The Parable of the Ten Virgins




Jesus Tells the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids—Matthew 25:1-13 / 204 Jesus told the following parables to clarify further what it means to be spiritually vigilant—ready for his return and how to live until he comes. The ten bridesmaids (25:1-13) teach that every person is responsible for his or her own spiritual condition. The story of the talents (25:14-30) shows the necessity of using well what God has entrusted to us. The parable of the sheep and goats (25:31-46) stresses the importance of serving others in need. No parable by itself completely describes our preparation. Instead, each presents one part of the whole picture

Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.” (nrsv) The word “then” reminds us that this parable ties in with Jesus’ words about his return (see chapter 24). This parable about a wedding describes the need for readiness for the kingdom and explains that some will be included while others will not. Wedding customs differed from village to village in ancient Israel, but all weddings included the processional of the bridegroom to the bride’s family home. The wedding day would be spent in dancing and celebrating, concluding with the wedding feast at dusk. The bride would be accompanied with torches to the bridegroom’s house for this feast. These ten bridesmaids (also called “virgins” because they were unmarried) were going out to meet the bridegroom, who was coming to the bride’s home to join the procession back to his house for the ceremony and the wedding banquet. This happened after dark, and in villages and towns without streetlights, these torches lit the way (the Greek word translated “lamps” means torches, not lanterns). Everyone was required to carry his or her own “lamp”; those who didn’t have one were considered party crashers—those who had not been invited.

Matthew 25:2-4 “Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” (nrsv) The foolish bridesmaids were unprepared; they took no oil with them. If their lamps burned out, they would be unable to light them again. The wise bridesmaids had brought along flasks of oil, so they were prepared to relight their lamps if necessary. As with any parable, the details ought not to be pressed. For example, that there were five wise bridesmaids and five foolish ones does not mean that half the world will be saved. The parable simply establishes two categories, for there will be only two—those who believe and receive the king, and those who do not.

Matthew 25:5-7 “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.” (niv) During the long wait, the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep. Again this need not be taken as an allegory; their sleep was not condemned, because both the wise and the foolish slept. “Sleep” simply illustrates the long time they waited for the bridegroom. The second coming of Jesus will be delayed, as Jesus has already alluded to many times. It will be a longer wait than anyone (especially Jesus’ first disciples) expected. The difference was that one group had made preparations early; the other group waited until the last minute, and then it was too late. Finally at midnight, the bridegroom arrived. Everyone woke up and trimmed their lamps in anticipation of the procession. (The word translated “trimmed their lamps,” kosmeo, means “put in order” and could refer to preparing their torches, which were usually made with rags soaked in oil.)

Matthew 25:8-9 “The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’” (nrsv) The foolish bridesmaids realized that their torches were burning low (going out) and that they would need more oil to raise the flame higher. But the wise bridesmaids explained that they didn’t have enough to share. This was not selfishness, but rather the realization that if they shared their little oil, then all the torches would burn low and there would not be enough light for the wedding procession. They needed all their oil to make their torches burn brightly enough. The suggestion to go to the dealers and buy some at midnight was not that unusual. A wedding procession, especially in the small villages of Israel, might cause the whole town to be up and about. The foolish women were able to buy oil at this late hour. However, Jesus’ focus was on their unpreparedness and on engaging in secular pursuits at the moment of spiritual need. When Jesus returns to take his people to heaven, we must be ready. Spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute. No one can rely on anyone else. Our relationship with God must be our own.

Matthew 25:10-12 “And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.” (nrsv) While the foolish bridesmaids were off trying to get ready for the bridegroom’s arrival, he came. Everyone proceeded on to the wedding banquet. The central focus of the parable lies in the words “and the door was shut.” Jesus’ point again is that to not be ready at the right time means to miss out completely. Jesus explained, “Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’” (nrsv) There is a finality to the shutting of that door. Those outside will not have another chance to be let in. To have been “part of the party” will not be enough. Unless correct preparations are made, some will still lose out.

Too Late In Jesus’ story, the young women missed their opportunity. They were foolish and unprepared, and they refused to think ahead. Surely at a real wedding they would have been admitted. But in this case, with this lord, there was a limit. When God orders the gates of heaven sealed, cries from the outside will be as futile as planting corn in the Sahara Desert. Don’t be late. Tell God today that you want to follow Jesus, to be his disciple, to serve him with all your energy. Don’t presume on God’s goodness; embrace it now.

Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (niv) Jesus concluded with the application that his true followers must keep watch and be ready because he will return when they will least expect it. God may delay his return longer than we might prefer or expect. We must be prepared for such a delay—counting the cost of discipleship and persevering faithfully until he returns. Those who are unfaithful must realize that neglecting Christ’s invitation may lead to irreversible consequences and the time of opportunity to believe may pass. In the following parable, Jesus described how we are to “keep watch.”