Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the parable of the ten virgins, as another similitude of the kingdom of heaven, which required that they be prepared for the reception of the Bridegroom: “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’We read it in Mat 25.11-12, addressing the five foolish virgins. For 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. The foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. As the husband was late, all dozed off and fell asleep. It was normal human fatigue.
Now, in the middle of the night, they cried out: Here is the bridegroom, meet him! Then all these virgins awoke, and prepared their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered: No; there would not be enough for us and for you; rather go to those who sell it, and buy it for yourself.
Because not knowing the arrival time, they had planned a reserve of oil so as not to be caught off guard. And while the foolish were going to buy some, the bridegroom arrived; those who were ready entered the wedding hall with him, and the door was closed. Therefore later, when the other virgins came, and said, Lord, Lord, open to us, he answered, Truly I tell you, I do not know you. Then he concludes by saying: Watch therefore, since you know neither the day nor the hour.
This results from the fact that this state of affairs already existed during the time when the king was rejected, but when a testimony is given to him by those who received and know him. For the Lord Jesus presents the kingdom as ten virgins coming out to meet the bridegroom. This meeting, at weddings, as they are still celebrated in the East, takes place at night, the moment of the arrival of the bridegroom. It was therefore crucial to give her light to allow her to enter the wedding hall and it is to this service that virgins are called. And he alone grants the privilege of entering with the bridegroom to the wedding.
The wise virgins had taken oil in their vessels, for they were well aware of their service. They therefore represent those in Christendom who have the life of God, whose characters the Spirit makes shine in the moral night in which the world is until the return of Christ.
Believers, as well as unbelievers, have lost sight of the thought of Christ’s return. The sleeping influence of the night has had its effects on both of them, for it takes constant energy not to fall asleep, because it is unnatural to be awake at night. This requires an object to capture the heart. Now if this object is not Christ, the Christian quickly falls asleep; it follows the current of this world, which is natural to the flesh.
We must therefore get out of the state of sleep into which all of Christendom had fallen for lack of vigilance. The Bridegroom refuses to recognize the other virgins because they were in the dark. What did they have to do there since they had to light up with their lamps. This is why the delay which causes the lamps of the infidels to go out and to refuel themselves is enough for the wise to prepare themselves and take their place alone; and they then enter with the Bridegroom to the wedding feast.
This is why the Savior calls all those who welcomed the messengers and sympathized with them in their sufferings and persecutions “his sheep” to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world; for Jehovah God always had in sight the kingdom. They were blessed by the Father. They were not children who did not always understand their own relationship with their Father, but like the wise virgins, they were the subject of the blessing of the Heavenly Father. Furthermore, they were to enter into eternal life; for such was by grace the power of the Word which they had received into their hearts.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together for your understanding.
- The wise virgins and the foolish virgins
-True wisdom
# it’s the fear of God: Job 28.28 And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding”; Ps 111.10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
# this is the ultimate achievement: Pr 4.7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding; Pr 1.9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
# is to perceive divine truth: Hos 14.9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
# it’s to establish a solid foundation: Mt 7.24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock; 1 Co 2.6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
-The folly of men: Ps 49.14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions; Pr 18.13 To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
-Definition of true religion: Dt 10.12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul ; Rm 13.10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law; Jam 1.27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
-To be ready for the future: Mt 24.44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him; Luke 12:36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
-The consequences of deceiving yourself:
# the presumption: Ps 36.2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.
# spiritual slavery: Isa 44.20 Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
# inattentive hearing: James 1.22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
# a tongue without brake: James 1.26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
# bigotry: 1 Jn 1.8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
# spiritual poverty: Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
- Personal divine grace
-Not be ready for death and judgment:
Ec 9.12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them; Mt 24.38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; Mt 25.6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Luke 21.34-35“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
-Exhortations to men to engage in spiritual activities: Pr 23.23 Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well; Isa 55.1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost; Mt 25.9
-Responsibility is personal: Pr 9.12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer; Rm 14.4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand; Ga 6.5 for each one should carry their own load.
-The date of the second coming is unknown: Mt 24.27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man; Luke 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him”; 1 Th 5.2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
-The reasons for vigilance for the coming of Christ:
# the uncertainty of the time: Mt 25.13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour; Mk 13.33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
# a reward is promised to those who will watch: Luke 12:37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
# the sons of light will not sleep: 1 Th 5.5-6 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
# his coming is imminent: Rev 3.11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
# his appearance will be unexpected: Rev 16.15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
From all of the above, we note that only those who will be ready by preparing sufficiently will have shown that they have feared the Lord. Then these will become “his sheep” for they will have welcomed his messengers and sympathized with them in their troubles and persecutions. They will inherit like the wise virgins, the kingdom which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Because not knowing the time of arrival, they had planned a reserve of oil so as not to be caught off guard. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Our prayers support you all in your preparation to welcome the soon-coming Lord Jesus.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week the judgment of the Nations by the Son of man: “Then he will say to those who are on his left: Depart from me, you cursed; go into eternal fire …”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.