what is the explanation of parable of ten virgins?

Radagast

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Except what you did was criticise my use of "alert" stating that "prepared" was preferable even though your view does not accord with the meaning of the relevant Greek word.

I posted several other uses of the same word. Let me do that again:

1 Corinthians 16:13: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Colossians 4:2: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

1 Peter 5:8: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 3:2: Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.

Revelation 16:15: “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” [this one seems to imply that the alert person goes to sleep fully clothed, so that they are ready for action the moment they are awoken]

In this parable, the message seems to be "be prepared," not "don't go to sleep," if only because all ten virgins go to sleep.
 
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Radagast

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Who gets married at midnight? Back in that day, a marriage consisted of not only the ceremony but also the reception afterwards.

The best theory I've seen is that the ten virgins with their torches (a better translation than "lamps") were supposed to light up a procession to the reception. In verse 11 the foolish virgins are then refused access to the reception.

And why call it midnight?

Because the Greek is μέσης νυκτὸς -- in the middle of the night.

Would merchants back then have been open for business at midnight; sort of like an ancient 24-hour convenience store?

The parable nowhere says that the foolish virgins were able to buy oil. It just says that they tried.

Also, it's curious that the bridegroom didn't recognize those five girls

Of course he recognised them. They were probably employees of his. He refused them access to the wedding feast because he was angry with them.

And he was angry because they didn't do what he had asked them to do (which was probably use their torches to light up a procession to the reception). And they didn't do that because they were unprepared and had no oil.

The message here is clear and frightening: unprepared people don't get let into heaven. A good reason to think about 1 Corinthians 16:13, Colossians 4:2, 1 Peter 5:8, and Revelation 3:2.
 
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WebersHome

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Because the Greek is μέσης νυκτὸς -- in the middle of the night.

The Greek word for "middle" is ambiguous.

The KJV translates it "midst" something like 38 times, and "among" 13 times.



The parable nowhere says that the foolish virgins were able to buy oil. It just says that they tried.

Duh.


Of course he recognised them. They were probably employees of his. He refused them access to the wedding feast because he was angry with them.

And he was angry because they didn't do what he had asked them to do (which was probably use their torches to light up a procession to the reception). And they didn't do that because they were unprepared and had no oil.

You might consider writing children's books. That was a pretty good fantasy.
_
 
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Vanellus

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I posted several other uses of the same word. Let me do that again:

1 Corinthians 16:13: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Colossians 4:2: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

1 Peter 5:8: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 3:2: Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.

Revelation 16:15: “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” [this one seems to imply that the alert person goes to sleep fully clothed, so that they are ready for action the moment they are awoken]

In this parable, the message seems to be "be prepared," not "don't go to sleep," if only because all ten virgins go to sleep.

But where did I assert that being "alert" was related to the sleeping of the virgins. As you wrote, all ten maidens slept. So how can being alert be related to their sleeping/waking. Yet the word Jesus used can be rendered as "alert". Rather for Jesus being alert meant having sufficient oil when needed i.e. being ready when Jesus comes.
 
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Radagast

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The Greek word for "middle" is ambiguous.

Not in the phrase "middle of the night."


That was a pretty good fantasy.

No, that was a perfectly orthodox elucidation of the parable.

For the phrase "I do not know you," see also Matthew 7:22-23: "On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" The phrase expresses anger, not lack of knowledge on God's part.
 
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WebersHome

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According to Luke 17:26-30, Jesus' return will be mostly unexpected; but in the parable of the ten young girls, all ten were expecting the groom and all ten were watching for him when they weren't dozing, so we can't lay that error on them.

Five of the girls were ill prepared for a long wait, that's true, but in my estimation the other five girls should not have told the foolish five to leave and go look for an oil merchant. What they should've done was encouraged the five foolish girls to hold their ground and endure the shame of their ill preparedness. At least that way they wouldn't have missed the festivities inside.

But the five foolish girls made a mistake too by listening to the other five girls and thus abandoning their designated posts along the procession's route; in effect going AWOL. Their priorities were definitely not in order. The marriage was far more important then their lamps.

One of the implications we can take away with us from this parable is that there are Christians out there whose skill with the gospel is so poor that they actually steer people away from Christ just as the five wise girls steered the foolish girls away from the marriage. Can you just imagine the overwhelming humiliation and disgrace that numbers of incompetent Christians are going to face for steering people to hell instead of to heaven?
_
 
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Radagast

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What they should've done was encouraged the five foolish girls to hold their ground and endure the shame of their ill preparedness. At least that way they wouldn't have missed the festivities inside.

The 10 virgins were expected to do some task requiring oil (probably lighting a procession). The 5 foolish virgins were barred from the festivities for not doing the task. That's what the Bridegroom's anger means.

One of the lessons we can take away with us from this parable is that there are Christians out there whose skill with the gospel is so poor that they actually steer people away from Christ just as the five wise girls steered the foolish girls away from the marriage.

You're completely misinterpreting the parable.
 
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Vanellus

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That's exactly what I've been saying.

Except that for the maidens to enter the wedding banquet they needed sufficient oil in their lamps (for which you choose the word "prepared"). For the disciples they need to keep watch or stay alert. This maps across to having sufficient oil, not staying awake.
 
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Radagast

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Except that for the maidens to enter the wedding banquet they needed sufficient oil in their lamps (for which you choose the word "prepared"). For the disciples they need to keep watch or stay alert. This maps across to having sufficient oil, not staying awake.

That's exactly what I've been saying.

And I think that 1 Corinthians 16:13, Colossians 4:2, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 3:2, and Revelation 16:15 shed light on the nature of alertness required from the disciples.

I still think that "being prepared" captures the sense of that well in modern English, but I don't want to make a big fuss over precise wording if we agree on the basic idea.
 
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