The Parable of the Ten Virgins Are We Ready?

[HKHaugan]

Matthew 25:1-13

The context is the end of time as we know it and the return of Jesus. The theme is preparation for His return. But it is also something else that has to do with right now. What is the goal and substance of that preparation? You'll have to have the parable in front of you as your read this.

Let's take it a section at a time:

“At that time” refers obviously to the moment of the Lord's return but suppose we are in a situation of conflict or one where a person has a need or another has a question about faith, could we consider that a moment when He returns? If He is already in our heart then it is a matter of focus isn't it? Each next moment is a moment that He returns to our consciousness. He never leaves us. We may leave Him but He never leaves us. His grace and truth cover us from the moment we accept Him. So we know how we approached the next moment and what we did but what happened at the end of that moment? Apply this thought to the last event, the last encounter with another person, the reaction to something unexpected? What happened at the end of that experience? Let's see what the parable is saying.

“At that time the Kingdom will be like...” At every next moment, which is every future moment, the Kingdom will be like...which means there is an unseen but real experience about to take place. We are being called to expect, anticipate and look forward to the Lord doing something special in that moment regardless of its content. He will reveal Himself.

“At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins....” The idea of virgin (parthenos in Grk.) is not so much about sexual innocence as it is about the expectation and anticipation of being completely loved which is the point of physical contact, about saving and giving the expression of invisible love in a physical context. And that is not limited to sexual experience but to the complete bodily interchange of affection from gift giving to seeing to one another's needs, physical, emotional and spiritual. In this case it is likened to the Body of Christ eagerly awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus. The first coming was to reveal Himself as the bridegroom and the second coming was for His bride, to celebrate and take her home. This is pointing to the faithful community of His people, the ultimate wedding ceremony.

“At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” The word 'like' immediately signifies something spiritual is about to happen. This is the central focus of the parable, the ten virgins looking forward to light the way for the bridegroom to share in the joy of joining and marrying his bride to be.

The ten virgins are looking forward to their own completion as lovers and loving. They have been taught what it means to be married so they enjoy doing everything they can to make those ahead of them have the best possible ceremony. Beside their other activities the virgins knew the bridegroom's arrival needed a lighted path. The lamp was their light. But what does that mean spiritually? What about the lamp that provides the light? “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Ps.119:105).” Keep that in mind as we continue.

Now comes the nub of the parable. There's good news and there's bad. There were 10 excited virgins. That's good news. Five were foolish. That's the bad. Consider the numbers. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. Five is the number of the books of Moses, the Torah, Genesis to Deuteronomy, the Law of God. The foolish ones signify those who have the Word but don’t take it seriously. The wise ones represent those who live by “...every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt.4:4).” They were forward looking, anticipating and expectant.

But due to the bridegroom's delay all ten fell asleep. Then came the midnight cry, “He's here!” which wakened them. Apparently all the lamps went out while they slept. The 'bad news' virgins didn't take extra oil to relight their lamps so they asked the 'good news' virgins for some of theirs. But sleep wasn't a problem for the 'good news' virgins. They had prepared with the right amount to cover what was necessary to light the way. The 'bad news' ones scurried off to find oil but arrived at the wedding banquet late and the door was closed. The oil here is the issue, isn't it? What does the word 'oil' signify? In the Bible oil points to the presence of the Holy Spirit, His anointing and power. He makes the Word of God come alive for us.

Combine the Word with the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit and His gift of wisdom is what makes the 'good news' virgins awake, ready to serve and light the way for the bridegroom who would lead them into the banquet celebration. But the 'bad news' virgins knocked and the only reply they got was “I don't know you.”

Looking at it more closely the 'bad news' virgins hadn't considered four things. First, it was night time and it's always night time in a God-less world isn't it? Second, the bridegroom might arrive late so extra oil will be needed. Third, they didn't take their role seriously enough. They hadn't prepared properly. Fourth, they could only attend if they had come in the company of the bridegroom. With the Holy Spirit you are always conscious of the presence of the Lord. Prompting us to think spiritually with Jesus at the center is the Spirit's role in our lives. That's why Paul writes, “Continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph.5:18).” The 'good news' virgins signify the kind of wisdom that takes those four things into account and implores us to do the same.

This close look also includes what it means for us. First, we are living in the end times which started the moment Jesus was born into this world. Second, we are more in need of keeping His return before us since we are one day closer than yesterday to His return. Third, we need to look at what it means to be prepared for His coming. Fourth, we need more than ever to take the Word and make it our daily meal. “Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest' it.

When you see the specifics of this parable several things stand out. First, preparation. That is an attitude. How do we feel about preparation? As we assess our attitude about our spiritual future are we preparing for it by being ready to welcome Him? It really is attitudinal isn't it? That means our heart is looking forward to His return. Looking forward depends on how we are serving Him while we wait. In Matthew 24-27 Jesus tells His disciples seven times to keep watch. How do we keep watch? Through service. Is our attitude geared to spiritual preparation for His return?

Servants should be busy serving (24:45). But service requires spiritual power and the insights it brings. This is why oil is the operative fuel here. If oil signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit and His anointing then having sufficient oil includes the Spirit's inspiration through the Word. Knowing the Lord more and more is the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart and mind.

True service is making one's self available to talk about Jesus when the Spirit leads. It is looking forward to the opportunity to share Him in conversation and wherever a need emerges. Both are Spirit led. Both come with the Spirit's anointing. Both come by that anointing making you aware of spiritual and emotional needs in every next moment. Both arrive because of the Lord's presence in our heart. Both come by our spirit being stirred in faith to just be for Jesus wherever we are.

Faith in action is the key. At the end of the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:8) Jesus lays out the fundamental thing He's looking for when He returns, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Faith in action; the servant serving in ministry and mission, exercising spiritual gifts and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, giving personal testimony and tending to the needs and interests of others, therein is the burning oil giving light in the darkness. And we know that the Lord is accompanying us in our hearts on the way to the wedding banquet. Then He will appear in His glory to greet us. Looking forward is to live every day serving Him in some way to light the path that leads to Him and then to walk with Him and follow Him. Along the way we pray in the light of Revelation's closing with John's words in the Spirit, “Come, Lord Jesus (Rev.22:20).”