Jesus introduces the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13, saying, “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” These virgins symbolize believers awaiting Christ’s return, just as the Church awaits her Bridegroom. This imagery echoes Revelation 19:7–9, where we see the marriage supper of the Lamb and the bride (the Church) clothed in fine linen. The lamps in their hands signify their outward profession of faith, visible to the world as they prepare to meet the bridegroom.
However, the group of virgins is divided into two categories: “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish” (Matthew 25:2). This division points to a critical distinction between those who are genuinely prepared for Christ’s return and those who are not. Outwardly, all ten look the same, but there is a profound difference—the presence or absence of oil.
The Oil: What Does It Represent?
The oil in this parable is not explicitly defined, but Scripture offers us strong clues. Oil often represents the Holy Spirit in the Bible. In Zechariah 4:1–6, we see a vision of a lampstand being continually supplied with oil, which the Lord explains as symbolizing His Spirit: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). In the parable of the virgins, the oil would seem to represent the inward reality of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work in a believer’s life—something that cannot be borrowed or faked.
The wise virgins have oil because they are prepared spiritually; they are walking in the Spirit and maintaining a living relationship with Christ. In contrast, the foolish virgins, though they carry lamps, have no oil. They have the outward appearance of faith but lack the inward reality. Paul warns about this in 2 Timothy 3:5, describing those who “have a form of godliness but deny its power.” Similarly, in Romans 8:9, Paul states plainly, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
The Bridegroom’s Delay and the Sudden Return
Jesus continues, saying, “But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept” (Matthew 25:5). This delay reflects the Church Age—the time we are living in now, as we await Christ’s return. In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter reminds us that the Lord’s delay is not due to slackness but patience, giving more people the opportunity to repent. Yet, the parable makes clear that this waiting period requires vigilance and preparation.
At midnight, the call comes: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6). Midnight emphasizes the suddenness and unexpectedness of Christ’s return. Jesus had already warned in Matthew 24:42–44, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Just as the virgins are awakened by the cry, believers must be spiritually alert, always ready for His appearing.
The Foolish Virgins and the Cost of Unpreparedness
When the bridegroom arrives, the foolish virgins realize their lamps are going out and desperately ask the wise virgins for oil: “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out” (Matthew 25:8). However, the wise virgins cannot share their oil, responding, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you” (Matthew 25:9). This response is not selfishness but a spiritual truth: preparedness cannot be transferred. Salvation and a Spirit-filled life are personal; they cannot be borrowed or bought from another.
While the foolish virgins rush to buy oil, the bridegroom arrives. “Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10). This reflects the finality of Christ’s return. When He comes, the opportunity to repent and prepare will be over. The closed door is reminiscent of Noah’s ark in Genesis 7:16, where God shut the door before the flood, sealing those inside from those left out.
When the foolish virgins return, they plead, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” but the bridegroom responds, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:11–12). These chilling words echo Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21–23, where He says many will claim to know Him, but He will declare, “I never knew you.”
The Jewish Wedding Customs and the Call to Readiness
The parable’s imagery is rooted in Jewish wedding customs, where the bridegroom would leave after the betrothal to prepare a home for his bride, often at his father’s house. In John 14:2–3, Jesus alludes to this when He says, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The bride and her attendants would not know the exact time of his return but were expected to be ready, often waiting late into the night. This parallels our waiting for Christ’s return, as He will come at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:44).
When the bridegroom returned, the bridal party would join a joyous procession to the wedding feast. This feast is a picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:9, where only those who are prepared—those clothed in righteousness and filled with the Spirit—will enter.
My Final Thoughts
Jesus concludes the parable with a clear command: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13). The parable is a warning to all who profess faith in Christ. It teaches us that being ready for His return requires more than outward appearance or religious activity; it demands genuine, Spirit-filled faith and a life of continual preparation.
This is not about living in fear but in hope and vigilance. Just as the wise virgins carried extra oil, we are called to abide in Christ daily (John 15:4–5) and keep our spiritual lamps burning bright through prayer, the Word, and obedience. When the Bridegroom comes, those who are ready will enter into eternal joy with Him, and that is a hope worth preparing for!
