In Matthew 25:1-13 we have the “Parable of the Ten Virgins.” As we shall see, there are “5 WISE virgins” and “5 FOOLISH virgins. Let’s take a look at verses 1-9.

Verse 1-5: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and TOOK NO OIL IN THEM, but the wise TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.” This parable illustrates the sinner’s need to BE READY FOR THE LORD’S COMING. The bridegroom pictures the Lord Jesus who will come to take all believers in Him to heaven (see John 14:1-4 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The “5 Wise Virgins” represent those who are SAVED and SEALED with the Holy Spirit and are thus ready to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes. The “oil” is a beautiful type of the Holy Spirit for He is the POWER in the believer to be a “testimony” (pictured by the “lamp”) for Christ. Jesus told believers in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they LIGHT A LAMP and put it under a basket, but on a LAMPSTAND, and it gives LIGHT to all who are in the house. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The Holy Spirit “lives inside the believer” for this very purpose. Oil in a lamp produces “natural light; the Holy Spirit in the believer produces “spiritual light.” You may be asking, “What scriptures prove that the “oil” is a type of the “Holy Spirit?” I would ask you to read the following verses: John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 John 2:20 & 27; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 and Ephesians 1:13.

Verses 6-9: “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” The “5 Foolish Virgins” HAD NO OIL and they clearly represent unbelievers who have not been anointed, sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 declares, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NOT HIS.” The Holy Spirit in the believer is the SEAL that proves he/she belongs to Christ. The absence of the Spirit in the unbeliever proves he/she does NOT belong to Christ. Also, they have NO POWER to be a light for Christ and are “not ready to meet Christ when He comes to take believers home to glory.” The words “give us some of your oil” not only proves they don’t have the Spirit, but it shows their ignorance in thinking a believer can “transfer the Holy Spirit to them.” The response to them, “go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves” is not to be taken LITERALLY, for the Holy Spirit can NOT be purchased. We see this truth in Acts 8:18-20, “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THE GIFT OF GOD COULD BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY!’” Salvation is a GIFT (Ephesians 2:8-9) and so is the Holy Spirit upon believing the gospel of Christ (Ephesians 1:13).

So, what are we to make of the words “go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves?” The answer is in found in Isaiah 55:1 & 3, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and YOU WHO HAVE NO MONEY, come, BUY AND EAT. Yes, come BUY WINE AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY and WITHOUT PRICE…Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” These verses illustrate the invitation given to sinners to come to the GOSPEL FEAST for salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit (the “waters” here picture the Spirit…see John 4:13-14 and 7:37-39). When one “buys” something a transaction takes place. When a “thirsty sinner” (one who feels his need of salvation) comes to Christ for salvation he comes as one “who has no money” (he has nothing to offer God that can take away his sins). But he learns that Christ has “paid his debt of sin on the cross” to redeem us (John 19:30 with 1 Peter 1:18-19) and thus salvation is “without money and without price.” If we were to read on in Matthew 25:10-12 we would see the solemn picture of the foolish virgins (mere professors of Christ) having “the door of salvation shut” on them when the Lord comes. They were NOT READY because they refused to receive God’s salvation and the Holy Spirit as a GIFT. How tragic! They could have been SEALED by the Holy Spirit but instead their doom is SEALED.  (DO)  (609.1)