(Matthew 25:1-13)…..“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
This is a parable about a wedding. It was the custom among the Jews that the bridegroom came with the attendance of his friends, late in the night, to the house of the bride, where she was in expectation of his arrival, to escort her with pomp and gladness either to his home or another place for a period of feasting. The bride, attended with her bride-maids, at the bridegrooms’ approach, were to go out with lamps in their hands, to light his way into the house with ceremony and formality.
On these occasions they had usually ten virgins. The weddings in the ancient east were almost always at night. The ten virgins would have their lamps burning awaiting the wedding party at some point along the way – and they would then join the procession to the feast. Many times the bridegroom would tarry at the home of the bride and it would be late before he went to the place of celebration. The virgins were to remain alert with their lamps burning, no matter what time or how late the bridegroom and his company came by. If the virgins went to sleep, or did not have sufficient oil in their lamps to keep them burning, or if they were gone for some reason when the bridegroom came, they would miss out on the festivities and would bring embarrassment to themselves.
Now in this parable the Bridegroom is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is so represented in (Psalm 45), Song of Solomon, and often in the New Testament. This speaks to the love Jesus has for His church. Believers are now betrothed to Christ (Hosea 2:19-20). The solemnizing of the marriage is reserved for the great day, when the bride, the Lamb’s wife, will have made herself completely ready (Revelation 19:7-10).
The office of these virgins is to meet the bridegroom, to wait on the bridegroom when he appears, and in the mean time to wait for him. Here is the nature of Christianity. As Christians we are to…….
- Be attendants to Christ – to honor Him and glorify Him as the Bridegroom
- Follow Him as honorary servants do their masters – (John 12:20-26)
- Hold up the name – and hold forth the praise of the exalted Jesus
- Believe in – look for – and love – the appearing of Christ – and act with our whole conduct as if it was today
- Have lights in our hands – when we attend the Bridegroom – to honor Him – to serve Him
It was the lack of oil which caused these foolish virgins to be met with the words – “I do not know you” (24:12). Oil in the Old Testament is frequently used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The supreme ministry of the Spirit is to impart to men the knowledge of Jesus Christ (John 16:13-14). The Spirit’s task then is to take the Word of God, and through it reveal Jesus Christ. But He even works in the heart of the unbeliever before conversion (John 16:8).
What is required in the true conversion of the wise (Proverbs 9:10-11) (Acts 2:38-39) (Romans 10:9-10) (Hebrews 11:6)? Why do some say they are converted when they are not (Romans 8:5-8) (Luke 8:11-14)? In our text why are some called “foolish” (Ephesians 2:1) (Matthew 18:3) (Matthew 7:13) ( Matthew 25:11-12)? Notice, that the foolish virgins make their appeal to the wise ones, “Give us some of your oil,” their refusal may seem selfish unless we understand the situation. To loan the oil would mean that no one would have enough oil. And the larger point is clear here, that no one can “borrow” another person’s faith. You can’t get into heaven by living near a saved person. Ones faith cannot work for another. One must go to the One who can supply the oil, God (Isaiah 55) (Matthew 11:28-30). So it is with these five foolish virgins, they have no oil, to their dismay – and there is a panicky rush to get some as they see the Bridegroom coming. Notice (25:10), the final movement of our Lord is one of denial – “I do not know you.”
When the foolish finally arrived, the door was shut! Are we surprised at that? Today, many would probably feel that these five were unjustly treated. Why should they not be allowed into the wedding feast, even if they had no oil, or weren’t ready? What the Lord did was right. Our Lord’s words are faithful, this is an honest revelation of what He said He would do, “I will come as a thief in the night, be ready! Be prepared! Who is it that needs to be ready (prepared) for Jesus to return?
- Everyone – (Mark 16:15)
- What should man be prepared for? – (Acts 10:42) (2 Corinthians 5:10)
- Why should we prepare? – (Matthew 24:36-42)
- When should we prepare for His return? – NOW! – (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
- Always! – (Luke 12:35-40)
There are consequences for preparation involving the Lord’s return. (1.) There are good consequences for proper preparation (Matthew 24:46-47). (2.) There are bad consequences for improper preparation (Matthew 24:48-51). Will Jesus find us prepared and ready for His return?