PARABLES OF JESUS - THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

THE 10 VIRGINS

This is week 20 of 25 looking at 25 of Jesus’ over 30 parables.

Remember from week 1 the definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate and teach a moral or spiritual lesson or religious principle. Some parables were short and as we have seen some have been extensive and long.

Note also how some of the parables lead into other parables. We spent the last three weeks going from Matthew 21:28 – 22:14 in talking about the sons, the tenants and the wedding fest. These next 3 weeks we will be walking through Matthew 25 – 3 parables covering 25:1 through 25:36

As we begin to day let us pray!

THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1–13 – “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

This parable stresses the importance of being ready for the return of Jesus. He will come again—John 14:1–6. All the prophecies in Matt. 24 concerning His coming are in the process of being fulfilled. He wants His people to be awake and alert. Satan seeks to put God’s people to sleep spiritually, so they will not be ready.

Matthew 24:36-51 – is not a parable but a continuation of the lesson of the seven woe’s of the Pharisee’s and then He explains cursed fig tree that the disciples asked Him to explain. So He explains that there will be signs of the end times, the abomination of desolation that Daniel describes and then His second coming – no one knows the hour

One taken – one left

When the master leaves – he places people over his estate – the wise and faithful take care of all his employees, his estate, who is doing the work of the master while gone and then the wicked servants who think “He is still not coming so I will…”

Beats the servants, gets drunk and parties, he is the hypocrite then Jesus says…The kingdom of heaven is like 10 virgins…

I. The People—vv. 1–5

A. The story—v. 1. A parable to teach us readiness – are you really ready? Are you prepared?

Are you a wise servant or a wicked servant – according to Jesus those are the two choices – there is no middle ground – either for Him or Against Him – no Switzerland in Kingdom of God

Luke 11:23 – Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

We must be constantly ready – there is a division between the prepared and the unprepared and there will be no second chances – when He returns you are either for Him or against Him.

B. The symbols—vv. 2–4. Wise and foolish people

They all had the same knowledge

They all wanted to honor the bridegroom and his

All 10 lamps were burning

1. The foolish. They took no extra oil, thinking that they had plenty

I have time –

Don’t be foolish – like the rich man who thought he could just take it easy

We never know when God will call us home –

Luke 12:20 – But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

The foolish though they knew when He would come and did not prepare

2. The wise. They were prepared with an extra supply of oil. They did not depend upon past resources.

Boy Scout Motto – Be Prepared

They were prepared in case He was “delayed” in case He did not arrive when they thought

C. The sleeping—v. 5. While waiting for the wedding, they all slept. The wise went to sleep prepared, the foolish, unprepared

Proverbs 27:1 – Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

II. The Plan—vv. 6–9

A. Preparation—vv. 6–7. “The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” They trimmed their lamps.

We, as Christians, must trim our spiritual lives in readiness for His coming—

Matthew 24:44 – Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We should be living like Jesus is coming back tonight

Christ is the only source of Light

People cannot get into heaven based on our relationship with Christ – we cannot give them part of our salvation

The unprepared torches went out – they asked for oil from the five who were prepared

The foolish asked the wise to give them some of their oil. They were dependent on others for entrance to the wedding feast. Each person must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We do not know the day or the time of Christ’ return so we must always be ready

Mark 13:32 – “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

B. Personal—v. 9. The wise told the foolish to go and buy oil for themselves. No one can accept Christ for you. Each person must be born again—John 3:1–8.

John 3:3-6 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

III. The Problem—vv. 10–12

v10 – And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

A. Problem—v. 10. Note: “The door was shut.” God gave the people in Noah’s day time to prepare—Someday the door will be closed

Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

No one is promised tomorrow – we must be prepared

Matthew 24:24 – Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

B. Plea—v. 11. “Open to us.” The wise could not open the door. Only Christ can open the door—

All roads don’t lead to heaven

John 14:6-7 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

C. Punishment—v. 12. Note: “I know you not.” Only those who are born again will gain entrance—

John 3:1–8 – Go back to the story of Nicodemus

Mark 16:16 – Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

IV. The Preparation—v. 13

Jesus closed with WATCH THEREFORE – remember that the word THEREFORE is there for a reason!

Be Prepared by watching!

Watch the different areas of your life

A. Watch your character— You are developing good or bad habits. It takes a lifetime to build good Christian character.

James 1:14-15 – But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

B. Watch your testimony—Caleb, though 85 years old, could say that he had fully followed the Lord—

The Lord told Moses – no one except Joshua and Caleb would enter the promised land and here is v 35 no one man of this evil generation will see the good land…

Deuteronomy 1:36 – except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’

God wants full surrender, full dedication.

C. Watch your companions—

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

You are known by your associations. Choose Christian / God following friends—

1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Paul like Jesus warned us – Be Prepared – no one knows –

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 – For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Are you awake? Do you have enough oil? Oil is one symbol of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us to be filled with the Spirit—Don’t depend on past experiences or blessings. Each day, renew the touch of God upon your life. Learn to walk in the Spirit … pray in the Spirit … live in the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit controls your life, you will be ready when the bridegroom comes.

Ephesians 5:18-21 – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

To be prepared everyday – with have to be filled every day with Holy Spirit – the word in Ephesians 5:18 – pleroo – play-ro-o – be abound in, rendered full, liberally supplied. Every day abound in the Holy Spirit seeking His direction, His guidance, His Wisdom to make the decisions – we all leak – so we must constantly keep in mind and return to the be filled.

As we prepare to go out from here and being prepared for whatever the Lord is waiting to do with each of us – Let Us Pray!