The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

“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.

Context:

Jesus is in a series of pericopes that discuss the end of time events

signs

the abomination of desolation

the coming of the son of man

no one knows the time - so be ready

The main point: be ready

Michael Green notes 3 surprises (noting that the virgins are “christian people” - though not necessarily all saved)

the virgins looked the same, but they were not - half had the oil for the lamp, half did not. “…it is all too possible to be often in church and in christian company, and yet be a stranger to the Holy Spirit. it is possible to have a lamp that looks but, but has no oil in it.

There are some things you can’t borrow - you must possess it for yourself - holiness is one of those things. The message of the gospel can be passed from one person to the next, but faith is required for each individual - I can’t have faith for my children - they must have their own.

There are some times when it is too late. Green suggests that weddings were often protracted affairs and did not have an exact timetable. No one would know when the groom would arrive. Since we have no clear word on the next timing of the second coming of Jesus - we must be ready. Those around us who are playing the game or are waiting - need to understand that “today is the day of salvation” because there is no guarantee of tomorrow. In another parable that we’ll study in a few weeks, Jesus tells of a rich man…Luke 12:18-20 “And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”

In light of this, how should we pray - for one another, for our community?

pray that they will have a sense of the brevity of their own lives.