The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Another emphasis on the fact that all must be ready for His second coming is found in this parable. It is the parable of ten maidens who were to go out to meet the bridegroom in accordance with custom, to welcome him with their well lit, oil-soaked torches, so as to escort him to the banqueting hall where the wedding would take place. These torches would consist of sticks with rags attached at the end which were soaked in oil before they were lit. When lit they would then burn brightly while the oil lasted. But five foolishly took no spare oil with them. They thought that what they had in their torches was enough. Thus when after some delay the call came that the Bridegroom was coming they were unable to keep their torches alight because there was too little oil left in them. The oil was drying out. And they had no surplus oil with which to renew them. Only the five who were ready, and had brought vessels of oil with which to renew their torches, could thus keep their torches burning brightly. They went happily in with the Bridegroom into the wedding feast, able to fulfil their duties. The foolish were left outside, trying to find somewhere where they could buy oil, and when at length they arrived at the building where the wedding was taking place (we are not told whether they had obtained oil or not) they were refused admittance. They knocked and pleaded but it did them no good. The Bridegroom would not acknowledge them. For the whole main point of the parable is that they should have been watching and prepared. By not being ready they had proved themselves as not being the Bridegroom's true friends, and as not being fit to share in the wedding celebrations.
The identity of the Bridegroom is clear from previous parabolic material. Compare Matthew 9:15; Matthew 22:2. In both cases the Bridegroom is Jesus, and in the latter case the King's Son. The maidens clearly represent all who should be watching and ready for His coming. Having light, or the lack of it, reminds us of Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16. The lives of those who are His are to be like a shining light. That is what identifies them. The oil is whatever is needed to provide that light. This may therefore indicate the special blessing of God (Matthew 5:3-10; Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:16; Matthew 16:17), continuing true faith (Matthew 8:10; Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 15:28), and/or the drenching in and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). But the idea is rather general than particular. It is to be seen as whatever is required to keep the torch burning brightly. This is a good example of a parable that has one main point, and yet whose very content contains a number of unavoidable lessons.
Analysis.
a Then shall the kingly rule of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their torches, and went forth to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1).
b And five of them were foolish (Matthew 25:2 a).
c And five were wise (Matthew 25:2 b).
d For the foolish, when they took their torches, took no oil with them (Matthew 25:3).
e But the wise took oil in their vessels with their torches (Matthew 25:4).
f Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept (Matthew 25:5).
g But in the middle of the night there is a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come forth to meet him” (Matthew 25:6).
f Then all those virgins arose, and lit their torches (Matthew 25:7).
e And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us of your oil, for our torches are going out,”
d But the wise answered, saying, “Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you. Go you rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:8-9).
c And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and they who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut (Matthew 25:10).
b Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us.” But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:11-12).
a “Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
Note that in ‘a' the virgins go forth with the set purpose of meeting the bridegroom whenever he comes, and in the parallel all are to watch in the same way. In ‘b' five of the virgins were foolish, and in the parallel they thus came too late because they were unready. In ‘c' five were wise, and in the parallel they thus came on time because they were ready. In ‘d' the foolish had no oil with them and in the parallel they are told to go and obtain oil. In ‘e' the wise had oil and in the parallel the foolish wanted to share their oil. In ‘f' they all slept, and in the parallel they arose. Centrally in ‘g' is the fact that the Bridegroom came.