This evening’s message is entitled, “Keep Your Lamps Burning,” and it’s taken from what is called, “The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.” Back when I was in high school, our choir once sang an old Negro spiritual that went like this: “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, for the time is drawing nigh. Darker midnight lies before us; lo the morning soon is breaking; Christian, journey soon be over. So, keep your lamps trimmed and burning, for the time is drawing nigh.”
In 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, we read, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (NIV). Those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord are like “earthen vessels” (NKJV), or even earthen lamps, that shine forth the light of Christ wherever they go. Jesus once declared of believers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
This evening, we will discover the benefit of having the eternal light of Christ; and we will learn about about the believer’s responsibility to remain faithful and vigilant in sharing the light of Jesus and proclaiming the gospel message. We will also hear about the horrible fate that awaits those who do not have the light of Christ abiding within them. It is my hope that by the time we are finished viewing this parable tonight, that anyone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will finally surrender their heart and life and make a commitment to Him.
Waiting for the Bridegroom (vv. 1-4)
1 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
In verse 1, we see the mention of ten virgins going out to meet a bridegroom. In ancient Palestinian weddings “the groom’s party would make their way to the bride’s home where they would pick up the bride, along with her friends and family, and lead them in a procession to the predetermined place for the ceremony, and the bride would wait there. She and her party would . . . have torches or lamps. They would spend the early hours of the night telling stories [and celebrating] while waiting for the groom.”(1) The imagery here is symbolic of the marriage of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, to His bride, the Church; which is the event that takes place immediately after the Lord returns to bring His people into His kingdom.
In verses 1-4, we read about some oil lamps. The oil that was burned in these lamps would have been olive oil. Now, concerning the lamps themselves, it is not quite certain what type they were, for there were two different kinds that could have utilized. Based on the Greek word for lamp in this passage, which is lampas, one opinion is that the lamps were of the small pottery type found in abundance in ancient Palestine.(2) The other opinion is that the Greek word lampas is more accurately translated as “torch.” R. E. Nixon explains that in this particular case rags would have formed its wick, and that these rags needed to be soaked in oil.(3)
We read here that some of the virgins were wise, and some were foolish (v. 2), and that “the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (v. 4). There are actually two separate items mentioned here that the wise virgins possessed: 1.) they had “lamps,” and 2.) they had “vessels,” which contained oil within them. According to R. K. Harrison, “When . . . lamps were being carried about it was customary in New Testament times for the bearer to attach a small container of olive oil to one finger by means of a string. Then if the lamp needed to be replenished at any time, an adequate supply of oil was readily available.”(4)
Whether these lamps were made of pottery, or were a torch, is not as important as the fact that they both required oil in order to burn. Oil in this passage is symbolic of something spiritual; and we will discuss the deeper meaning in just a moment.
The Bridegroom Was Delayed (vv. 5-9)
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9 But the wise answered, saying, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.”
In verse 5, we read that the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins all slept while waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. The five wise virgins are examples of the vigilant Christian who is prepared for Christ’s return; having accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The five foolish virgins represent those who hope to get into heaven by the skin of their teeth. They haven’t yet made a commitment to Christ by giving Him their heart and life; but instead, they are trying to gain salvation and entrance into the kingdom by works alone.
We understand that Christians, or the five wise virgins, are expected to be watching and waiting at all times for Jesus to come back. They are not supposed to fall asleep on the job; and yet, we read here that those who represent people saved by Christ, and those who represent people trying to gain entrance into the kingdom by works – that both groups fell asleep (v. 5). What this verse could be saying is that there is a long waiting period before the groom finally arrives; therefore, some of the wise virgins decided to kick back and relax and let their guard down a little.
If we are not careful, then we as believers can become too relaxed in our salvation. We can get so focused on going to heaven that we forget about the souls around us who won’t make there. We can mistakenly act like people working an everyday 9 to 5 job, who begin to slow down toward the end of a hard day’s work, when they know it’s almost time to clock out. We need to realize that no one knows the day or hour when Jesus will call us to clock out; therefore, we must continue with our faith in Christ, and continue with our mission, which is bringing the lost to salvation.
Whether or not they stayed awake had nothing to do with separating the wise virgins (Christians) from the foolish virgins (non-Christians). The thing that distinguished the wise virgins from the foolish ones was the amount of oil they had with them. While all ten virgins were celebrating and slumbering together, they had kept their lamps burning the entire time; and when the bridegroom finally showed up on the scene, the lamps needed refueling. When he arrived the wise virgins trimmed the wicks on their lamps and refueled; however, the foolish virgins didn’t have any oil with which to refuel.
The oil mentioned in this passage refers to the “oil of faith.” While we are waiting for Jesus to return, and as we continue living our life; how we live provides evidence of how much oil is contained in our lamp, or rather, our earthen vessel. If, while we are waiting, we devote our life wholly to Christ by spending time with Him in the Word and prayer, and we help others to obtain a relationship with Jesus, then we are like the wise virgins. We truly know Jesus Christ as Savior, and as a result, we desire to serve Him. If we know Him, then our faith is unending, like the continual supply of oil which the wise virgins possessed. In his allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan wrote,
Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand and led him to where there was a fire burning against a wall. Someone was standing by it, throwing water on it to extinguish it. But the fire burned higher and hotter. Christian said, “What does this mean?” The Interpreter answered, “This fire is the work of grace in the heart. He that pours water on it to extinguish it, is the devil. Because you see the fire burning higher and hotter, you also see the reason.”
He turned Christian to the backside of the wall. There he saw a man, with a container of oil in his hand, continually (but secretly) throwing it on the fire. Christian asked, “What does this mean?” The Interpreter answered, “This is Christ, who continually with the oil of His grace maintains the work already begun in the heart.”(5)
If we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, He continually pours out the oil of grace and keeps our lamp burning until He returns. The foolish virgins were those who didn’t know Christ. Without Him, their oil could not be replenished. Their lamps only appeared to burn for the Lord. You see, there are genuine believers, and then there are those who only appear to be genuine; both claiming to be followers of Christ. So, exactly who or what is a genuine believer?
A true Christian is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is God’s Son who came to earth and died on the cross for our sins, and who rose again from the grave victorious over sin and death. The genuine believer devotes his or her life to Christ, often making numerous sacrifices. A false believer is someone who “appears” to be faithful. They will call themselves a Christian in order to impress others; and to create a false sense of holiness, and thus a false sense of eternal security. They will go to church once a week, or perhaps on the holidays; however, they haven’t trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord, and they rarely serve within the church.
When Jesus Christ returns, if we have confessed Him as Savior and Lord, then we have genuine faith in Him, and that faith will not be extinguished by the time He arrives to take us home. However, if we just “appear” to be a believer, or if we just “appear” to know Christ, then our flame will be blown out when the Lord returns to sort out the unfaithful from those who are true followers of Christ. Through Jesus Christ we have a continual supply of the oil of faith, as John Bunyan pointed out.
In verse 8, we observe how the five foolish virgins asked the five wise virgins to give them some of their oil. When Jesus returns, then those who don’t know Him are going to be scrounging around in an awful frenzy for some oil; or rather, they will be trying to find out how to know Him as quickly as possible; and, as we observe in verse 9, many Christians will be faithful in telling them where they can purchase that precious oil.
Some People Weren’t Ready (vv. 10-13)
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” 12 But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
We can interpret from verse 10 that before the foolish virgins, or the non-Christians, were able to accept Christ that He arrived on the scene. The source of sustaining oil that leads to eternal life is found in Christ; but once He returns, it’s too late at that point to obtain any more oil. When Jesus returns to bring His people home, if an individual does not know Him as Savior and Lord, then it’s going to be too late.
Some people think they will live their entire life for themselves until they are old, and then they will confess Jesus Christ; but what happens if a person dies before they confess Him? The thing that happens is they are shut out of the great wedding; and thus, excluded from entering the kingdom of heaven. The door is forever closed to them, never to open again. When Jesus said, “Watch, therefore,” what He meant was to be prepared by knowing Him as Savior and Lord.
Time of Reflection
The primary message we have seen in this parable is that we need to be spiritually prepared for the day when Jesus returns to bring His people home. We also need to be ready, because we don’t know the day that is appointed for us to die. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once, [and] after this the judgment.” Everyone born into this world must die; and, therefore, we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow to believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior and Lord. Going to church won’t save us; but, a heart-felt and genuine faith and trust in Jesus as Savior will lead to eternal life. If you are someone here this evening who doesn’t know Jesus Christ, then I want to remind you that you need to confess your faith Him before it’s too late.
NOTES
(1) Ed Allen, Being Prepared, a sermon written September 12, 1999. Taken from the Internet July 2000 at http://www.gatewaychurch.org/sermon/19990912ELprepared.html.
(2) R.K. Harrison, “Oil,” The New Bible Dictionary (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1982), 854.
(3) R.E. Nixon, “Lamp,” The New Bible Dictionary (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1982), 672.
(4) Harrison, 854.
(5) John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (Nashville: Nelson, 1999), 29.
