Breathingbook

The parable of the Ten Virgins comes after a series of warnings describing things to look for prior to a great snatching away (Mat 24:40-25:13) where some are taken and some are not:

• The Fig Tree will begin to put forth it’s leaves (Mat 24:32). This symbolizes a movement of many in Israel towards Christ. When Christ first came, many in Israel did not receive Him, and so the Gospel was given to the Gentiles. This was an indicated by there not being any fruit on the fig tree, when Christ came to it “for its time was not yet.” But, on a day to come, there will be fruit seen in Israel (Mk 11:13; Rev 6:12-13).
• Times upon the earth will resemble very closely the times surrounding the Days of Noah (Mat 24:36-39),
• Then the snatching away (where some are taken and some are not) will come.

The parable of the Ten Virgins (Mat 25:1-13) is one of the scenarios where some are taken and some are not.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Then This speaks of a specific time. “When” the Fig tree puts forth it’s leaves AND times upon the earth resemble the Days of Noah, “then” look for this to happen. We find further indication of the timing of this “then” from Mat 25:6 which tells us it’s “midnight” which is, the middle of the “night” or the darkest hour (Mk 13:34-37; Jn 9:4-5; Jn 11:9-10).

shall the kingdom of heaven This speaks of the kingdom of heaven before the millennium of the 1000 years (Rev 20:6). During this period, the kingdom of Christ is found within the church through the indwelling of Christ’s Spirit; the Holy Spirit, in every true believer. Jesus says, the kingdom of God is within you (Lk 17:20-21).

be likened The word “likened” means this illustration is symbolic of a larger event that will happen.

unto ten virgins In both the Old Testament and New, the meaning of the word “virgin” commonly represented an individual: an unmarried daughter, something veiled, hidden, kept separate, or unsubdued. Figuratively, the word has also represented a city or state (Isa 37:22; 47:1; 62:5-6; Jer 18:13; 46:11).

Since the parable points to the return of Jesus as the Bridegroom and Paul plainly referred to the Church as a chaste “virgin” (2 Cor 11:2), it is most likely these virgins represent the differing denominations or branches of the Church similar to the Seven Churches of Rev 1:11-20; 2:1-3:22.

Please note that each of the Seven Churches are also represented by an oil burning candlestick (Rev 1:20).

which took their lamps Believers are instructed to be the light of the world: shining the light of Jesus into the midst of a darkened world (Mat 5:14). The lamps Jesus spoke of would have been a small portable lamp that used olive oil for fuel. In the book of Revelations, a larger candlestick is described to represent each church, also using olive oil for fuel. These similarities noted, each of these ten virgins carry their own oil burning lamps and are responsible for tending to it themselves.

went forth to meet the bridegroom Jesus is the bridegroom ( Mat 9:15; Jn 3:28-29).

Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

five were wise, and five were foolish The Greek word for “wise” here is phronimos, and means someone who is thoughtful, wise and cautious. The Gk. word for “foolish” is moros, and means someone dull, heedless and not attentive to moral things.

Mat 25:3-4 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them In Mat 25:8, we see the foolish say to the wise, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” So, thought this line says they took no oil with them, these “foolish” virgins clearly started out with some amount of oil in their lamps!  Somehow they think they are prepared, but Jesus is saying by this parable that they, in fact, are not prepared for the extended delay that’s coming. In Christ, extended delays are common and always require “endurance.” The oil itself is that which helps believers faith to endure through trying times. A more detailed explanation of what “oil” means is given further in the post, What is the “Oil?”

the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps These wise virgins apparently had oil for the duration into the midnight hours. This could point to “knowing how” to hold on to the promises of God even in the darkest of hours or simply just an abundant measure of God’s grace poured out on the elect. God has been known to provide oil out no where to provide for those whom He chooses (1 Kgs 17:12-16), however, for some reason these “foolish” virgins – the Gk.  says foolish means not attentive to moral things – run out and do not seem to be able to obtain more before Christ comes.

There is only one other time where Jesus spoke about both a selection process where some think they’re being taken, but they are not, and where the “wise” and “foolish” are taught about and that is in Mat 7:21-27.This passage of scripture first describes those who do mighty things in the Lord’s names, but He ends up telling them, nay, they’ve done iniquity (paraphrased) and must depart (vs. 21-23). Then the Lord tells the story of the wise and foolish builders (vs. 24-27). The crux of this passage is that there is a great storm that has come upon these wise and foolish builders and this storm rages against their walk with God. For the wise their house endures, but for the foolish, it falls. Definitely food for thought.

Mat 25:5 While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

While the bridegroom tarried The bridegroom, again, is Jesus. The word tarried indicates there is some sort of delay the foolish virgins had hoped they’d not encounter.

they all slumbered and slept This indicates that ALL of the virgins had fallen asleep (1 Th 5:5-11). Jesus tells of men sleeping (Mar 13:25) in the parable of the Sower and the Tares (Mat 13:24-30), where because the men slept, the tares were sown in with the wheat and He says to let both grow together until the harvest. Another time Jesus tells the Apostles to keep on sleeping when they failed to pray they would not fall into temptation just before Hs capture (Mat 26:45,46; Mk 14:37-38; Lk 22:45-46). It’s possible this slumbering refers to some sort of spiritual stupor or death referred to by Christ in the letter to the Church of Sardis (Rev 3:1-3).

Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

at midnight there was a cry made Midnight represents a time of great turmoil and darkness. It is also commonly known as the “midnight hour.” In Mk 13:33-37, Jesus instructs the Church to watch and not fall “asleep” in case He comes “at even, midnight, the cockcrowing, or in the morning.” The parable itself indicates Jesus’ desire for His Church to be well-prepared for the end-times.

A “cry being made” indicates that some sort of loud notification is given that garners everyone’s attention and wakes them from their sleep. This could be indicative of 1 Thes 4:16; Rev 11:12 where the Lord is shown giving a call to believers.

the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him Again, Jesus is the Bridegroom ( Mat 9:15; Jn 3:28-29).

all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps To trim one’s lamp means to put everything in proper order. So the virgins, who had ALL been sleeping, woke up and started trying to put things in proper order.

Mat 25:8-9 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone outIt should be noted the foolish turned totheir  fellow virgins for help and that they’d hoped they could get some sort of last minute provision from them. Again, although the Lord hashistorically provided olive oil before where there was no oil to be found (1 kgs 17:12-16), the foolish did not receive oil in this manner.

the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you The answer of the wise virgins indicates they, too, were concerned they could run out of oil. There appears to be an overall surprise on the part of both the wise and foolish virgins as they were both “slumbering” (Mat 25:5). It also must be kept in mind that the Lord apparently gave an extra measure of grace to the wise virgins, in that they still had some oil. In fact, it appears there was anxiety in both parties taking place.

go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves This may be a reference to the Two Olive Trees (Two Witnesses) pouring the golden oil out of themselves into the candlesticks (Zech 4:1-5; 11-14) or simply to the Lord’s ability to provide oil to His children.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came This is a worst case scenario where just when someone has decided to repent and obey God, but suddenly it is too late for any of that (Mat 24:36,42-51).

they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: This speaks of the wise virgins who still had oil. This is most likely referring to the Rapture of the Church (1 Th 4:15-17). Immediately following this is the parable of the “Marriage Supper” (Mat 22:2-14) where a similar scenario is presented of those who, like the foolish virgins, start out with full invitations to the Marriage and, yet do not ever make it into that Marriage. In fact, they are expected to come, but are so unprepared for the suddenness of the Marriage, they made light of it and even turned upon the messengers of the  sudden invitation (Mat 22:5).

and the door was shut This door symbolizes the way into where the Bridegroom resides.

Mat 25:11-13 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us The desire of the foolish virgins to be with the Lord is evident, but unfortunately, too late.

But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. There are two similar instances in the New Testament where Jesus says such a thing to stunned believers (Lk 13:23-27; Mat 7:21-23). Each time it speaks of those who thought for sure they would gain access and go with Him, but were denied.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh All believers are commanded to watch and pray for the Lord’s return.

This parable is intended to be a warning not to take the goodness of the Lord for granted. As believers, we must remember:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Peace out!

Loris James