The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

Jesus taught a great many parables, one of these is the parable of the ten virgins. Space does not permit us here to reproduce the entire text here so please read in your Bibles Matthew 25:1-13. The immediate context of this passage is to do with the second coming of Christ and the main message is that we ALL have to be prepared, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:13.
In this parable the ten virgins are divided into two classes, “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” Matthew 25:2. When Jesus spoke about virgins in this parable it is clear that he is talking about those who are not stained by the world – Christians. In what way were some wise and others foolish? The wise ones were those who were prepared, “the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” Matt 25:4. As Christians we are told to let our lights shine for all the world to see, Matthew 5:16. The foolish virgins did not have enough fuel to ensure that their lights remained burning. Their lights were going out and a result they were not ready when the bridegroom came.

There are some today that think that once we become Christians we will automatically retain our saved state – we can not fall from grace. The Parable of the ten virgins teaches us that this idea is false! The five foolish virgins were not permitted into the wedding feast. This passage is in direct parallel with Matthew 7:21-23, 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

It has been 2000 years or so since Jesus was on the earth – many have said that the wait has been too long, many have given up hope. As we live our lives as Christians there can be times when we feel that we can’t go on, that our lamps are going out. We have to ensure that this does not happen. We need to refuel ourselves with that which caused us to first believe – the word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
It is our faith that fuels our lamps and keeps the light shining. Our faith comes from the word of God. We need to ensure we have sufficient faith to wait the long night – we need to continually feed ourselves on the word of God.

Are you prepared? Do you have enough faith? Which will you be when the Bridegroom comes, wise or foolish? Think about it.