Parable of the Ten Virgins

[Marilyn C]

An important point concerns this verse. It is written about Israel who is in partial darkness.

`Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.` (Matt. 25: 13)

However to the Body of Christ, the Lord by the Holy Spirit says -

`But you, brethren, are NOT IN DARKNESS that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light....` (1 Thess. 5: 4 & 5)

`...exhorting one another, and so much more as you SEE the day approaching.` (Heb. 10: 25)

Another important to notice in another parable that the wedding feast is ON the earth. The man without a garment was at the wedding feast and obviously couldn`t have gone to heaven.

`...when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" And he was speechless.` (Matt. 22: 11 & 12)

Marilyn.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Another important to notice in another parable that the wedding feast is ON the earth. The man without a garment was at the wedding feast and obviously couldn`t have gone to heaven.
`...when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" And he was speechless.` (Matt. 22: 11 & 12)

Marilyn.

Great post!
I just happened to have a thread on that parable.
What stood out to me was the King calling him "comrade".
It was the same word Jesus used with Judas [Judas comes from the word "Judah"]

Matthew 22 and the "Man" not clothed for wedding feast

Psalms 41:9
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,

Matthew 22:12
And He is saying to him "Comrade!<2083>, how did thou enter here not having garment of marriage"? The yet he was still.

Matthew 26:50
and Jesus said to him, `Comrade!<2083>! for what art thou present?'
Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on him.

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

2083. hetairos het-ah'-ee-ros from etes (a clansman); a comrade:--fellow, friend.



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[Mark51]

The ten virgins symbolize all Christians who are in line for or who profess to be in line for the heavenly Kingdom. (Matthew 25:1) It was at Pentecost 33 C.E. that the Christian congregation was promised in marriage to the resurrected, glorified Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. But the marriage was to take place in heaven at some unspecified time in the future.

In the illustration, the ten virgins go out with the purpose of welcoming the bridegroom and of joining the wedding procession. When he arrives, they will light the processional route with their lamps, thus honoring him as he brings his bride to the house prepared for her.

The extended delay of the bridegroom indicates that Christ’s presence as ruling King is to be in the distant future. Just prior to coming to his throne, all the virgins were asleep. But they are not condemned for this. The condemnation of the foolish virgins is for their not having oil for their receptacles.

The oil symbolizes that which keeps true Christians shining as illuminators. This is the inspired Word of God, on which Christians keep a tight grip, together with the holy spirit, which helps them to understand that Word. The spiritual oil enables the discreet virgins to shed forth light in welcoming the bridegroom during the procession to the marriage feast. But the foolish virgin class do not have in themselves, in their receptacles, the needed spiritual oil.

After Christ arrives in his heavenly Kingdom, the discreet virgin class of true anointed Christians awake to their privilege of shedding light in this darkened world in praise of the returned Bridegroom. But those pictured by the foolish virgins are unprepared to provide this welcoming praise. So when the time comes, Christ does not open the door to the marriage feast in heaven to them. He leaves them outside in the blackness of the world’s deepest night, to perish with all other workers of lawlessness.

 

[gordonhooker]

What I'm seeing so far is that the parable is not so much about giving to those in need, but about being prepared for the coming of the Lord's Kingdom. Am I getting it?

I suppose any discussion on when to give to those in need, and when not to, is for another post.

Yes it is about being prepared in my humble opinion.