Ten Virgins

I want to take a look at an interesting parable told by Jesus: the parable of the ten virgins.

It is the second-to-last parable Jesus tells his disciples, as recorded in the gospel account of Matthew. This was only a few days before the Passover when he would be crucified, and it was spoken privately to his disciples when they came to him on the Mount of Olives to ask him about the sign of his coming and the end of the age.

Jesus spoke:
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
[Matthew 25:1-11]

This is speaking about those who are awaiting the return of the Bridegroom, meaning the second coming of Christ.
I believe the ten virgins could represent the ten largest expressions of Christendom throughout the world: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostalism, Anglicanism/Episcopal, Baptist, Reformed/Calvinist, Lutheranism, Methodism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Non-Denominational. Of course, there are others, but these are the largest branches of the Christian faith globally. All believe in the risen Christ, and all are awaiting His return.

Something I want to point out is how it says, “they all became drowsy and slept.” This represents spiritual slumber, and it came upon all of them. It says the five foolish took no oil, but the five wise took flasks of oil with them. Biblically, oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit, meaning intimacy with God the Father. It reminds me of Jesus’ words during the Sermon on the Mount: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” [Matthew 6:6]. But what I have always found interesting and, frankly, alarming, is the fact that all of them were waiting for Him, all of them called Him ‘Lord’, yet not all of them went into the marriage feast. He said, “I do not know you.” The foolish virgins having no oil doesn’t mean they lacked knowledge or information about Jesus as the Bridegroom; it means they were not developing an intimate and vulnerable relationship with Him in secret. They did not make their own hearts known to Him, which is why He says, “I do not know you.” Notice He didn’t say, “You don’t know me,” but “I don’t know you,” because you can only be known if you make yourself known.

I want to draw your attention to one more section which is almost always overlooked in this short parable: “But at midnight there was a cry…” Of course, midnight represents the darkness of night, perhaps the overwhelming darkness of the world that the Church has become spiritually sleepy within, but we are not told who cried out at midnight. Clearly, the cry came from a source that was not asleep. It could be a remnant of believers who have remained spiritually awake in the midst of deep slumber, sent to remind the Church that the Bridegroom is coming soon — we are only told there is a cry at midnight, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Jesus ends the parable by telling His disciples, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
To watch is to remain awake, to remain alert, to keep our eyes open, and we do this by prayer and intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”