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The Parable of the Ten Virgins...
In Matthew 24, Christ describes the signs that will precede His Second Coming. In Matthew 25, Christ describes the spiritual condition of His Church, just before His Second Coming. We’re going to look at the parable of the Ten Virgins today and discover its application to our own lives.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1)
The kingdom of heaven, here speaking of God’s Church, is like ten virgins. Why ten? Why not seven? Or twelve? The number ten carries a special significance in Jewish culture, both then and now, for ten Jews are required for synagogue worship to take place. [Reference: Wikipedia]
Why ten virgins? A woman, in Scripture, represents a church and a virgin represents a pure church, undefiled by false doctrine. Christ is here speaking of His people, who know and understand the truths of the Bible.
These virgins, God’s people, members of His true Church, took their lamps, their “lights”, the fire that represents their spiritual condition, their witness, and went forth to meet Him, in eager anticipation of His soon coming.
“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” (Matthew 25:2)
What does Christ mean when He says that some were wise and some were foolish? Let’s find out.
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.” (Matthew 25:3)
Notice, they all had lamps. What do lamps represent in Scripture? “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God’s word, the Bible. They all had a knowledge of God’s word. They took their lamps, just as the wise virgins. What was different, though? They took no oil with them.
Notice that it does not say they had no oil with them. In verse 7, we see that both the wise and foolish virgins “trimmed their lamps”. They did not have extra oil, a vessel containing reserves to keep them should the bridegroom be delayed.
“But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:4)
The wise, contrary to the foolish, did take extra, filling their vessels and bringing them along with their lamps to be sure that they had enough.
The Oil
Now, what does the oil here represent? As students of the Scriptures, you may answer “The Holy Spirit” and you would be right. Why oil, though? Why not water, another representation of the Holy Spirit in Scripture? Why not the wind? Why does Christ choose oil? Here are three reasons:
1. Oil represents consecration – “And thou shalt anoint [with oil] Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them.” (Exodus 30:30) Oil was used throughout the sanctuary service to consecrate, to set apart, each part of the sanctuary as holy. God is calling for a people who are consecrated, set apart from this world, dedicated completely and entirely to Him.
2. Oil represents healing – Speaking of the Good Samaritan, he “bound up his [the injured man's] wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” (Luke 10:34) Oil symbolizes healing. God is longing for a people who are totally, absolutely, and completely consecrated to Him, who are healed of anger, bitterness, jealousy, rivalry, lust, pride, self-inflated importance, gossip, a people who are not interested in talking about what they do but about what Jesus does.
3. Oil represents illumination - God’s Word, the lamp filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, is a light on the path leading to eternal life, keeping us from walking in darkness, and shining light on the way for others to come to Jesus. God is calling us to be consecrated, set apart for Him, healed of the scars of sin in our hearts, and He calls for us to hold our lamps up high, lighting our way and the way for those around us stumbling in darkness.
The Foolish Virgins Mistakes
The foolish virgins made three mistakes that cost them dearly.
1. They had some oil, but not enough - Their supply was not sufficient. They trusted in the experiences of their past, the times when they felt God’s presence, the times when they delighted in the reading of God’s Word. They trusted that those experiences were sufficient and would carry them through. They tried and failed to burn yesterday’s oil today.
2. They were superficial - Trusting in the experience of their past, they had become only skin deep. Let’s challenge ourselves and ask, do we really love Jesus? Does our heart burn within us when we open His word? Do we look forward to our time with Him each morning or do we rush through it, a pacifying formality before the busyness of the day?
3. They lacked something deep inside - The foolish virgins had oil, but not enough, they trusted in the experiences of their past, and didn’t allow their spirituality to go beyond skin deep.
God gives us this story for a reason, to stir us, to make us uncomfortable, and to wake us up to our need of Him.
God offers the oil of the Holy Spirit freely to all who ask for it, to all who are willing to give Him their lives, fully and completely, so He can break up the stony ground in our hearts and plant good seeds, the powerful seeds of His word, seeds that will grow and give the fruits of the Spirit!
Let us not make the mistakes of the foolish virgins and rely on a past experience. Let’s commit our hearts to Him, right now, and ask Him to fill us, today, with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Then, let us remember that He only gives us the spiritual strength for one day at a time and, when tomorrow comes, let’s give our hearts to Him again.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1)
The kingdom of heaven, here speaking of God’s Church, is like ten virgins. Why ten? Why not seven? Or twelve? The number ten carries a special significance in Jewish culture, both then and now, for ten Jews are required for synagogue worship to take place. [Reference: Wikipedia]
Why ten virgins? A woman, in Scripture, represents a church and a virgin represents a pure church, undefiled by false doctrine. Christ is here speaking of His people, who know and understand the truths of the Bible.
These virgins, God’s people, members of His true Church, took their lamps, their “lights”, the fire that represents their spiritual condition, their witness, and went forth to meet Him, in eager anticipation of His soon coming.
“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” (Matthew 25:2)
What does Christ mean when He says that some were wise and some were foolish? Let’s find out.
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.” (Matthew 25:3)
Notice, they all had lamps. What do lamps represent in Scripture? “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God’s word, the Bible. They all had a knowledge of God’s word. They took their lamps, just as the wise virgins. What was different, though? They took no oil with them.
Notice that it does not say they had no oil with them. In verse 7, we see that both the wise and foolish virgins “trimmed their lamps”. They did not have extra oil, a vessel containing reserves to keep them should the bridegroom be delayed.
“But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:4)
The wise, contrary to the foolish, did take extra, filling their vessels and bringing them along with their lamps to be sure that they had enough.
The Oil
Now, what does the oil here represent? As students of the Scriptures, you may answer “The Holy Spirit” and you would be right. Why oil, though? Why not water, another representation of the Holy Spirit in Scripture? Why not the wind? Why does Christ choose oil? Here are three reasons:
1. Oil represents consecration – “And thou shalt anoint [with oil] Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them.” (Exodus 30:30) Oil was used throughout the sanctuary service to consecrate, to set apart, each part of the sanctuary as holy. God is calling for a people who are consecrated, set apart from this world, dedicated completely and entirely to Him.
2. Oil represents healing – Speaking of the Good Samaritan, he “bound up his [the injured man's] wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” (Luke 10:34) Oil symbolizes healing. God is longing for a people who are totally, absolutely, and completely consecrated to Him, who are healed of anger, bitterness, jealousy, rivalry, lust, pride, self-inflated importance, gossip, a people who are not interested in talking about what they do but about what Jesus does.
3. Oil represents illumination - God’s Word, the lamp filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, is a light on the path leading to eternal life, keeping us from walking in darkness, and shining light on the way for others to come to Jesus. God is calling us to be consecrated, set apart for Him, healed of the scars of sin in our hearts, and He calls for us to hold our lamps up high, lighting our way and the way for those around us stumbling in darkness.
The Foolish Virgins Mistakes
The foolish virgins made three mistakes that cost them dearly.
1. They had some oil, but not enough - Their supply was not sufficient. They trusted in the experiences of their past, the times when they felt God’s presence, the times when they delighted in the reading of God’s Word. They trusted that those experiences were sufficient and would carry them through. They tried and failed to burn yesterday’s oil today.
2. They were superficial - Trusting in the experience of their past, they had become only skin deep. Let’s challenge ourselves and ask, do we really love Jesus? Does our heart burn within us when we open His word? Do we look forward to our time with Him each morning or do we rush through it, a pacifying formality before the busyness of the day?
3. They lacked something deep inside - The foolish virgins had oil, but not enough, they trusted in the experiences of their past, and didn’t allow their spirituality to go beyond skin deep.
God gives us this story for a reason, to stir us, to make us uncomfortable, and to wake us up to our need of Him.
God offers the oil of the Holy Spirit freely to all who ask for it, to all who are willing to give Him their lives, fully and completely, so He can break up the stony ground in our hearts and plant good seeds, the powerful seeds of His word, seeds that will grow and give the fruits of the Spirit!
Let us not make the mistakes of the foolish virgins and rely on a past experience. Let’s commit our hearts to Him, right now, and ask Him to fill us, today, with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Then, let us remember that He only gives us the spiritual strength for one day at a time and, when tomorrow comes, let’s give our hearts to Him again.
I was reading about Gehazi and Elisha in the Bible and I drew a link between this and the parable of the 10 virgins.
Gehazi was constantly looking at the reward while Elisha was just living a life of service for others. This is what fits us for heaven - as being a servant develops a goodly character. The reason I say the 10 virgins relates to Gehazi and Elisha is because many Christians "...stand gazing into the sky." (Acts 1:11) wondering when Jesus will return and doing nothing to hasten his coming. They look at the reward of heaven as the reason they remain a Christian and not wanting to perish. And nothing is wrong with wanting to be in heaven but if that is the main reason and you do nothing but wish for the future in heaven - we miss the whole point. The real Christian will do what they can to prepare others for heaven and do good because Christ dwells within. We understand what God was calling us to do. So what does it matter if we prepare ourselves and let everyone perish all because we want to walk on the streets of gold. For a true Christian the reward is nice but not essential, and the reason we are caring and generous is because our nature has become love.
So essentially 5 virgins were prepared for heaven because they lived a self-less life of love in their lives and the other 5 missed what Christianity really meant. They all had the holy spirit because they believe, but one set had a double portion which got them through to heaven because they internalized it all became all that Christ told them to be.
Gehazi was constantly looking at the reward while Elisha was just living a life of service for others. This is what fits us for heaven - as being a servant develops a goodly character. The reason I say the 10 virgins relates to Gehazi and Elisha is because many Christians "...stand gazing into the sky." (Acts 1:11) wondering when Jesus will return and doing nothing to hasten his coming. They look at the reward of heaven as the reason they remain a Christian and not wanting to perish. And nothing is wrong with wanting to be in heaven but if that is the main reason and you do nothing but wish for the future in heaven - we miss the whole point. The real Christian will do what they can to prepare others for heaven and do good because Christ dwells within. We understand what God was calling us to do. So what does it matter if we prepare ourselves and let everyone perish all because we want to walk on the streets of gold. For a true Christian the reward is nice but not essential, and the reason we are caring and generous is because our nature has become love.
So essentially 5 virgins were prepared for heaven because they lived a self-less life of love in their lives and the other 5 missed what Christianity really meant. They all had the holy spirit because they believe, but one set had a double portion which got them through to heaven because they internalized it all became all that Christ told them to be.
Amen GOD will separate the goat from the sheep! The weed from the wheat! & just like u said on judgement day everyone will get their just rewards! All sheep to the right & all goats to the left! Depart from me you workers of iniquity I know ye not! Not everyone that says Lord Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven;(
Yes, I too always looked at the 50/50 concept as half were wise and were prepared for the Master’s return, whereas the other half were unprepared for the Master’s return; but I knew there had to be more to this parable.
I had also noted in my mind that after the door was closed, it was too late. I took this as those who were prepared were the repentant ones, and when the Master returned found them watching, ready, and doing His will, while the unprepared ones were unrepentant weeds of the world. After the door was closed, they no longer had a chance to repent, even if they cried with a loud voice and many tears. These would be the ones that Christ spoke about who said we did many mighty works in your name, yet Christ says, Depart from me evildoers, for I never knew you. We see this happen for in Noah's and Jonah's time.
I had also noted in my mind that after the door was closed, it was too late. I took this as those who were prepared were the repentant ones, and when the Master returned found them watching, ready, and doing His will, while the unprepared ones were unrepentant weeds of the world. After the door was closed, they no longer had a chance to repent, even if they cried with a loud voice and many tears. These would be the ones that Christ spoke about who said we did many mighty works in your name, yet Christ says, Depart from me evildoers, for I never knew you. We see this happen for in Noah's and Jonah's time.
This is really good, tbabi, and a sobering reminder for us all not to depend on past experiences. We have to run this race till the end if we want to receive the prize.
Thanks for explaining this scripture in this way. I don't think I had ever heard it explained quite like this.
We have to KEEP being filled by the Spirit, every day. I know I've gotten caught up in giving, trying to do God's work and praying but will notice if I'm starting to feel dry and realize it's because I didn't stop and get filled up again. I didn't let the Lord fill me up again. It's important for us all to do this every day, to not only pray and do God's work, but also to sit at His feet and listen to Him, spend time in worship, and let Him fill us up.
Good post and good reminder!
Thanks for explaining this scripture in this way. I don't think I had ever heard it explained quite like this.
We have to KEEP being filled by the Spirit, every day. I know I've gotten caught up in giving, trying to do God's work and praying but will notice if I'm starting to feel dry and realize it's because I didn't stop and get filled up again. I didn't let the Lord fill me up again. It's important for us all to do this every day, to not only pray and do God's work, but also to sit at His feet and listen to Him, spend time in worship, and let Him fill us up.
Good post and good reminder!
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