The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1–13 KJV 1900

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 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. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 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. 8 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. 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 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.

Introduction: We are studying the parables of Jesus. Here in this passage we read the parable of the ten virgins. To review, what is a parable? A parable is a short fictitious story that uses earthly elements to convey spiritual truths. Often the parables of Jesus reuses some old testament themes and images, and often there is a twist ending to drive home His point.

Such is the case with this parable.

The Context of the Parable

Jesus tells this parable as part of a group of teachings known as the Olivette Discourse. In this set of lectures, Jesus is describing to His disciples what the last days will be like, and how they are to be ready. They are told on the Mount of Olives, outside of Jerusalem during Jesus final week before He is crucified.

Matthew 24:1–3 KJV 1900

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Jesus answers their questions first with direct, and clear teachings concerning end time prophecy, then he illustrates His teachings with parables. The first of which is this one.

The Content of the Parable

When we read this parable from the perspective of the modern American wedding, some of the procedures would seem strange and antiquated. No wedding I have ever been to began with a parade and ended with people being locked out and rejected. When we do a wedding, we send out invites for a certain time and place, and then it is on our wedding guests to decide if they will show up for the ceremony or not. Then when our ceremony is over we have a reception where we get to congratulate the happy couple. After all this is done, the bride and groom get to to ride of into the sunset, and that is that.

The customs around the Jewish wedding of Jesus day was a little different.

The wedding procession

The first ceremony of the Jewish wedding was a procession through the streets. After an espousal period, where bride and groom were preparing for their upcoming married life, the groom would come to get his bride.

A procession of friends and relatives would be led through the streets of the town to the bride’s home, after retrieving the lucky lady the procession would continue on to the bride grooms parents home. There would be music and laughter and celebration all the way there. Guest would all bring lanterns to light the way at night.

The Marriage Supper

When the parade ended at the home of the groom, they had a feast. The wedding feast could last for a week as friends and neighbours celebrated alongside the bride groom. Songs would be sung, toasts would be given, gifts would be offered.

According to some customs, and as depicted in Jesus parable, when the wedding party arrived at the meeting place the doors would be shut to ensure that no party-crashers could come and spoil the festivities.

The empty lamps

Turning our focus to what little we can piece together of ancient wedding traditions, we see the elements of our parable. Jesus says that their are 10 virgins, no-doubt friends of the bride who have anxiously awaited this day to celebrate with their companion. They know that it will be soon, so they have their oil lamps ready to joint the procession. The five wise virgins have brought extra oil, and the five foolish have not. For whatever reason, the bride groom tarries, and the 10 women fall asleep.

Suddenly they are awakened by a cry at midnight, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” The women get up to join the parade, but the five foolish find that their lamps have run out of oil, and are not they are not ready to join the wedding party. They beg of the five wise, but they cannot share what they have or they will all be out of oil. The five foolish scramble to wake up the shopkeepers for oil, but by the time they arrive, they are too late! The doors are shut, the marriage supper is already begun, they are as good as uninvited guests.

Now a word of caution when interpreting parables. Though it is true that many of the elements of the parable are allegorical, not all elements are. Sometimes the safest way to interpret the parable is to focus on the main point.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke c. The Ten Virgins (25:1–13)

The plot turns on the bridegroom’s delay. The foolish virgins do not forget to bring oil; rather the delay of the bridegroom shows they did not bring enough. The oil cannot easily apply to “good works” or “Holy Spirit.” It is merely an element in the narrative showing that the foolish virgins were unprepared for the delay and so shut out in the end. In a real sense it is the bridegroom’s delay that distinguishes the wise from the foolish virgins.

The Conclusion of the Parable

What is the point of Jesus parable?

Well, remember the question that the disciples asked?

Matthew 24:3 KJV 1900

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Jesus answered them directly.

But also here also at the end of the parable.

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The Foolish Virgins simply were not ready for the bridegroom to come, and when he came it was too late.

Matthew 24:36 KJV 1900

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

So it is for us. Jesus came to earth, died, was buried and rose again. Jesus also said that He is coming again. We don’t know the day or the hour, no man does. We must be ready, for when he does come. After that it will be too late. Too late for some to repent, too late for others to get serious.

illustration: not ready when parents come home

jesus emphasis was day to day, this is how to be ready