Matthew 25:1–13 KJV 1900

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

LAMPS OIL THE BRIDEGROOM

1 Samuel 3:3 KJV 1900

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

Light is often used in the Bible as a symbol of God; Jesus is the Light of the World.

These lamps in the Tabernacle gave forth their light from the oil, a type of the Holy Spirit.

Israel was to be a light in the world, as are Christians.

John referred to the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”

Revelation 4:5 KJV 1900

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

A clear allusion to the Holy Spirit.

Exodus 27:20–21 KJV 1900

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

He described ten virgins

(1) who took their lamps (Greek lampas) and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Five were wise

(2)—”prudent, i.e. mindful of one's interests” —but the other five were foolish (Greek, morai). The prudent ones took oil in their vessels with their lamps

(4) But the foolish failed to do so.

While the bridegroom tarried—literally, “spent time”—all the virgins slumbered and slept

(5). The first verb is aorist and means “to nod.” So it suggests “began to nod and doze.” The second verb is in the (continuous) imperfect tense and indicates that they kept on sleeping.

At midnight there came a cry: Behold the bridegroom!

(6) All the virgins rose quickly and trimmed their lamps

(7). The Greek verb is kosmeo, from which comes “cosmetics.” It means “to order, arrange, prepare,” or “to adorn, furnish.”

They probably clipped the charred ends of the wicks.

There were no glass chimneys to clean.

In desperation the foolish turned to the wise, with the request for oil; for our lamps are gone out

(8). But the Greek very clearly says: “Our lamps are going out”—literally, “are being quenched.”

This is a much stronger truth and a more comprehensive warning.

There are many Christians who have not lost all their spiritual life, but whose lights are burning dimly.

They need to realize that they are in danger of being left in outer darkness, as the foolish virgins were.

The wise refused the request

(9). At first thought this might seem selfish.

But from the standpoint of the spiritual truth being taught it was inevitable.

Trench rightly interprets the intention of this verse: “It tells us that every man must live by his own faith.”

The grace of God is not transferable from one human being to another.

Each one must secure his own supply.

But while the foolish virgins went to buy more oil, the bridegroom arrived.

Those that were ready (same word as in 24:44) went in with him to the marriage—the “marriage feast,” which normally lasted from one to three weeks—and the door was shut

(10). This suggests the solemn warning that someday the period of probation will be ended for each individual.

Then the door of his eternal destiny will forever be shut.

There is no second chance in the next life.

Finally the foolish virgins arrived, but they found the door closed against them.

Inside were light and joy and gladness; outside was dismal darkness.

The virgins cried out in desperation: Lord, Lord, open to us

(11). But it was too late.

The bridegroom did not recognize their voices

(12), and at that hour of the night he dared not open the door to strangers who might be “party-crashers.”

What is the lesson of this parable?

It is summed up in verse 13:

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

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

It teaches us that we must be prepared every moment for the imminent return of our Lord, ready to meet Him when He comes.

To do this we must keep our Christian experience up-to-date.

Since oil is a recognized type of the Holy Spirit, both in the Old Testament and the New, it is suggested that we must be filled with the Spirit if we would be properly prepared.

Every man needs all of the grace of God available to him if he is to do the whole will of God and to be ready for our Lord's return.