Can you explain the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25? What does the oil represent?
Let’s read this important parable. Matthew 25:1-13 says, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out 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 gone out. 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. 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. 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 neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Let’s begin by looking at some of the particulars of this parable dealing with the kingdom of Heaven.
- There are ten virgins…five were wise and five were foolish.
- They all went forth to meet the bridegroom.
- They all had lamps…five had oil and five did not.
- While the bridegroom tarried they all slept.
This is a tragic story, but should serve as a warning to all those who profess to know the Lord Jesus as savior. There was a midnight cry that the bridegroom had come and the virgins were instructed to go out and meet Him. The bridegroom is, without a doubt, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. When will Christ, the bridegroom, return? Matthew 24:42 says, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” While we are not told when He will return, we are instructed to watch and be ready for His return.
The ten virgins represent those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus. I say ‘profess faith’ because it becomes obvious that not all of these virgins were true believers. We might say that they all gave the appearance of being saved, yet “…the LORD looketh on the heart” as we read in 1 Samuel 16:7. While many may fool others into thinking they are saved by their words and actions, the Lord truly knows the heart and He knows who is saved and who is not. 2 Timothy 2:19 assures us that “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” It became obvious who the true believers were when the virgins went out into the night.
The five wise virgins had oil in the lamps, while the five foolish ones did not. The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit who empowers and guides the believer. Romans 8:9 is quite clear in telling us, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” All believers are indwelt with God’s Spirit, and if someone does not have the Spirit, it is because he is not saved, and he does not belong to God. The foolish virgins showed their ignorance of how to obtain the Spirit (oil). They asked the wise virgins to give them some of their oil. While the foolish virgins went to the market to see if they could buy some oil, the bridegroom came. Those that were ready (the wise virgins) went into the wedding feast with the bridegroom and the door was shut. Let’s re-read about the tragic consequences of those who were not ready. Verses 11-12 said, “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.” How sad that these foolish ones were denied entrance, but such is the fate of all who do not have Christ as their savior. The warning then goes out to all in verse 13, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
While many use this parable as a type of the rapture of the church (and the lesson can certainly be applied) the true lesson is a warning to those who have come through the Tribulation period and wait for the Lord to return to the earth to set up His kingdom. Notice how this parable begins in verse 1, “THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins.” The word ‘then’ points us back to chapter 24, where we plainly have the Tribulation period being taught. It is after this Tribulation period that the Lord returns to the earth to judge the evil and usher the believers into His Millennial kingdom on the earth. (190.8)