Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives

The Wise And The Foolish Virgins

by Micky Galloway

In Matthew 25: 1-13, following Jesus’ discourse on the Mount of Olives, we find another parable. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.” Scholars have debated over whether the discourse of Matthew 24 pertains strictly to the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in AD 70, strictly to the second coming of Christ or to both events. Whichever it might be, in the final analysis the parable of “The Wise And The Foolish Virgins” has important lessons to be learned. Even if Matthew 24 pertains solely to the destruction of Jerusalem, other passages in the New Testament teach the second coming of the Lord, and we need to be watchful for that great event! The apostle Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in (all) holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight” (II Peter 3:10-14). Let us examine the parable and see what Jesus taught.

Facts to be considered:

Ten virgins go out with lamps to await the arrival of the bridegroom. Five foolish virgins take no extra oil, the five wise virgins do take extra oil. The bridegroom is delayed in his coming. When the bridegroom's arrival is announced, and the virgins trim their lamps, the foolish virgins find that their oil is running out. They plead with the wise virgins to share their oil, but the wise virgins refuse, saying there is not enough. As the foolish virgins go to get some oil, the bridegroom comes and those prepared go in with him to the wedding, and the door is shut. The foolish virgins return, but they are not allowed in! The door is shut!

The meaning of the parable:

The lesson is evident from the context. In Jesus' comments leading up to this parable He said, “Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42-44). At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). There is constant need to be watchful, for no one knows the moment when the Lord is coming! “Preparedness is essential, for the time is coming when getting ready will no longer be possible; the door will be shut” (Hendriksen's Commentary, page 875). This message is repeated over and over in the New Testament (cf. I Thessalonians 5:1-6; II Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 3:2-3).

The application of the parable:

Christians are like the virgins waiting for the coming of the bridegroom. Some are wise and some are foolish. The wise diligently prepare themselves for the Master's coming, heeding the call to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:11-18; cf. 1:5-8), knowing the dangers that lie ahead. For them, the day of the Lord’s coming will be a blessing (II Peter 1:10-11). The foolish however, know the Lord is coming, but make no preparation. They do not continue in faithfulness. Perhaps they reason, “My lord tarrieth” (Matthew 24:48) and act accordingly. Jesus warned what will happen to such evil servants. Are we like the wise virgins, or the foolish ones?

We must not trust in past accomplishments. The foolish virgins did have “some” oil (Matthew 25:8), but foolishly trusted that past preparations were enough. We must not foolishly depend upon what we have done in the past, but must “press on … forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before” (Philippians 3:12-13).

The preparedness of others is not transferable. The wise virgins could not share their oil with the foolish virgins. “Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:9). The wise virgins were not being selfish, but acknowledged reality. Neither can we impart what salvation we have received to someone else. Such preparedness is uniquely individual (cf. Psalms 49:7; Proverbs 9:12). Do not think that we can be saved on the coat tails of someone else. It did not work for the Jews (cf. Jeremiah 7:4-7) and it will not work for us. Each of us must have our own name written in the Book of Life (cf. Revelation 20:12-15). Are you foolishly trusting in your relationship with someone else for your salvation (a parent, a spouse, a church, etc.)?

Those unprepared did not receive a second chance, “the door was shut.” They pleaded and begged, but the foolish virgins were not permitted to go in. When the Lord comes again, the time for salvation is gone! Paul wrote, “behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2).

This parable teaches that a great day is coming, a day in which those in the kingdom will either find themselves prepared and faithfully watching for His coming or among those who were not prepared. To the prepared the Lord will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord” … “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:21,34). To the unprepared however, He will say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

If the Lord were to come today, would He find you watching? Would He find you prepared? “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).

Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin plus article archives