“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose 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, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Matthew 25: 1-12, NKJV.
Hear we are again Father, seeking Your blessing. May we be blessed by the Words of life that come to us through Your Word. This is our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This is perhaps the best known parable of the kingdom. It is our second parable, represented by a wedding. The common element that I find between this parable and yesterday’s, is that some people made good decisions while others did not. In yesterday’s parable, everyone received a wedding garment with the invitation, but one refused to wear it. In today’s parable, all ten virgins had an opportunity to purchase extra oil, but only five did. It is not as if the cards were stacked against anyone. Everyone, had an opportunity to be ready for the wedding, some made good use of their opportunity, while others did not.
There are several well known commonalities in this parable: All were virgins. All fell asleep. All were awaiting the bridegroom. All had lamps. All went out to meet the bridegroom.
The differences are: Some were wise, and some were foolish. Some had oil in their lamps, some had none. Some made provision for the journey, some did not. Some were on time for their appointment with the bridegroom. Some were late for their appointment.
Time was also a factor in this parable. “The bridegroom tarried.” At midnight His arrival was announced. This also introduces the idea of uncertainty; the lack of control over time. They all knew He was coming, but no one knew when. Obviously, no one thought that He would be “late.” It is usually the bride that is late.
But what might appear as late to those who are waiting, might not represent “lateness” for the bridegroom. After all, a day is as a thousand years, and one thousand years as a day (2 Peter 3: 8) in His sphere. He controls time. “He changes the times and the seasons” (Daniel 2: 21).
Because of this, His advice to His bride is: ““Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25: 13). This is the time to be ready, so that whenever the Bridegroom arrives, you will be waiting to “go out and meet Him.” Remember Jesus’ Words, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4: 17).