In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us 3 parables about the end of the age when he will come and divide those who will enter into the joys of eternal life and those who will be cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The three parables are the Parable of the 10 virgins, The Parable of the Talents and A Parable that describes the Final Judgement. These parables of Christ have been preserved for us today in the sacred texts so that we might be prepared for that day.
Ultimately, we will see two groups emerge, those who are wise, diligent and compassionate and those who are foolish, lazy and indifferent. In this series of articles, I want to make 7 observations about where this divide will happen and the differences between the two groups. I will cover 3 in this article, 3 in part 2 and the last observation in part 3 along with some final observations.
The Parable of the 10 virgins: The Wise and the Foolish
- The wise prepare. The foolish do not.
In the parable of the 10 virgins you see 10 virgins who all have lamps but only 5 are truly prepared. Only 5 think ahead and realize that the bridegroom might be delayed in his coming and bring extra oil so that they don’t run out of fuel to light their lamp. When the bridegroom finally comes, their lamps are going out. There’s an old saying, if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. We can prepare by daily placing our faith and trust in Christ and by faithful communion with God in his word and through His Holy Spirit. - The wise endure. The foolish have no endurance.
The 5 wise virgins had brought enough fuel to last them through the night. The 5 foolish had no such foresight. Jesus tells another parable about 4 soils. One of the soils he says is stony or rocky. There’s no depth and therefore when the plant springs up it is quickly burned up in the summer heat because it has no depth and therefore no endurance. Jesus says just a chapter earlier that it is those “who endure to the end” that will be saved. We must endure in our faith. We must endure in our communion with God. - The wise were vigilant. The foolish were naïve.
Jesus ends the parable by saying “Watch, therefore” because you do not know the hour when the bridegroom will come. The foolish virgins were sleepy. The foolish virgins thought themselves to be ready and part of the wedding party. Their lack of planning revealed that the wedding wasn’t a priority. They waited with the others, but they weren’t watching with anticipation. They were flippant, casual and naïve to think that their lack of preparedness would be excused. We must be vigilant and watchful, ever waiting, ever anticipating the return of the bridegroom.
At the end of this parable, you see the 5 foolish left out in the dark, unwelcomed at the marriage feast. The good news is that the bridegroom is still delayed. We have space for repentance. We have time now to wake up go buy our oil and make ourselves ready for the appearing of our great bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
So, prepare yourselves men. Abandon your preoccupation with the things of this world and the unworthy fuel of man’s religion and works of righteousness. Trim your lamp with the oil of the Holy Spirit and the rich fuel of the sacred writings, which is the inspired Word of God. Place your trust solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Set your mind on things above instead of things below and you can be confident that Christ will finish His perfect work in you and on that day, you will be counted among the wise who will enter into the joys of eternal life with Christ our Lord.
