“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you.
Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.
The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” – Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV)
The difference between the wise and foolish virgins
- The oil – it represents true faith or current faith, a right relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit (quora.com). Some advocate that the wise virgins were believers, and the foolish were not. Some believed both groups were believers, but one was filled with the Holy Spirit and the other was not. Whatever it is, the distinguishing mark is – one group has the oil, the other has not.
- Preparedness – because of the oil, it also renders them ready or unready to receive the Bridegroom.
The good news – The Lord, our Bridegroom will be coming for us – His Bride! “.. the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (verse 10).
- There was an immediate entrance to the wedding upon the arrival of the bridegroom. There shall be no delay. Great shall be your joy if you are a believer and ready! Your face shall light up as you behold His coming in the midst of the darkness of the earth.
- The entrance into the wedding was most intimate for it was with Him. What a glorious thought that Jesus the Bridegroom will take you by the hand and lead you into the presence of His Father and the marriage celebration. At the coming of Christ, you will be united with Him forever in a covenant of marriage!
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.” (2 Corinthians 11:2 – NIV)
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” [Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.] (Revelation 19:7-8 – NIV)
Question – What do you look forward the most at the return of your Bridegroom?
- This entrance into the wedding hall will proclaim your identity in Him. You are the Bride, not the witness! This is your wedding in heaven. This celebration will be many times more glorious than any wedding you have ever seen!
- The door is shut. It symbolizes that this new order of things is eternal. All that God has been doing in your life on earth has been a preparation for that day! None are naturally ready for the joys of heaven; no one can ever be good enough. There must be a divine transfusion, of the life of God into your spirit. Each one has to change within. Jesus said, “You must be born again,” or born from above (John 3:3). When we sincerely repent (turnaround from our sin toward obedience to the Lord Jesus) and receive the gift of eternal life in Christ, from that point on our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life! (Revelation 21:27).
If you have yet to receive; or not sure if you really have this gift of eternal life, say “prayer 1” below sincerely and receive it!
Mistakes that the foolish virgins made
1) mistake of procrastination. There are always people who meant to get their lives right and prepare themselves with more oil. But they keep putting it off until it is too late. This need for action before the time Christ comes is the primary emphasis of the parable—do not put off to a later date getting prepared for the coming of the bridegroom.Be ready and always on the watch, “because you do not know the day or the hour.” (verse 13) Delayed obedience is disobedience!
2) mistake in thinking that there would be another opportunity. Do not make the same error. The bridegroom will come at a time you are not expecting Him. The foolish virgins were not expecting the bridegroom to arrive so late into the night. They had made assumptions as to the timing of His return. They were not prepared to endure the darkness.
3) mistake in assuming that they could come later and find the door still open. When the foolish virgins finally arrived, they were surprised that there was no entrance for them. Some Bible teachers today say that during the tribulation, after the Church has been taken out of the way (raptured), there will be a second opportunity for salvation—do not believe it!
Jesus speaks a warning of no second opportunity in Luke 17:26-29 (NIV):
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.”
For those who are walking with Christ, do you have a spouse, sons, daughters, or relatives that are still not saved, and are not worried about that day? Pray ceaselessly for their salvation!
(content above is adapted from groupbiblestudy.com)
Prayer 1 – for those who would like to receive the gift of eternal life:
Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of all my sins. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son, who died and took the punishment of my sins; and He came back to life on the third day. I open my heart today to receive Him as my personal Saviour and Lord. I want to be born-again into a relationship with You. Thank You for a completely free pardon from the guilt and condemnation that my sins deserved. I receive today the gift of God – eternal life in Christ. Please write my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Thank you for newness of life. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Prayer 2 – for those who would like to repent of procrastination:
Father, I confess that there have been times in my life when I have put off important decisions. Today I want to do it right. I give my life unreservedly to You. I repent of my delayed obedience and turn back in obedience toward You and Your will. Thank You for Your forgiveness through Jesus’ blood that set me free from the guilt and condemnation that my sin has deserved. Please help me to be like the five wise virgins, to keep watch and be ready when the Bridegroom arrives. In Jesus’ name, amen!