Gospels In Harmony – The Ten Virgins

Mat 25:1-13

[Study Aired August 31, 2021]

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

In this study Christ is continuing to speak in parables about the kingdom of God and His return. The parable is about what is within each of us. We are the ten virgins being prepared as the bride of Christ. Here is the first verses.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

The ten virgins are us when Christ first enters our hearts and minds, ten having the spiritual significance of the completeness of the flesh. In our last study, Christ said the coming of the Son of man is like the days of Noah. Noah was the tenth generation, and at that time all mankind were killed, and only eight remained. Here is the link to the study of Numbers in Scripture – “Ten = Completeness of The Flesh” which also shows us the meaning of the two fives mentioned in this parable. Here is the link to the study which shows us the number ten is 5 (grace through faith) twice (first and second resurrections). This also represents the many called and few chosen and the old man and new man within.

Their lamps hold the oil that is fuel for the light. The lamp represents our mind and heart. The oil represents the holy spirit by which we are annointed. When the oil is touched by fire, which represents judgment, light is produced. The light represents the truth, and the bridegroom represents Christ. The lamp is made of copper and represents us as being carnal babes in Christ, the best flesh has to offer and the necessity of copper in bringing us to Christ. Here are study links for Base metals in scriptures: Copper, Part 1;
Copper, Part 2; and Copper, Part 3. Also, here is a link to showing us what oil represents in scripture What is Oil in Scripture.

Now here is the difference between the foolish and the wise.

Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

The foolish took no oil, therefore being called to meet the bridegroom, they came unprepared, which means they were called but not given the spirit. This is how we are in Babylon. The wise, on the other hand, came prepared having been given the spirit but are yet carnal babes in Christ until the cry is made and they are awakened. We do not know the hour the cry will come so we must always be prepared. Of course, it is the Lord Who prepares the heart.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

We are called to go into Babylon, next we are chosen to come out of Babylon, and finally we are given to endure until the end.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

The ten virgins who arose and trimmed their lamps represent receiving knowledge of the work which must be done to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Being called as one of the ten virgins and trimming their lamps is where most “Christians” are today. Here is where they are.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

The foolish virgins are able to trim their lamps but cannot produce any light because their lamps are gone out. This tells us that they do not believe what they have been told and that is judgment begins at the house of God. Not only this but they do not except that there is any judgment to begin with. The reason they do not believe this is because they are not given any oil. Their wick is lit, but it extinguishes immediately. The foolish take the word of God and twist it to mean something totally different. Here is an example.

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Christians of the world are given to believe they will not face judgment. The reason they believe this is because they have no oil. The spirit is not in them.

Next the wise tell them what they must do.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

The wise know that they are not to share their oil and tell them to go on their way. The wise also know that if they were to give up any oil, their own lamps would go out. Their lamps are lit in the middle of the night, and they must stay lit until the fullness of the daylight comes. This represents our time being in these bodies of flesh until the redemption of the purchased possession.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The foolish go away to buy the oil they lack and miss out on the bridegroom coming.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

The door being shut symbolizes the division between the many called and few chosen, the old man and the new man, and those in the first resurrection and the second. These two groups are separated by Christ either knowing them or not knowing them.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

What does this mean? Christ says, “I know you not” because they were not prepared and then gives us the following warning.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Being called, chosen and faithful is the only way we can enter into the kingdom of Heaven. We must be given to be diligent in all we do until the end of our walking in these bodies of flesh. In the beginning we are the five virgins who have empty lamps that are turned away and eventually destroyed. If we endure until the end, we are the five virgins that have lamps full of oil and are able to have light throughout the night. Christ is our light, and as he is, so are we in this world.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

We hold the lamp (word/doctrines of Christ) in our hearts and minds.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

I have used the following scriptures in several studies, but it is a warning we must have continually.

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.