Matthew 25:1-13 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.
Let’s talk about the Jewish wedding customs first. I took this from a website called the “Koinonia House”. The article can be found at www.khouse.org/articles/2003/449. Here is a direct quote from this resource pertaining to the Jewish wedding customs. This speaks to the earthly side of the above parable:
Jewish Wedding
“The first step, the Ketubah, or Betrothal, was the establishment of the marriage covenant, usually when the prospective bridegroom took the initiative and negotiated the price (mohair) he must pay to purchase her.
Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was established, and the young man and woman were regarded as husband and wife. From that moment on, the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified - set apart - exclusively for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant relationship that had been established, the groom and bride drank from a cup of wine over which the betrothal had been pronounced.
After the marriage covenant was established, the groom left his bride at her home and returned to his father's house, where he remained separated from his bride for approximately 12 months. This afforded the bride time to gather her trousseau and prepare for married life.
During this period of separation, the groom prepared a dwelling place in his father's house to which he would later bring his bride. At the end of the period of separation, the bridegroom came - usually at night - to take his bride to live with him. The groom, the best man, and other male escorts left the father's house and conducted a torch-light procession to the home of the bride. Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom's arrival was preceded by a shout, which announced her imminent departure to be gathered with him.”
So, in the parable told by Jesus, the Bridegroom had evidently gone to prepare a place for Himself and His bride-to-be in His Father’s house. Sound familiar? Remember that Jesus also said, John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Sure sounds like a betrothed Husband re-assuring His wife-to-be of His intentions and ability to perform them! The parable tells us that out of the 10 virgins, 5 were wise, and 5 were foolish. God’s Word tells us, in many places, that we must believe in Jesus. An example of this is in Mark 16:15-16 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. In Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Both of these scriptures shed more light on this subject parable. We will get further into this…
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. Remember above, the last verse quoted here from John 14? John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Folks, the 5 foolish virgins must not have believed in what the Bridegroom told them, John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Right? They did not believe so they did not prepare themselves for His return (as explained in the Jewish wedding preparation above.). Amen?
The 5 wise virgins, however, prepared themselves by keeping oil in their lamps. They wanted to make sure that when the call was made that the Bridegroom is now finally returning for them, that they could see to run and meet Him! This is no different than the example where Abraham took Isaac up into the mount for sacrifice. Abraham obeyed God, proving his faith, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. (James 2:21-24,Galatians 3:6)
Simply put… Abraham believed what God said and took it as instruction, and was therefore compelled to act upon this ‘faith’ (his combined belief & trust), proving that the faith that he had in God was not dead faith, but alive and able to purge his life from dead works to the saving of his soul. (Of course, Jesus had not died yet, but this is a mystery in God’s Word that we can discuss at another time, if the Lord will.) The point here is that Abraham was one of the first great examples that was left for us concerning the faith that saints possess.
So all of the virgins had a lamp. A lamp is a vessel. Even more than that: a lamp is a vessel that allows someone to carry their light into darkness – it allows all who carry it to see where they are going. Guess what? An oil lamp will not burn long without oil in it! We all know and understand this?
The foolish knew that the wise had wisdom (oil). They wanted them to share. There was a problem at that point though – the wise feared that they would not have enough if they gave some away at the last minute. They could not risk not running to meet the Bridegroom right away. If we think about this and ask, “enough of what”? Were they concerned about the oil? Perhaps they were concerned about the time it would take to enlighten the foolish now, once the cry had been made that the Bridegroom was approaching. The time for preparation was up and they might miss Him if they delayed going to Him. Did it mean that they did not care about the foolish? No, this did not mean that they did not care. See, they love the Bridegroom so much that they are willing to forsake anyone and anything to do what He asks of them, especially to be where He is. They would not ever think of allowing anything to hinder the chance to be with Him.
I am assuming that in real life, these 5 wise, being filled with The Love of God, are trying at every opportunity to help the foolish. They cannot, however, force them, of course. What is the oil then?
2 Corinthians 6:16b “for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
The “oil” is Jesus Christ, The One and Only Truth; The Word of God…
I want to now bring again to your attention though: Jesus was the Word of God made flesh, but He always has been The Word of God. The Word was with God in the beginning, before Christ’s time on Earth. The Word of God is what God sent down to us in flesh to testify of His Will towards mankind (John 1:1-10); that it is not His Will that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
“Every one which seeth The Son” = Every one that see The Truth (John 14:6)
“Five were wise, and five were foolish” The parable also says, “While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” If you recall, the wise instructed the foolish to “but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.”
Well, they did go out to buy, but what did they buy – a counterfeit? Most likely, because it was not worthy of salvation. It was a ‘quick fix’. They came back and Jesus (The Bridegroom) told them that the door was shut and that they could not come in. Reminds us of this scripture: Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
…Proverbs 14:15-16 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Who can we liken the 5 wise and the 5 foolish to in these days? I believe that the foolish are oblivious to the fact that the end is upon us. Many may even say that they believe in God. Some, that they are ‘saved’ and that they know that Jesus is coming back soon. Well what is their version of soon? Possibly today, tomorrow? Or is it more like, next year, 5 years, or maybe not in my lifetime?
Let’s bring it home now: what do you do with your time? What do I do with my time? A very wise saying is, “Get so full of The Word of God that there is room for nothing else!” By The Grace of God, I take this to heart because, Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus warned us not to be idle: Matthew 24:35-41 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
In another place Jesus said, Luke 12:45-47 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his Lord's Will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His Will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Titus 3:5 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His Mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
John 14:26-29 But the Comforter, which is The Holy Ghost, whom The Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto The Father: for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
It is my prayer that those who can hear will take heed to this calling. And, if any are not fully sold out to Christ, dedicated to knowing only Him first and before anything else: that God will draw them and that they will become more and more concerned, and lay down all and give their everything to The Lord; and that The God of Mercy and Peace will enlighten their hearts and minds with the power of The Holy Ghost, according to His Glorious Will. Grace, mercy, and peace to all. Amen.
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