The Ten Virgins

I was asked some time ago to teach on the subject of "The Ten Virgins" in the small group home Bible Study my wife and I attend. Wow, talk about one of the parables that Jesus didn't even attempt to explain.

The scripture reference I used is found in Matthew 25:1-13. This particular story, or rather "parable" is really about more than just the 10 virgins. I'm sure you know the story, how five of them were foolish and the other five wise.

I started teaching with a short overview of the characters and the items or props that come into play in this story. Start with the virgins. Why are they virgins? The very fact that they are all virgins, even the five who are foolish, tells us that God wants "purity" in His wedding party.

The bridegroom is generally understood today to mean Jesus Christ. The oil used in the lamps carried by each virgin could represent the Holy Spirit that is given to each of us to keep our light shining for the Lord. The lamps they carried represent the light of Christ that shines in a darkened world. The vessel which held the oil is the heart in which the oil or Holy Spirit is contained.

The Jewish marriage ceremony itself was commonly held outside in the fresh air under a special wedding canopy which represents the covering of God over the marriage.

We think of the bride as usually dressed in white. It was also customary for the bridegroom to wear a white robe under the wedding canopy to symbolize the purity of marriage and was a reminder to him that the new life he was about to undertake must also be pure and clean.

Relating this to the church … when we come to Jesus, He gives us a spiritual robe of righteousness in place of the old filthy rags of self-righteousness that we had on.

After the marriage ceremony itself, there was a feast of seven days if the bride was a virgin, or three days if she was a widow. This feast was celebrated in the house of the bride. Sometime during this week of celebration the bridegroom returns to his own home and makes it ready for his bride.

Jesus, as the bridegroom, followed this in the normal Jewish tradition … He has gone back to His Father's house where He is preparing a place for us. John 14:2 … "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

At the end of the feast, the bridegroom comes back and takes the bride to his own home, usually late the last night. The marriage wasn't consummated until after this week long celebration was over and the bridegroom takes his bride to his home.

Besides the many friends who attend there is one group that comes from the house of the bride to meet the bridegroom when he comes back for his bride. These are the virgins that are mentioned in this parable, who were to go out with their lamps and light the way for him and his new bride.

It was also a custom among the Jews that the bridegroom when coming for his bride would be accompanied with another group of his friends.

Relating this parable to the church … the bridegroom (Jesus) will also have a procession who accompanies Him when He comes for His bride … Jude 1:14 … "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints …"

Not knowing the precise time when the bridegroom and his procession would come for the bride, all ten virgins probably went out early, and waited until they could hear the call of his coming. They are willing and want to be ready … but He tarries, he doesn't come. They all fall asleep.

Relating this to the church … I ask this question of us today. Has the majority of the church, even the faithful who have the Holy Spirit, represented by the oil … fallen asleep or given up on the Lord's return?

Jesus asks this same question in Luke 18:8 … "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Was He speaking only to the Jews?

But at midnight, like a thief, unexpectedly, the cry is heard … "Behold, the bridegroom; go out to meet him." The virgins wake up, and trim their lamps. There is enough time between the midnight cry and the Bridegroom's arrival to refill and tend to the condition of their lamps.

There were some who had no oil (the Holy Spirit) in their vessels (their hearts.) Their lamps were burning at one time but now have already gone out. The wise had oil, but would not or could not share it with the others.

Only those who possessed oil went in with the Bridegroom to take part in the marriage … which in the parable represents eternity in Heaven. He refused to acknowledge the others. Why should He? The virgins were to give light with their lamps. The foolish had not done so.

Why should they share in the marriage? They had failed in that which they were supposed to do. The virgins who entered in were the ones who accompanied the Bridegroom with their light back to the Bride's house. These others had not done so and they were not admitted.

But notice … even the faithful virgins had tired and given up or had forgotten the coming of the bridegroom and they also fell asleep while they waited.

What causes the lamps to go out?

I assume the delay in His coming … causes the lamps of both, the faithful and the unfaithful to go out. But the faithful refilled and trimmed their lamps with the extra oil in their vessels and were at their place waiting.

If we can relate this parable to the church today … the delay … the period of time we are in today, (still waiting I might add) should cause us to check our vessels, our hearts, to see if we have enough oil for the duration.

Jesus said … "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Verse 13)

Who are the virgins?

Here is where the analogy … in relating the virgins to the church breaks down.

Notice … in relating this parable to the church … the virgins as the Church … were not the Bride; they were only … the bridesmaids.

To imply that the ten virgins, the bridesmaids could be a type of the Church today … would mean that the bridegroom (Jesus) is coming back for the bridesmaids and not His Bride.

This is one of the reasons why I have trouble with the Rapture as it is taught today. Are we part of the Bride or part of the Bridesmaids?

Also notice "the Bride" does not appear … anywhere … in this parable.

Jesus did not have to introduce the Bride to the Jews in this parable. They already knew the Bride was Israel herself. But later in the Book of Revelation, the Bride is revealed to be … the New Jerusalem … coming down from Heaven.

Revelation 21:2, 9-10 … "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels … saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God …"

The Bride of Christ …

By accepting Jesus as Messiah … whenever He returns … the Nation of Israel along with believing Gentiles will someday fill the New Jerusalem and together become the Bride of Christ on the New Earth.

The following is just my opinion … but it looks to me as if Israel, as a nation was God's first choice, but they refused Him by rejecting Jesus. The Gentiles were then offered the opportunity to join the wedding ceremony by accepting Jesus and being grafted into the vine.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 11:11-26 … "Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles … the natural branches were broken off, that you might be grafted in … God is able to graft them (the Jews) in again … and so all Israel shall be saved." (Content edited)

The Bride … the Nation of Israel, has been and always will be … "God's Chosen People." This is why some people say that the Jews get a 2nd chance.

The marriage in this parable may denote … either eternity in Heaven; or the act of celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven. God will make sure His Bride will be there. The virgins … I'm not so sure of.

So … who are the virgins?

Truthfully … I don't know who they are because the Word doesn't clearly tell us.

The virgins may or may not be those who have been entrusted to carry the light of Christ, the light of the gospel to the world. It really doesn't matter if we fit the role of the virgins or not … we have the light and we have been commanded to "Go into all the world with that light."

Each of us has been given … if not bright oil lamps … at least a little candle to hold up to a lost and dying world. And is it not true that the call … "Get ready, Jesus the Bridegroom is coming" … has already gone out?

The virgins had time to get their lamps ready. This parable clearly shows us the need to keep oil in our vessels and not slumber or give up while we wait for the return of Jesus.

There is still time to trim your lamp.


Comments welcome.