THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise." Matthew 25:1-2 (NIV)
Throughout the Christian era this parable has been referred to as “The Parable of the Ten Virgins”, or some slight modification thereof, but it would be just as true if it were called “The Parable of the Ten Professing Christians” or “The Parable of the Ten Church Members”.
The ten virgins are ten bridesmaids, no one of whom is the bride herself. The redeemed and purified Church universal will one day be the Bride of Christ. (Revelation 19:7-9) During this present age, the church is referred to as the “body of Christ” (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). Collectively the ten virgins may typify Christendom at the time of Christ’s return given the fact that some (five) were ready for the Lord’s return and some (five) were not.
Matthew 25:13 tells us the reason for this parable. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour (of the Lord’s return)”. In this parable, the Lord points out that five of these young women were prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival and five were not prepared. All ten had distinct similarities except for one thing. Let’s see what differentiated between the wise and the foolish virgins.
THEIR CHARACTER DID NOT DIFFERENTIATE THEM: The Lord used the word “virgin” to symbolize the upright character of all ten. If moral up-rightness alone defined one as ready or not ready, all ten would have entered together into the marriage hall. Many church members, or if you wish “professing Christians” are depending on their moral character to get them to heaven. Character is very important but good character alone will not save anyone because our salvation is by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God! (Ephesians 2:8-10). Consider also Isaiah 64:6.
The parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13 needs to be considered along with the parable of the ten virgins. There is a significant difference in these two parables. The weeds grew from seed sown by Satan. George Ricker Berry translates “zizania” as “darnel”. Darnel, in its early stages, looks like wheat but as it nears maturity it takes on a weed-like appearance. On the other hand, the foolish virgins retained that description throughout. The great tragedy is that both groups will hear the Lord say “I do not know you.”
The foolish virgins did not recognize their lack of oil until it was too late; neither was that deficiency detected by the five wise virgins during all the time of waiting together with their foolish friends. It is so in our spiritual relationships today. We can know our own hearts and we may think we know the hearts of our friends but that is a judgment that is not ours to make. We see the apparent evidences of salvation in our friends but don’t lose sight of the fact that the five foolish virgins looked every bit the part of bridesmaids until the ultimate testing time came.
Now, we most certainly are not to go around doubting the salvation of our friends. Instead we should confirm their faith. We must limit our judgment to our own lives. We must give every professed believer the benefit of any doubt, and while doing so, encourage them to give witness of their salvation to others which will serve to strengthen their own faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, in the case of the darnel, we find a difference. Many pastors can testify that they have witnessed some professed believers who have given the appearance of “wheat” early on, but in the progression of time their real identify was made known. Paul referred to three such individuals, Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Timothy 1:19-20 and Philetus (Hymenaeus is also listed) in 2 Timothy 2:17-18. John wrote to the church warning them of Diotrephes in 3 John 9-10. It is obvious that Satan had planted “darnel” in a number of the early churches.
Let’s see what the Scripture says regarding the “darnel” that Satan has planted and also, tragically, the foolish virgins who had all the trappings of a “bridesmaid” but lacked the necessary “Oil” that was needed to be admitted into the wedding (Matthew 25:10). "Not everyone who says to Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ’Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ’I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV). Now, let’s return to the ten virgins.
THEIR INTENTIONS DID NOT DIFFERENTIATE THEM: All ten virgins were “doctrinally” on the same page but that was not enough. Each one knew that a wedding was going to take place at some undisclosed time and that the only one lacking in the wedding party was the groom himself. All ten virgins expressed an expectation that the bridegroom would appear at some point in time, indeed all ten were dressed for the occasion.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
“The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars (vessels) along with their lamps.” (vs. 3-4). The five who had oil for their lamps were able to trim their lamps and light them and thus welcome the bridegroom. The foolish five had no oil. All they could burn was wick and wick alone burns black smoke.
Throughout the Old Testament we find oil symbolizing the Holy Spirit. There is no question that in this parable oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The five who were wise had the Holy Spirit in their vessels. The true believer has the Holy Spirit in his heart witnessing to his salvation and sealing him to the day of redemption. The Scripture says, “and because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)
Paul added, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
THEIR COMMON CONDITION:
“The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” (v. 5) Many believe that this describes the church today. Those who possess true faith and those who have only the semblance of salvation are asleep to the great spiritual needs of the world. Paul wrote, “For all of you are children of light and children of day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. Therefore, we must not fall asleep like others do, but we must stay awake and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (ISV)
THE SHOUT AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR:
"But at midnight there was a shout, ’Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”’ Matthew 25:6 (NASB) Jesus cautioned us, saying “You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Matthew 24:44 (AMP)
THE FUTILE REQUEST: "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ "’No,’ they replied, ’there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” Matthew 25:7-9 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of the believer is a Person. He cannot be divided or fractionalized. The only way we can share Him with others is by witnessing to them of the salvation that is found through faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and if they will accept our Lord Jesus, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to live in their hearts also. (Galatians 4:6)
THE TRAGIC DISAPPOINTMENT:
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ’Open the door for us!’ "But he replied, ’I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:10-13 (NIV)
Once the door to salvation is shut, it is shut forever! When that day is we are not given to know. Heed the Word of God, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NKJV)
