THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS (Matthew 25:1-13)
What is a Parable (Παραβολη)?
A story that we put alongside the true story to give us the meaning.
The message of this Parable: It matters how we treat God's Word in our lives.
A Jewish wedding; the ceremony was usually carried out on a Wednesday, late in the evening, followed by festivities that lasted for days.
The Bridegroom left his father's house sometime in the evening, escorted by the best man who went ahead of the bridegroom calling 'the bridegroom is coming', and went to the bride's house to take her to his father's house and officially become his wife. Here we have an escort of ten virgins who went out into the darkness of the night to escort the bridegroom.
In this Parable, we do not have a usual wedding where the focus is on the Bride but the opposite. The attention is on the Bridegroom. Similarly, we are preparing for the Heavenly wedding when Christ will be officially joined to His Church in Heaven in the presence of God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Host of Heaven.
The escort is made up of ten maidens who need a vital element for that job, the lamp giving light to show the way in the darkness of the night.
We live in dark, difficult days and need the light of God to show us the way so that we do not stumble along. But for that to happen we need our lamps to have an ample supply of the vital oil. We read that these virgins are split into two groups, not because of choice but because of circumstances. Five were prudent (φρονιμοι) and five foolish (μωραι). Remember the Parable of the wise and foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27? The classification of Prudent/Foolish did not depend on intelligence but on whether there was enough oil in the lamps or not.
There are two kinds of oil in the Bible:
1. The Lighting Oil-Exodus 27:20-21.
2. The Anointing Oil-Exodus 30:22-25, 33.
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:105 says 'Your Word is a lamp to my feet and....'. I believe that in this Parable we have a beautiful example of the Lighting Oil, the Word of God. The Anointing Oil was used to anoint the High Priest and the articles in the Tabernacle. Any misuse or counterfeit meant
the penalty of death.
The Delay. For almost two thousand years now the Church has been hearing about the imminent
coming of Christ to this earth for the Second Time. Like the ten virgins, the believers of our days and the Church seem to be in a state of slumber. There is nothing wrong with the spiritual tiredness we often feel in this present evil world. We often feel like having a little rest. Not necessary a sinful state.
However, at midnight there was an unexpected cry, 'the Bridegroom is Coming'. The unexpected
cry brought to the surface the state of unreadiness. If He had come a little earlier perhaps there would have been no problem. How long are we prepared to wait for His Coming?
Five Virgins awoke, trimmed their lamps and went out into the darkness of the night. The other Five, in the commotion of the night found out that their lamps had not sufficient oil to give enough light. At that late hour there was no case of remedying the situation. A life of neglect cannot be remedied in a few moments. Shallow living and mere Church going will not carry us through. We cannot depend on other believers to see us though to Heaven. It is between us and Christ.
While they were busy finding oil the Bridegroom came and those who were ready went in and the door was shut.
We are reminded of another door that was shut. When everything was ready God shut the door of the Ark. Noah and his family entered that Ark because they believed God and obeyed His Commands.
The five foolish virgins came and knocked at the door expecting the door to open. The reply was 'I do not know you'. Jesus warned 'Many shall come....', yet they were virgins-2 Corinthians 11:2, but they did not make it. How tragic that a life of Christianity can prove worthless in the final analysis. Someone said this 'When we do not pay attention to His Word, He does not listen to what we tell Him either'.
'Watch therefore for you know neither the time nor the hour....'
'The Spirit and the Bride say come'
What is a Parable (Παραβολη)?
A story that we put alongside the true story to give us the meaning.
The message of this Parable: It matters how we treat God's Word in our lives.
A Jewish wedding; the ceremony was usually carried out on a Wednesday, late in the evening, followed by festivities that lasted for days.
The Bridegroom left his father's house sometime in the evening, escorted by the best man who went ahead of the bridegroom calling 'the bridegroom is coming', and went to the bride's house to take her to his father's house and officially become his wife. Here we have an escort of ten virgins who went out into the darkness of the night to escort the bridegroom.
In this Parable, we do not have a usual wedding where the focus is on the Bride but the opposite. The attention is on the Bridegroom. Similarly, we are preparing for the Heavenly wedding when Christ will be officially joined to His Church in Heaven in the presence of God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Host of Heaven.
The escort is made up of ten maidens who need a vital element for that job, the lamp giving light to show the way in the darkness of the night.
We live in dark, difficult days and need the light of God to show us the way so that we do not stumble along. But for that to happen we need our lamps to have an ample supply of the vital oil. We read that these virgins are split into two groups, not because of choice but because of circumstances. Five were prudent (φρονιμοι) and five foolish (μωραι). Remember the Parable of the wise and foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27? The classification of Prudent/Foolish did not depend on intelligence but on whether there was enough oil in the lamps or not.
There are two kinds of oil in the Bible:
1. The Lighting Oil-Exodus 27:20-21.
2. The Anointing Oil-Exodus 30:22-25, 33.
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:105 says 'Your Word is a lamp to my feet and....'. I believe that in this Parable we have a beautiful example of the Lighting Oil, the Word of God. The Anointing Oil was used to anoint the High Priest and the articles in the Tabernacle. Any misuse or counterfeit meant
the penalty of death.
The Delay. For almost two thousand years now the Church has been hearing about the imminent
coming of Christ to this earth for the Second Time. Like the ten virgins, the believers of our days and the Church seem to be in a state of slumber. There is nothing wrong with the spiritual tiredness we often feel in this present evil world. We often feel like having a little rest. Not necessary a sinful state.
However, at midnight there was an unexpected cry, 'the Bridegroom is Coming'. The unexpected
cry brought to the surface the state of unreadiness. If He had come a little earlier perhaps there would have been no problem. How long are we prepared to wait for His Coming?
Five Virgins awoke, trimmed their lamps and went out into the darkness of the night. The other Five, in the commotion of the night found out that their lamps had not sufficient oil to give enough light. At that late hour there was no case of remedying the situation. A life of neglect cannot be remedied in a few moments. Shallow living and mere Church going will not carry us through. We cannot depend on other believers to see us though to Heaven. It is between us and Christ.
While they were busy finding oil the Bridegroom came and those who were ready went in and the door was shut.
We are reminded of another door that was shut. When everything was ready God shut the door of the Ark. Noah and his family entered that Ark because they believed God and obeyed His Commands.
The five foolish virgins came and knocked at the door expecting the door to open. The reply was 'I do not know you'. Jesus warned 'Many shall come....', yet they were virgins-2 Corinthians 11:2, but they did not make it. How tragic that a life of Christianity can prove worthless in the final analysis. Someone said this 'When we do not pay attention to His Word, He does not listen to what we tell Him either'.
'Watch therefore for you know neither the time nor the hour....'
'The Spirit and the Bride say come'
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