Holy Bible Online 
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus illustrates the importance of being prepared for His return: five wise virgins, with extra oil for their lamps, enter the wedding feast with the bridegroom, while five foolish virgins, lacking enough oil, are left outside because they were not ready in time. Through this story, Christ warns us to be ready for His arrival.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
- Matthew 25:1-13
Explanation of the Parable of the Ten Virgins
The Parable of the Ten Virgins was told by Jesus in Matthew 25:1-13, during His sermon on the Mount of Olives, where He spoke about the end times and His second coming.
The ten virgins represent believers waiting for the arrival of Christ, the bridegroom. The five wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps, symbolizing preparation and vigilance. The five foolish virgins, on the other hand, did not bring enough oil, symbolizing negligence and lack of preparation.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins teaches the importance of continuous preparation for Christ's coming, emphasizing that we must keep our faith active and our spirit ready. It also highlights vigilance, as we do not know the day or hour of His arrival.
Additionally, the parable warns of the consequences of negligence, showing that those who fail to prepare may lose the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
What the Characters and Symbols Represent in the Parable
-
The Ten Virgins: Humanity, human beings. Everyone, in one way or another, has the testimony of God, evidence that He exists. For example, they have evidence of His creative power in nature and in everything around them.
-
The Wise Virgins: They represent those who have heard the message of salvation through Jesus, have believed and accepted it, and try to live holy lives. They are guided by the Holy Spirit, biblical teachings, and obey God.
-
The Foolish Virgins: These are people who have heard the gospel but do not want to commit. Some sympathize with the teachings of Jesus but have not taken the step of accepting Him as Lord and Savior because they are unsure about changing their lives. Others reject it outright.
-
The Bridegroom: The bridegroom represents Jesus. Just as the bride and guests eagerly and joyfully await the arrival of the bridegroom to celebrate the wedding, we must wait for the return of Jesus. He will return, and we must be ready to be with Him forever.
-
The Wedding: The wedding feast refers to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation 19. The moment when Christ will gather His church (the bride) to be together for eternity. It will be a day of joy, happiness, and celebration for all who have placed their hope in Jesus.
-
The Time Waiting for the Bridegroom: The time we are in now, longing for the return of Jesus. We must remain alert because at any moment our time may end. Jesus will return and take those who are prepared with Him.
-
The Lamps: The lamps are used to carry light, and we, the children of God, are expected to carry His light wherever we go. First, we are filled with His oil (His presence, the Holy Spirit), so we can shine and light up the place where we are.
-
The Oil: The Holy Spirit, the presence of God in the life of the believer, His saving grace in us.
Key Lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins
The Importance of Spiritual Preparation: This parable highlights the need to keep faith alive and active, emphasizing that we must always be spiritually prepared.
The Need for Constant Vigilance: It reinforces the importance of being attentive and watchful for the signs of Christ's return, maintaining a constant readiness, without knowing the exact moment of His arrival.
The Dangers of Spiritual Negligence: It teaches the serious consequences of not being prepared for Christ's return, showing that negligence can result in losing the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Personal Responsibility in Faith: The parable emphasizes individual faith, that each believer is responsible for their own spiritual readiness. The wise virgins did not share their oil with the foolish ones, teaching that faith cannot be transferred; it must be developed individually.
The Urgency of Preparation: The closing of the door highlights the urgency of being spiritually ready at all times.
The High Cost of Delay: The foolish virgins' decision to delay their preparations resulted in them missing the opportunity to join the wedding feast. This teaches the danger of procrastination in spiritual matters—waiting too long to commit to a life of faith can result in missed blessings.
Eternal Joy vs. Eternal Loss: The parable reminds believers of the eternal significance of their spiritual choices - those who are prepared will experience the eternal joy of God's presence, while those unprepared face eternal sorrow.
You may also be interested in: