The Parable of the Ten Virgins

I. INTRODUCTION

A. In our last lesson from the parables, we considered whether we are prepared to enter the kingdom of heaven in the parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1-14).

B. In this lesson, we will further consider this theme with another parable in the setting of a wedding feast, which is the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-13.

II. GATHERING THE CONTEXT FROM MATTHEW 24

A. In the week leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus prophesied to His disciples of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem (Matt. 24:1-2).

1. When they pointed out the temple buildings to Him, He said, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

2. History records that the Romans did indeed utterly destroy the temple in 70 A.D.

B. In response, His disciples asked Him a question with three parts (Matt. 24:3).

1. When they asked this question, they were on the Mount of Olives with a full view of the temple.

2. They asked, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

C. Jesus answered the three parts of this question (Matt. 24:4-51).

1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, Jesus gave several indications.

a. He said that it would happen when 'the abomination of desolation" would be "standing in the holy place" as prophesied by Daniel (v. 15; see Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). This occurred when the Romans placed their ensigns in the temple.

b. Luke records that Christ identified this as the time when "you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" (Luke 21:20). This was fulfilled in the Roman siege.

c. The Lord gave a firm timeframe in verse 34 when He said, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."

2. Regarding the sign of His coming, Jesus said many things.

a. In verses 4-26, He warned of many false signs and false Christs.

b. In verses 27-31, He explained that the true signs of His coming would be unmistakable.

3. Concerning the end of the age, Jesus made a distinction and gave a separate answer.

a. It seems that His disciples were assuming that their question pertained to a single event. However, Jesus indicated that the end of the age was a different matter.

b. Notice His clear distinction in verse 36 -- "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

c. It is in the context of this part of Christ's answer that He gave the parable of the ten virgins. We will give further consideration to this answer along with our study of the parable.

III. THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

A. Consider the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).

1. This parable draws upon a custom of the Jews for weddings.

a. According to this custom, the bridegroom and his friends would come to the house of the bride late in the night.

b. At this house, the bride waited in expectation for his arrival, attended by her bride-maids, which are the ten virgins in this parable.

c. When the bridegroom approached, the bride-maids were to go out with lamps to light his way into the house, where the wedding would be celebrated with a great feast.

2. In the parable, five of the virgins were foolish, and five were prudent. Their foolishness or prudence was a matter or preparation.

a. The foolish virgins took no oil with them to wait for the bridegroom, but the prudent virgins took oil in flasks.

b. All of the virgins were asleep when the bridegroom came. None of them knew exactly when he would arrive. Thus, the prudence or foolishness of these virgins had nothing to do with knowing the exact time of the bridegroom's arrival.

c. When the call of the bridegroom's arrival came at midnight, the prudence or foolishness of each virgin was apparent. The prudent virgins came out to meet him with their lamps burning with oil. However, the foolish virgins were not there to meet him, for they had gone to acquire oil for their lamps.

d. When the foolish virgins returned, it was too late for them. The door to the house was shut, and when they begged for entrance, the bridegroom said, "I do not know you." They had not come out to meet him, so he did not recognize them.

3. This parable illustrates a certain truth about the kingdom of heaven.

a. The bridegroom represents Christ, whose will come at a time that is unknown to man.

b. The prudent virgins represent His faithful disciples, who will be prepared at all times for His return regardless of when He comes.

c. The foolish virgins represent those who will be unprepared when the Lord comes again. These persons know that He is coming, but they do not prepare themselves according to the wisdom of God's word.

d. The moral of the parable is given in verse 13 -- "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."

B. The context of Matthew 24 gives further insight into the meaning of this parable.

1. Jesus illustrated the need to be prepared for His coming with several comparisons.

a. In verses 37-39, the Lord said His coming will be like the flood in the days of Noah. Of those who perished, He said, "And they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

b. In verse 43, He compared His coming to that of a thief, saying, "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into."

c. In verses 45-51, He illustrated His coming with two slaves.

i. One was faithful to his master's charge and was rewarded when his master came and found him acting faithfully.

ii. The other assumed his master would not come for a long time, and he misbehaved. Jesus said, "The master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

2. The Lord's repeated instructions for His disciples to be ready emphasize the importance of being prepared for His coming at all times.

a. In verse 42, He said, "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."

b. In verse 44, He likewise said, "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."

c. This is the same lesson that is taught in the parable of the ten virgins, which Jesus stated in Matthew 25:13 -- "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."

IV. CONCLUSION

A. How foolish also are those who attempt to predict the time of His coming when He has said so plainly that we cannot know the time. No one on earth can know when He will come.

B. How foolish are those who are unprepared even now for the return of our Lord Jesus.

1. These fools are described in 1Thessalonians 5:3 -- While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

2. Like the foolish virgins who were left outside, "These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2Thess. 1:9).

C. How wise are those who prepare themselves for His coming in faithful obedience to His gospel.

1. Consider 1Thessalonians 5:1-2, 4-6 -- Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night....But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

2. Let us therefore be wise in our preparation with "holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2Pet. 3:11-12).