the wise tell them that they are to go and get their own oil. It was their responsibility to be ready for his coming and they were not prepared. Here is where we start to understand the warning Jesus is giving. In the fellowship, there are many who believe they are ready. They claim the name Christian but they have never really come to faith in Christ. They are expecting to be ready but when the moment comes, they are sadly not prepared.
Oil in this parable can be synonymous with the Holy Spirit. Those who have come to Christ by faith have been given the Spirit as a deposit. They are able to meet the bridegroom when he comes and be welcomed into his presence because they are made ready. Without the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, no one would be ready for Christ’s return.
For those who have received the Spirit, they are welcomed into the kingdom of God and the joy of his presence. Those who have not? Well, Jesus says they will be like those foolish five virgins. They will come and want to be welcomed in, but the door will be shut, and they will be excluded from being in the presence of God. This is a strong warning for us all to make sure we are ready to meet the bridegroom.
Some people think they will have another chance, but the words spoken to the foolish virgins, “I do not know you” are a decisive and strong rejection. Jesus uses these words in other parables as well to show the severity of the judgment to come.
The point of this parable is simple – be ready. The price for failing to be ready is too high.
