The parable of the ten virgins produces an interesting array of interpretation. This study will present my understanding of this well-known parable. I understand the parable as being directed to Jewish believers to exhort faithful obedience to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in light of his return, and the establishment of His earthly millennial kingdom of heaven.
First, the context of this parable is regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus. It is an exhortation to be found watchful and obedient.
Secondly, the parable relates to the kingdom of heaven; those of the kingdom are compared to ten virgins.
[Matthew 25:1 KJV] "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." *********** All ten virgins are believing Jews who will inherit the promised Davidic kingdom on earth, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
[Matthew 25:2 KJV] "And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish." ************* A wise servant is faithful, staunch with what has been entrusted to him, and dutiful. A foolish servant is unprofitable.
[Matthew 25:3 KJV] "They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:"
[Matthew 25:4 KJV] "But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." ************ This is relatively simple on a surface level; the wise were astute enough to make preparations; the foolish were not. Both the wise and the foolish were provided with lamps; the wise virgins were not apathetic, but being fervent, acquired the oil to maximize the profitability of their lamps. The oil, as some claim, is not the Holy Spirit; that would imply that five of the virgins were not believers, and therefore could not represent the kingdom of heaven.
[Matthew 25:5 KJV] "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."
[Matthew 25:6 KJV] "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
[Matthew 25:7 KJV] "Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps."
[Matthew 25:8 KJV] "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."
[Matthew 25:9 KJV] "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." ************** The bridegroom did not come immediately; just as the coming of the Lord Jesus is delayed. All the ten virgins arose at the cry; all had some oil initially, but the foolish, lacking perseverance, did not arrange for a delayed coming by buying extra oil.
[Matthew 25:10 KJV] "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 wise servants being ready went in with the bridegroom. The foolish servants were neglectful and did not obey the command to be watchful, and prepared.
The door was shut. This parable does not say that the foolish virgins never entered in however.
[Matthew 25:11 KJV] "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."
[Matthew 25:12 KJV] "But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." *************** The other virgins are just that, others. They are not the five foolish virgins. The kingdom of heaven is equated to ten virgins; these others are not of the ten, and are not included in the kingdom. The Lord knows his own; to these other virgins, he says he does not know them. Entrance is denied to these other virgins. Also, Matthew 25:7 refers to all ten as those virgins; therefore there must be others, the others are in verse 11.
[Matthew 25:13 KJV] "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." ************ This parable, as all the parables, were to teach the believing Jews of their coming kingdom on earth.
First, the context of this parable is regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus. It is an exhortation to be found watchful and obedient.
Secondly, the parable relates to the kingdom of heaven; those of the kingdom are compared to ten virgins.
[Matthew 25:1 KJV] "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." *********** All ten virgins are believing Jews who will inherit the promised Davidic kingdom on earth, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
[Matthew 25:2 KJV] "And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish." ************* A wise servant is faithful, staunch with what has been entrusted to him, and dutiful. A foolish servant is unprofitable.
[Matthew 25:3 KJV] "They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:"
[Matthew 25:4 KJV] "But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." ************ This is relatively simple on a surface level; the wise were astute enough to make preparations; the foolish were not. Both the wise and the foolish were provided with lamps; the wise virgins were not apathetic, but being fervent, acquired the oil to maximize the profitability of their lamps. The oil, as some claim, is not the Holy Spirit; that would imply that five of the virgins were not believers, and therefore could not represent the kingdom of heaven.
[Matthew 25:5 KJV] "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."
[Matthew 25:6 KJV] "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
[Matthew 25:7 KJV] "Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps."
[Matthew 25:8 KJV] "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."
[Matthew 25:9 KJV] "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." ************** The bridegroom did not come immediately; just as the coming of the Lord Jesus is delayed. All the ten virgins arose at the cry; all had some oil initially, but the foolish, lacking perseverance, did not arrange for a delayed coming by buying extra oil.
[Matthew 25:10 KJV] "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 wise servants being ready went in with the bridegroom. The foolish servants were neglectful and did not obey the command to be watchful, and prepared.
The door was shut. This parable does not say that the foolish virgins never entered in however.
[Matthew 25:11 KJV] "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."
[Matthew 25:12 KJV] "But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." *************** The other virgins are just that, others. They are not the five foolish virgins. The kingdom of heaven is equated to ten virgins; these others are not of the ten, and are not included in the kingdom. The Lord knows his own; to these other virgins, he says he does not know them. Entrance is denied to these other virgins. Also, Matthew 25:7 refers to all ten as those virgins; therefore there must be others, the others are in verse 11.
[Matthew 25:13 KJV] "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." ************ This parable, as all the parables, were to teach the believing Jews of their coming kingdom on earth.
