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We’re getting close to the end of Matthew now, and the parables have started to become a little more aggressive. This parable has some aspects that I think will comfort us, yet some will smack us in the face.

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 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. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’ (Matthew 25:1-13)

The picture

Let’s start out with a simple summary of what this parable’s talking about. ‘…the kingdom of heaven will be…’ – it’s about the future. The church is the bride of Christ (see Revelation 19:7,21:2, etc), and Jesus will one day return to ‘marry’ the church. Quite simply put, that’s what this parable is about: Jesus’ triumphant return, and the party it will herald!

Wise and foolish

The wise and foolish virgins, therefore, are those in the church. You and I count as either foolish, or wise. Which are you? The Bible tells us that ‘fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9:10), so the simple answer is that the wise virgins have the fear of the Lord. Note that fear of the Lord is the beginning; wisdom is a big topic, but you can’t even claim to have the tiniest amount of it if you have no fear of God! Fear of God is evidenced in a number of ways, but if I’d be concerned if I saw habitual sin, lack of commitment to a local church, lack of regular Bible reading, or lack of regular prayer. Make sure that you have the fear of God – if you don’t, you’ve not even started on the journey of wisdom, and are one of the foolish virgins.

Aren’t they being a bit selfish..?

Something surprising in this parable is that the wise virgins don’t share their oil; that doesn’t sound very nice! Aren’t Christians supposed to be nice? Well, yes we are, but that’s not what the parable’s saying. The reason the wise virgins wouldn’t share with the foolish ones is not because they didn’t want the foolish ones to benefit, but because if they had shared, neither the foolish nor the wise would have met the bridegroom: ‘there will not be enough for us and for you’. There is a warning. Of course we are meant to be nice, and share, and warn as many as possible that the bridegroom is coming soon, but if that means that we do not meet him, we should not become foolish ourselves. When you go out to the bar with your non-Christian friends do they end up convicted of their sin? Or do you end up having just one drink too many? Do you stand by your convictions and earn their respect? Or do you find your standards being questioned? Is sex before marriage that bad anyway? Don’t be foolish and just give away the oil to your lamp. Hold fast to it, that your light would shine bright in this dark world.

The foolish plea

Perhaps the most disturbing part of this parable, however, is the plea at the end. The foolish virgins cry out, ‘Lord, lord…’ but the bridegroom claims not to even know them; does that sound familiar? If you have a moment, look at Matthew 7:21-23, and my study of that here.

Next week we’ll be looking at my favourite parable, and one I’ve studied a lot for, so that will be exciting…then after that we start a brand new series. I’m excited.

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Things that go bump in the night