{"id":325,"date":"2025-05-08T15:37:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T19:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=325"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:16:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:16:54","slug":"the-parable-of-the-ten-virgins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=325","title":{"rendered":"The Parable of the Ten Virgins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 <\/em>Text: Matthew 25:1\u201313<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mt 25:1 ESV \u201cThen the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, \u2018Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.\u2019 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed (kosme? \u2013 root of cosmetic) their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, \u2018Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out (sbennymi \u2013 extinguished). 9 But the wise answered, saying, \u2018Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.\u2019 10 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. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, \u2018Lord, lord, open to us.\u2019 12 But he answered, \u2018Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.\u2019 13 Watch (gr?gore? \u2013 pay careful attention to \u2013 Also Rev. 3:2 to the church as Sardis \u2013 \u201cbe watchful\u201d) therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are looking at a solemn text concerning the state of the church visible \u2013 hence the term \u201ckingdom of heaven\u201d which is used elsewhere. In fact, Matthew uses this term 32 times \u2013 in some cases it describes the future kingdom, but here it describes the church visible. In the future state there are no fools in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could dwell on the potential eschatological (end times) implications, but I will not spend but a moment there. God\u2019s Word is calling for a singular return of Christ which I see evidenced here unlike doctrine of dispensationalists, and that is where I leave it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parable of the ten virgins is a mirror held up to the end-time church since we now live in the end times. The puritan pastor Thomas Shepard in 1600 felt the parable was so important, he preached four years on it, and the short sermon notes are found in his book \u201cThe Parable of the Ten Virgins\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A Visible Church with an Invisible Reality<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins\u2026\u201d v1<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first words \u201cthen shall the kingdom be likened\u201d critically links chapter 25 back to chapter 24, so we need to understand the parable in context. In Chapter 24 of Matthew, the disciples asked a number of questions, one of which would be signs of the end. There are many indicators of end times which I will not concern myself with here. The first thing in chapter 24 Jesus says to His disciples is: \u201cTake heed that no man deceive you\u201d in verse 4. As the world grows old and the return of Christ draws nearer, deception will grow worse, and the deceivers will become more adept at their craft of deception \u2013 and the worst deception is the deception of one\u2019s self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These ten virgins represent \u201cprofessing\u201d believers. Those in the parable are church people. Our own church is a microcosm of the kingdom of heaven. They show up every Sunday, sing the songs, raise their hands in \u201cworship\u201d, give to the work of church, they\u2019re cordial and nice to everyone. In that culture, a virgin\u2019s effort was very particular \u2013 actions, dress, activity, company they kept. They wanted to be pleasing both to the bridegroom and to their peers. They were not unconcerned about their lives. The people you want as next door neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They all went forth to meet the bridegroom. All awaited His coming. All had lamps \u2013 symbols of their visible religion, of their professed desire to welcome the bridegroom. These were not people just \u201cplaying church\u201d \u2013 they were serious about their religion, yet you can\u2019t tell one from the other. They were not drunk, coarse or rude, scoffers \/ athiests, but they were \u201cvirgins\u201d \u2013 symbols of purity, separated from the world. And yet, five were wise, and five were foolish.<\/em> This is Christ\u2019s division \u2013 not man\u2019s. What was the difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wise took oil with them<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 the foolish did not. V3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearly the \u201clamp\u201d represents \u201cChristian profession\u201d; the \u201coil\u201d, possession of an internal change \/ salvation. One is outward; the other, inward just like the \u201ccall of God\u201d \u2013 one is external (preaching, etc.) and the other is internal (from the Holy Spirit). The foolish had no oil \u2013 no true grace, no Spirit of God, no abiding life within. I cannot see your oil, but God does. Make certain you are not deceived – that you think you have oil – when you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with no \u201coil\u201d had religion but not regeneration \/ no new birth. Activity without anointing. Doctrine without deliverance. Church attendance, but no change of heart. They looked the part. If you saw them at church, you wouldn\u2019t know the difference between those virgins. They all looked good and righteous. But God knew. And midnight revealed it. Consider that Judas Iscariot was a \u201creligious\u201d person according to scripture. Let\u2019s look at Judas for a moment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n