“....and those who were ready... went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” (Matt. 25:10)

We’re reviewing the parable of the ‘Ten Virgins’ where we are told by Jesus at the start that five of the virgins were ‘wise’ and five were ‘foolish. And only the wise ones...’who were ready’ ...were the ones who ‘went in with the bridegroom to the wedding and the door was shut’. The other five were not included ...and later found themselves knocking and pleading at the door, to no avail.

Why do you suppose Jesus shared this parable with us, what message was He wanting us to see and glean from this, and even most importantly- what does it mean to be ‘ready’?

We know that Jesus is coming back for a ‘bride’, a picture of His ‘church’ and that it will be found to be ‘spotless, pure, blameless, holy...and without stain or wrinkle’ (Eph. 5:26-27). So the mention of ‘virgins’ here is a picture or type of the church. And do you know what all ten of these virgins had in their possession as they were anticipating this meeting with the groom?

They each had an oil lamp (1), which of course we know is intended to provide light. I’m also pretty sure you have heard that familiar psalm that declares God’s “word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (119:105)

Now there is much to learn from this sobering story told by Jesus and I want to focus first on a few key elements. What is the difference between a wise virgin, and a foolish one? We learn in the second verse that the wise virgins had oil for their lamps, but the foolish virgins took no oil with them. It goes without saying that an oil lamp with no oil is useless, especially when it is intended to provide light during times of darkness. You might say it becomes nothing more than a decorative conversation piece. Is it possible that many today who own Bibles and are proud to own one, even carry it to church, but for the most part is nothing more than a ...conversation piece?

Please take a moment to look back at Matt. 7:24-27 where Jesus had just finished up His ‘sermon on the mount’. And please...pay extra close attention to how Jesus distinguishes the difference between the two ‘builders’ here, where one is ‘wise’ and the other is ‘foolish’. You won’t have to ‘dig deep’ to see it: the wise builder is likened to one who not only ‘hears’ the sayings, or words of Jesus...but he actually ‘does them’ (24). You might want to underline that part.

The ’foolish’ builder...heard the same words; and yet... he fails to do them (26). Do you see that?

Both builders are constructing a home but on two different types of a foundation. Both homes are subject to the same storm consisting of strong winds and floods that beat against their homes... yet only one house stands. The other one collapses... and ‘great was its fall’ (27)

Now in our story of the ten virgins, we know that due to a delay in the bridegroom’s return, all ten of them grew drowsy and ‘fell asleep’ (Matt. 25:5).

You have heard me share here often that it is safe to conclude that when Christ returns, there will be widespread deception amongst the so called ‘church’ and that many will be ‘asleep’. I find it interesting how often we are exhorted in the NT writings to ‘wake up’ and/or ‘be not deceived’. And let’s not forget James’s warning that if we are only ‘hearers of the word but not doers...we deceive ourselves’ (1:22) You might go highlight that passage if you don’t have it marked already.

Now as the drama unfolds with our ten virgins, the midnight hour approaches when night is at its darkest period ...and wouldn’t you know it...here comes the bridegroom (6) as a ‘cry is heard’ declaring it’s time to go meet him.

It is this next portion of the story that use to trouble me for the longest time and I really did not have any clear understanding as to why the wise virgins, who had a supply of oil to light their lamps...did not do the ‘Christian thing’ and share...some oil with the foolish ones who had none. Instead, they were told to ‘go to those who sell and buy some for yourselves’ (9).

I kid you not...that just always bothered me...until the Holy Spirit ‘shed some light’ ... and then it all made sense. I will share with you tomorrow, Lord willing, why it was not on the wise virgins to share or provide that oil with the foolish ones. There really is a ‘cost’ involved in obtaining it. I hope you come back and join me in the morning.