Ten Virgins

Matthew 25 The 10 virgins

This is a Parable to describe certain events to come, using the Jewish Wedding ceremony. A wedding that paints a picture of something else.

This parable is very plain as to the intent.  The verse one declares “likened” unto ten virgins. This parable has nothing to do with the rapture.  These 10 virgins are likened unto people of which five are wise and five are foolish.

The message is “ be found ready, do not let that day or time come upon you unawares”

In my experience there are two types of Christians who, although they both read the very same Bible, have very different perspectives.
Many Christians – often western – read the prophecies of the Bible about the future and see a rather devastating message of darkness, gloom and decay awaiting the church and the world.
However, if you visit some home churches of China or other non Christian tolerant, where they are persecuted for their life, you would hear a completely different message.
Those in the battle see a different light…..a light to dispel darkness

The light here in this parable speaks volumes to the wise ones.
Oftentimes, as circumstances grew darker and darker, suddenly the morning star announced divine hope and redemption.
While it appeared darkness was spreading, unchallenged and ever increasing. But it was precisely at that point when the greatest triumphs were then achieved.

Isaiah 21:11-12 The burden of Dumah
11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Sometimes our life becomes as Isaiah says, that the morning and the night is coming. Our world seems upside down, But the bridegroom is coming and has a proclamation cry that the true bride will not only hear, but obey.

Matthew 25

1.Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

All of the 10 have the expectations of
     A groom is coming for them
     Marriage is at hand
They are all informed with the same knowledge and there are no surprises to the actions that are to come.

In Jewish wedding traditions, a lit and burning lamp identified the prepared bride.
The light is their wedding identity for the groom.
It was this lamp or light that made the bride different from all the others. It was the only distinguishable mark for the groom. And the bride knew it and acted on it.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
The wise are spoken of first. In Scripture study, the first mention shows a greater significance is on that mention.
5 wise
5 foolish
A seperation has already began. A difference in identity is being set forth.
What distinguishes these two groups, one from the other?

These are all virgins, so they can only prepare by what they have learned and sought out knowledge.  If you want to get married, you better know what is required.
Know the cost…..cliches require knowledge and the only acceptable action.
There is more than a cliche that says “let Jesus into your heart”. There is a separation from sin and cares of this world.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

They are acting on their knowledge of the requirement of identity and responsibility of their part of the ceremony.
This marriage. Not someone elses.

 All the time of engagement was for them to be ready when that day of marriage was to be.

The foolish took their outer vessel, but do not take the required oil or vessel to hold the oil……

These foolish had a knowledge that all they needed was their lamps.
The message of the hirelings. Just do the best you can and all will be alright. No it will not be all right.

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
The wise took their outer vessel, with vessels of oil.  This is their perception of knowledge of all the preparation they had done for the ceremony. Their knowledge was they needed their lamps, and vessels with oil.

Who taught them what they needed?
   
Why did 5 think only a lamp is needed, and the other 5 had a knowledge that a lamp, and a vessel of oil was needed.

Hirelings? Cliches taught them? A true knowledge was available to all.
Did they all know what was needed and only part of them acted on it?
Was the oil too heavy to carry for some?
A right knowledge was available…….the oil is the key that ties……Right knowledge comes from obedience to the spirit.
Regardless of how you want to view this, five had the truth and acted on it, and the foolish did not.

The bottom line is, did they all have the thing that distinguished them as the bride for the groom? When the bridegroom calls out, the lighted lamp is the only distinguishing mark and an acting on the call of the bridegroom. It decides who enters and who does not.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

They all had an expectation that he would be there earlier than midnight.
Some of these are true brides, the others a false bride.
What is the difference in the true and false brides.
The true brides possessed what true brides needed for the wedding and they acted like brides to the wedding. They were prepared regardless of the timing of the groom.
The false were not. Lacked what was needed when the bridegroom shows up…..



They all had a perception that the bridegroom was late…..they had a different perspective than the groom.  The groom bears the command. The virgins are at his plan and time.
Someone had taught them he was coming at a time other than the time they thought.




6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Midnight, End of the second watch

The Bible begins with God’s creation of the earth. When God first begins his creation, the earth is “without form, and void; and darkness [is] upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2, King James Version). God’s first act is to create light and dispel this darkness. Darkness and night therefore symbolize a world without God’s presence
Light therefore represents God’s presence

Midnight is redemption time in the. Biblical  record.
 When the children of Israel were in Egypt, at midnight a redemption was made for the children of Israel as the death angel came through the camp. Only those with the blood stains on the door were redeemed.   Exodus 12:29

At midnight the bridegroom comes. Redemption comes.

The proclamation is sounded. Behold the bridegroom cometh, Go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
They all heard the cry and rose up,

They all acted to let the lamps burn and be the light of the bride.
But there was a problem with the foolish virgins. How sad to hear the call of the groom, and try to light your lamp and find out what others told you would not work when you most need it, no the only time you could use it. Never again.


8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
With the lacking foolish brides or fake brides, they ask of the wise to give us what we need.



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.

It is impossible to get the oil from a source that can not give it..

Go to where you got the first oil…..go to your source.

The foolish tried to get the wise’ oil……they can not give it, as it takes all the oil for them  to have enough…..
But it was enough.

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.

The coming of the groom was at a most inopportune time for these foolish……

For the wise it mattered not……They were prepared and was not going to let anyone take it from them.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

They had the title of LORD, LORD. They knew who the groom was in their false doctrines. But when it mattered, The groom did not know them.

The foolish thought they believed like everybody else.


There was only one time they could get in…..these were left out. Could not get in.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
No oil to light the light. Nothing to distinguish you as the bride.

Too late to get the oil and light the light…..could not even be bought…..could not get back to get in.
The door was only open when the bridegroom came. The the door was shut,

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Commanded by God.

What do we watch for? The appearance of the groom and the message of that bridegroom.

The wise did not know the day or the hour…..but they knew it was near…….what separated them? They had a burning light with the right oil and went out to meet the bridegroom,  when the call was made. They were prepared.

They had no lack.

Do we have the light and the oil? Is that the bridegroom sound?