The Parable of the 10 Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13, Phillips)
1 "IN those days the kingdom of Heaven will be like ten brides-maids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bride-groom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4 But the sensible ones brought their lamps and oil in their flasks as well.
5 Then, as the bridegroom was a very long time, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
6 But in the middle of the night there came a shout, ‘Wake up, here comes the bridegroom! Out you go to meet him!’
7 Then up got all the bridesmaids and attended to their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Please give us some of your oil—our lamps are going out!’
9 ‘Oh, no,’ returned the sensible ones, ‘there might not be enough for all of us. Better go to the oil-shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 But while they had gone off to buy the oil the bridegroom arrived, and those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him for the festivities and the door was shut behind them.
11 Later on the rest of the bridesmaids came and said, ‘Oh, please, sir, open the door for us!’
12 But he replied, ‘I tell you I don’t know you!’
13 So be on the alert—for you do not know the day or the time.
Comparing the Virgins -- Similarities
Comparing the Virgins -- Differences
What is the Oil?
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
Oil. This symbolizes the Holy Spirit (COL 408; see Zech. 4:1–14), of which the church members here represented are destitute. They are familiar with the theory of the truth, but the gospel has effected no change in their lives. 1
Believer's Bible Commentary
The five wise virgins represent true disciples of Christ in the Tribulation. The lamps speak of profession, and oil is generally acknowledged to be a type of the Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins represent those who profess to hold the Messianic hope but who have never been converted and thus do not have the Holy Spirit. The bridegroom is Christ, the King; His delay symbolizes the period between His two Advents. The fact that all ten virgins slept shows that outwardly there was not much to differentiate them. 2
Thru the Bible
Notice that both the wise and the foolish virgins slept. The difference in them was that some had the Holy Spirit (represented by the oil) and some did not—because they were not genuine believers. 3
Exposition to the Gospel According to Matthew
3. Them that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
They may have thought that, if they had lamps that were similar to those carried by others, it would be sufficient. Perhaps they judged that the secret store of oil, being unseen, was unnecessary. They were willing to carry a lamp in one hand; but to devote the other hand to the care of an oil-flask, was more than they were willing to do. It is the want of the oil of grace that is the fatal flaw in many a professor's lamp. Many have a name to live, but have not the life of God within their souls. They make a profession of attachment to Christ, but they have not the inward supply of the Spirit of grace to keep it up. There is a glitter or a flash, but there is no permanent light, and there cannot be any, for although they have "lamps", they have "no oil with them."4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
They had oil in their lamps, and oil with their lamps. Lamps are of no use without oil; yet the oil needs the lamp, or it will not be used. Grace should reveal its presence, faith in Christ should be avowed; but it is worse than useless to make a profession of love to Christ, unless there is a secret store of grace by which the external part of religion may be maintained even before the all searching eye of the King himself. Unless the Spirit of God be in us, indeed, and of a truth, we may for a while make a fair show in the flesh, but the end will be the blackness of darkness for ever. 4
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
These did not see that it was necessary to have oil in their vessels, (the salvation of God in their souls,) as well as a burning lamp of religious profession, Matthew 25:3, 4. 5
Easton's Revised Bible Dictionary
Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes:
- for anointing the body or the hair #Ex 29:7 2Sa 14:2 Ps 23:5 92:10 #Ps 104:15 Lu 7:46
- in some of the offerings #Ex 29:40 Le 7:12 Nu 6:15 15:4
- but was excluded from the sin-offering #Le 5:11 and the jealousy-offering #Nu 5:15
- for burning in lamps #Ex 25:6 27:20 Mt 25:3
- for medicinal purposes #Isa 1:6 Lu 10:34 Jas 5:14
- for anointing the dead #Mt 26:12 Lu 23:56 6
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Secondly, It was the wisdom of the wise virgins, that they took oil in their vessels with their lamps, v. 4. They had a good principle within, which would maintain and keep up their profession. 1. The heart is the vessel, which it is our wisdom to get furnished; for, out of a good treasure there, good things must be brought; but if that root be rottenness, the blossom will be dust. 2. Grace is the oil which we must have in this vessel; in the tabernacle there was constant provision made of oil for the light, Ex. 35:14. Our light must shine before men in good works, but this cannot be, or not long, unless there be a fixed active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ, and love to God and our brethren, from which we must act in every thing we do in religion, with an eye to what is before us. They that took oil in their vessels, did it upon supposition that perhaps the bridegroom might tarry. Note, In looking forward it is good to prepare for the worst, to lay in for a long siege. But remember that this oil which keeps the lamps burning, is derived to the candlestick from Jesus Christ, the great and good Olive, by the golden pipes of the ordinances, as it is represented in that vision (Zec. 4:2, 3, 12), which is explained Jn. 1:16, Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 7
What is the oil? It appears to be something that the foolish have some (but not enough of). Would that be the Holy Spirit? "Salvation of God in their souls"? Grace?
Whatever it is, can it be shared? If so, were the wise virgins being selfish? If not, why can't it be shared?
Preparation
Clearly one set of maidens were prepared, and another were not. What must we do to be prepared?
What might inhibit our preparation?
How do we keep our eyes on God?
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31, NIV)
Preparation -- Knowing God
But he replied, "I tell you I don't know you!" (Matthew 25:12, Phillips)
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord." (Genesis 4:1, ESV)
3609 οἰκεῖος [oikeios /oy·ki·os/] adj. From 3624; TDNT 5:134; TDNTA 674; GK 3858; Three occurrences; AV translates as “of the household” twice, and “of (one’s) own house” once. 1 belonging to a house or family, domestic, intimate. 1a belonging to one’s household, related by blood, kindred. 1b belonging to the household of God. 1c belonging, devoted to, adherents of a thing. 8
3045 דָּעָה, יָדַע [yada` /yaw·dah/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 848; GK 1977 and 3359; 947 occurrences; AV translates as “know” 645 times, “known” 105 times, “knowledge” 19 times, “perceive” 18 times, “shew” 17 times, “tell” eight times, “wist” seven times, “understand” seven times, “certainly” seven times, “acknowledge” six times, “acquaintance” six times, “consider” six times, “declare” six times, “teach” five times, and translated miscellaneously 85 times. 1 to know. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to know. 1a1a to know, learn to know. 1a1b to perceive. 1a1c to perceive and see, find out and discern. 1a1d to discriminate, distinguish. 1a1e to know by experience. 1a1f to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess. 1a1g to consider. 1a2 to know, be acquainted with. 1a3 to know (a person carnally). 1a4 to know how, be skilful in. 1a5 to have knowledge, be wise. 1b (Niphal). 1b1 to be made known, be or become known, be revealed. 1b2 to make oneself known. 1b3 to be perceived. 1b4 to be instructed. 1c (Piel) to cause to know. 1d (Poal) to cause to know. 1e (Pual). 1e1 to be known. 1e2 known, one known, acquaintance (participle). 1f (Hiphil) to make known, declare. 1g (Hophal) to be made known. 1h (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself. 8
See also Matthew 7:20-23
What does it mean to be "known" by God? Is it that God doesn't know us? Or could it be that we don't know God?
How does this "knowledge" of God fit into the Great Controversy? Why did Jesus come to this earth?
God Made Manifest in Christ (Complete article)
Christ came to represent the Father. We behold in him the image of the invisible God. He clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to the world that the erroneous ideas Satan had been the means of creating in the minds of men, in regard to the character of God, might be removed...
The Father was revealed in Christ as altogether a different being from that which Satan had represented him to be. 9
Would the Father have behaved any differently?
Had God the Father come to our world and dwelt among us, humbling Himself, veiling His glory, that humanity might look upon Him, the history that we have of the life of Christ would not have been changed. . . . In every act of Jesus, in every lesson of His instruction, we are to see and hear and recognize God. In sight, in hearing, in effect, it is the voice and movements of the Father. 10
If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the father...
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" (John 14:6-9, NIV)
"If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." (John 15:24-26, NIV)
Do you know God?
Are you an "almost Christian"?
Believing unbeliever
Unrepenting repenter
The remain unchanged new creature
You say you love your neighbor and love God
And claim sincerity of heart
And yet, you're so close, but so far
You are the almost Christian....
But all our righteousness is filthy rags before Him
We're redeemed by His Grace alone 11
Are you ready for Christ's return?
©2002 Alan Fahrner (with credit to the "Living the Advent Hope" adult Sabbath School quarterly for the general theme and some of the individual points I chose to cover).
1 Nichol, F. D. (1978;2002). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 5;SDABC5 (Page 508). Review and Herald Publishing Association.
2 MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Mt 25:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3 McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (Vol. 4, Page 135). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
4 Charles H. Spurgeon, Popular Exposition to The Gospel according to Matthew
5 Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
6 Easton, Easton's Revised Bible Dictionary
7 Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Mt 25:1). Peabody: Hendrickson.
8 Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
9 "God Made Manifest in Christ" by Ellen White, Signs of the Times, September 20, 1890
10 White, E. G. (1964;2002). That I May Know Him;TMK (Page 338). Review and Herald Publishing Association.
11 Camp, Steve. "The Almost Christian", from Desiring God, 2002