…
The Parable
Of The
Ten Virgins
Matthew
25:1-13
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
Setting
 In Jerusalem during Jesus’ last week
 Most likely, late Tuesday afternoon or
early Tuesday evening
 Jesus has finished His public ministry
 His last words = a lament for
Jerusalem’s destruction Mt 23:37-39
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
Setting
 In Jerusalem during Jesus’ last week
 His comments in Mt 24-25 were spoken
privately to the disciples
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to
10 virgins participating in a marriage
 They are like modern-day “bridesmaids”
 The 1st century wedding…
 A betrothal period just as “binding” as
the actual marriage Mt 1:18-19
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to
10 virgins participating in a marriage
 The 1st century wedding…
 The bridegroom would first rejoice with
his friends when time to consummate the
marriage Mt 9:15 Jn 3:29
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to
10 virgins participating in a marriage
 The 1st century wedding…
 Afterwards, the bridegroom would
proceed to the bride’s house to get his
wife and take her to the marriage feast
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to
10 virgins participating in a marriage
 The 1st century wedding…
 Some historians indicate ancient oriental
weddings took place at night…thus,
bride’s maidens (“virgins”) carried lamps
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to
10 virgins participating in a marriage
 The 1st century wedding…
 The maidens would light the way for the
bridegroom to the bride’s house…also
light the way to the marriage feast
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The 10 virgins are in 2 groups vv. 2-4
 Five are “foolish”  they have lamps,
but no spare oil
 Five are “wise”  they have lamps,
but also spare oil
(prudent)
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The bridegroom is delayed v. 5a
 An “unplanned” occurrence
 The 10 virgins become sleepy v. 5b
 Unexpectedly, the shout… v. 6
“Behold, the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him.”
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The virgins awake, trim their lamps v. 7
 The 5 “foolish” virgins now realize they
do not have enough oil v. 8a
IMPORTANT POINT
 There will come a point in time when we see
we have failed to prepare…but it’s too late!!
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The 5 “foolish” virgins’ solution…ask
the 5 “wise” virgins for some oil v. 8b
 A “failed solution” v. 9
 If the 5 “wise” virgins lent some of their
oil, they would not have enough, either
 The 5 “foolish” needed to buy their own
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Some have judged the 5 “wise” virgins
as being “stingy” or “selfish”
 Each one bears his own responsibility
 The virgins’ “role” necessitated each one
having enough oil
 Some things in life cannot be “borrowed”
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Some things cannot be “borrowed”
 Faith, character, obedience
 Judgment will be individual 2 Cor 5:10
 While faith does & should begin in our
parents, it must eventually become our
own 2 Tim 1:5
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 Some things cannot be “borrowed”
 Spiritual character traits need to be in
each one of us “…an abound”
 We all need to “…make our calling and
election sure” 2 Pet 1:5-11
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The “inevitable truth” v. 10
 No matter the delay, the “bridegroom” will
eventually come…unexpectedly
 This is the point Jesus was making in His
discourse re: Jerusalem’s destruction
Mt 24:36-39, 42, 44
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The “finality” of the marriage feast is
also emphasized v. 10
 While away buying what should have
already been possessed, the 5 “foolish”
virgins found the door “shut” (locked)
 Only those who were “ready” got in
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The 5 “foolish” virgins return vv. 11-12
 They attempt to enter the marriage feast
 Their request to enter is denied...the lord
of the feast said “I do not know you”
 A fearful reality…we only have 1 chance
to get ready for eternity Heb 9:27
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Parable
 The final exhortation v. 13
 “Be on the alert, for you do not know the
day nor the hour”
 Preparation is necessary…the coming
of the Lord will happen “…like a thief in
the night” 2 Pet 3:10-18
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Application
 The 5 “foolish” virgins were guilty of the
sin of presumption
 They presumed the bridegroom would
come by a certain time…the amount of oil
they had reflected this thinking
 They never considered he might delay
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Application
 The 5 “wise” virgins were just as
unaware of the bridegroom’s delay
 However, their preparations made them
“ready” for whenever he arrived…no
matter the delay
The Ten Virgins
Matt 25:1-13
The Lesson
 Am I ready for Christ’s arrival?
 Whenever He comes
 One cannot neglect proper preparations
 One cannot “borrow” what must be
“bought”
 One cannot recall lost opportunities
…