Ten Virgins Foolish and Wise
TRANSLATION
(1) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. (3) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. (4) The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. (5) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so they all became drowsy and fell asleep. (6) At midnight a cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
(7) “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. (8) The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the wise answered, ‘No, there may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell (oil) and buy some for yourselves.’ (10) And while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. (11) Afterward the other virgins arrived, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open (the door) for us.’ (12) But he answered, ‘Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.’ (13) Therefore, keep watch because you do not know the day nor the hour.”
OBSERVATIONS
In this segment Jesus reinforced his admonition to be ready for the Lord’s return with a parable based on the wedding customs of the day. Repetitions included the number “five” (vs. 2), “virgins” (vss. 1, 7, 10, & 11), “foolish” (vss. 2, 3, & 8), “wise” (vss. 2, 4, & 8), “lamps” (vss. 2, 3, 7, & 8), “oil” (vss. 3, 4, 8, 9, & 10), and “bridegroom” (vss. 1, 5, 6, & 10). Apparently the ten virgins were part of the wedding party which would accompany the bridegroom with their lighted lamps in a nighttime procession to the bride’s home where she would be waiting for him. He would then escort her back to his home where the wedding ceremony would take place.
OUTLINE
I. Before the bridegroom returned, five virgins were ready and five were unprepared. (1-5)
II. The bridegroom returned late while all were asleep. (6)
III. Those who were ready were included in the wedding celebration while those who were unprepared were left outside. (7-12)
IV. The lesson: be prepared because no one knows when the Lord will return. (13)
IDEA STATEMENT
We must be prepared for the Lord’s return no matter how long he may be delayed because no one knows when he will come.
APPLICATION
The five foolish virgins made at least three mistakes regarding the bridegroom’s coming. They took lamps with them without taking extra oil, failing to prepare for the possibility of his arrival being delayed. Then they assumed that those who had brought extra oil with them would have enough to share with those who had no oil. Finally, they thought that they would be admitted to the wedding banquet even though they had arrived late. In each case their casual attitudes toward the wedding feast meant that they would miss out on the joy taking part in the celebration. Some interpreters have viewed this parable as teaching that those who are expecting the Lord’s return will be saved while those who are not prepared will miss out on their opportunity to be saved. It is vitally important to realize that this parable was not about salvation but about the loss those who do not prepare for the Lord’s return will suffer whenever he does arrive. The one important figure who was never mentioned in the parable was the bride whom the bridegroom had come to escort from her home to his. The ten virgins, both foolish and wise, were never intended to represent those who are wed to the bridegroom but rather those who will be welcomed to celebrate the long-awaited marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). Then, we might ask, who are these ten virgins intended to represent?
In his Olivet Discourse Jesus was answering the disciples’ questions, voiced in the previous chapter, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Mt. 24:3) In the following verses, Jesus described the events of the “Great Tribulation” that would take place before his Second Coming (Mt. 24:21). One verse in particular may point to the identity of the ten virgins: “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” According to 1 Thessalonians 4, the church had already been raptured and will accompany the Lord when he returns just as the groom escorted the bride to his own home. Those elect who will be gathered may well be represented by the ten virgins. Some will be ready for his return and share in the festivities. Some will not be ready and will miss out on the joy of the celebration. However, we understand this passage, the message it contains remains loud and clear: “Keep watch! Be prepared for the Lord’s return whenever he may come!”