The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
by Owen Borville
July 25, 2019
Bible
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus explains a powerful and symbolic story that precisely explains the Messiah's return and the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the parable, Jesus explains that the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins waiting for their bridegroom. Five of these were wise and took their lamps with oil and the other five came without oil in their lamps. As these virgins waited on the bridegroom, a signal was made at midnight that the bridegroom was coming soon and the virgins realized that five of them did not bring oil. These five virgins asked the other five if they could use some of their oil. The wise virgins refused, explaining that there would not be enough for themselves and told them to go look for those who sold lamp oil and buy from them. Therefore, the foolish virgins who brought no wine left to go buy some oil from those who sold lamp oil. As they went, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins entered into the marriage and the door was shut. Later, the other five virgins returned and asked for entrance to the bridegroom. The bridegroom replied, "I don't know you." Therefore, Jesus instructed his followers to watch, because you don't know the day or the hour when the Son of Man returns.
The Parable of Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 KJV):
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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.
10 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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The virgins are like the members of the Church.
The bridegroom is the The Lord Jesus Christ.
The marriage or the event is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The lamp represents the spiritual tools given to the Church members.
The lamp oil represents faith that leads to salvation.
The lack of lamp oil represents those unprepared to meet the Lord.
Some have have questioned why the wise virgins were selfish in not sharing their oil, but scholars have explained that the oil represented something that could not be shared, that is individual faith that each individual is accountable for. No other human is responsible for someone else's faith, as salvation is open to everyone freely but each individual must seek and find this faith for themself. Therefore, the wise virgins could not share their oil with the foolish virgins. The virgins and the bridegroom represent the marriage between Jesus Christ and the Church or the members of the Church body. The lack of oil from the foolish virgins represents those church members who are not spiritually ready to meet the Lord. Those who have not fully committed to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven will not be ready when the Lord returns and He will say, "I know you not." Faith cannot be built quickly, it must be built over time. As the foolish virgins went back to look for oil, they were not able to find any in time for marriage with the bridegroom. Faith cannot be obtained at the last minute, rather it must grow over time. Those who wait for the last minute to find faith will be hopelessly lost and will miss out on the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who continuously seek the Lord will build their faith over time and when the bridegroom comes, the faithful servants who built their faith will be united with the bridegroom, or with the Lord for eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven.
by Owen Borville
July 25, 2019
Bible
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus explains a powerful and symbolic story that precisely explains the Messiah's return and the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the parable, Jesus explains that the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins waiting for their bridegroom. Five of these were wise and took their lamps with oil and the other five came without oil in their lamps. As these virgins waited on the bridegroom, a signal was made at midnight that the bridegroom was coming soon and the virgins realized that five of them did not bring oil. These five virgins asked the other five if they could use some of their oil. The wise virgins refused, explaining that there would not be enough for themselves and told them to go look for those who sold lamp oil and buy from them. Therefore, the foolish virgins who brought no wine left to go buy some oil from those who sold lamp oil. As they went, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins entered into the marriage and the door was shut. Later, the other five virgins returned and asked for entrance to the bridegroom. The bridegroom replied, "I don't know you." Therefore, Jesus instructed his followers to watch, because you don't know the day or the hour when the Son of Man returns.
The Parable of Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 KJV):
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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.
10 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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The virgins are like the members of the Church.
The bridegroom is the The Lord Jesus Christ.
The marriage or the event is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The lamp represents the spiritual tools given to the Church members.
The lamp oil represents faith that leads to salvation.
The lack of lamp oil represents those unprepared to meet the Lord.
Some have have questioned why the wise virgins were selfish in not sharing their oil, but scholars have explained that the oil represented something that could not be shared, that is individual faith that each individual is accountable for. No other human is responsible for someone else's faith, as salvation is open to everyone freely but each individual must seek and find this faith for themself. Therefore, the wise virgins could not share their oil with the foolish virgins. The virgins and the bridegroom represent the marriage between Jesus Christ and the Church or the members of the Church body. The lack of oil from the foolish virgins represents those church members who are not spiritually ready to meet the Lord. Those who have not fully committed to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven will not be ready when the Lord returns and He will say, "I know you not." Faith cannot be built quickly, it must be built over time. As the foolish virgins went back to look for oil, they were not able to find any in time for marriage with the bridegroom. Faith cannot be obtained at the last minute, rather it must grow over time. Those who wait for the last minute to find faith will be hopelessly lost and will miss out on the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who continuously seek the Lord will build their faith over time and when the bridegroom comes, the faithful servants who built their faith will be united with the bridegroom, or with the Lord for eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven.
