The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Jesus told this parable as part of His teaching about the kingdom of heaven and being ready for His return. At that time, He said, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. In Jewish wedding customs, bridesmaids would wait for the groom to arrive and then accompany him to the wedding feast with lamps lighting the way. The arrival time was uncertain, requiring watchfulness and preparation. These ten virgins represent those who profess to be waiting for Christ's return.

Five of the virgins were foolish and five were wise. All ten had lamps—all made outward preparation and appeared ready. All ten went out to meet the bridegroom—all took their position of waiting. All ten expected the bridegroom to come—none doubted he would arrive. The difference between them wasn't visible at first. The foolish ones took their lamps but didn't take any extra oil with them. They had just enough oil for their lamps at that moment, but no reserve for an extended wait. The wise virgins, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. They prepared not just for the expected scenario but for the unexpected delay.

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. Notice that all ten—both wise and foolish—fell asleep. Sleeping during the wait wasn't the issue; lack of preparation was. Sometimes Christians feel guilty for not being in constant heightened alert for Christ's return, but this parable shows that wasn't the point. What mattered was being prepared for His coming, whether awake or asleep, whether He came quickly or after a long delay.

At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Midnight represented the darkest hour, the least expected time, when everyone was asleep. The announcement came suddenly, jolting all ten virgins awake. Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps, preparing the wicks and checking their oil supply. This was the moment of truth. The foolish virgins discovered their oil was running out. Their lamps were going out, and they had no reserve to refill them.

The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' They expected the wise virgins to share, to bail them out of their poor planning. But the wise answered, 'No, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' This seems harsh until we understand what oil represents—the Holy Spirit, genuine faith, personal relationship with God. These spiritual realities cannot be borrowed or transferred. Each person must have their own relationship with God. The wise virgins' refusal wasn't selfishness but recognition that some things can't be shared.

While the foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. This is one of the most sobering images in Jesus' teaching—the door shut, separating those who were prepared from those who weren't. The timing of the shutting was final and decisive. Later the other virgins arrived and called out, 'Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!' Their address showed they recognized the bridegroom's authority and made urgent appeals, but it was too late.

The bridegroom replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' This was the devastating verdict—not 'You're late' or 'You weren't prepared,' but 'I don't know you.' The issue wasn't just lack of oil but lack of relationship. The foolish virgins had gone through the motions of preparation, had taken their position with the others, had professed to be waiting, but they didn't truly know the bridegroom, and he didn't know them. Outward religious activity without genuine relationship with Christ leads to exclusion from the kingdom.

Jesus concluded with a clear application: 'Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.' 'Keep watch' doesn't mean staying physically awake but being spiritually prepared. We don't know when Christ will return—it could be soon or after a long delay. The question isn't when but whether we're ready. The parable warns that some who appear to be ready—who have lamps, who take their position, who profess to be waiting—will discover too late that they lack what's essential: genuine relationship with Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, true saving faith.

The parable teaches that outward religious activity isn't enough. Having a lamp (profession of faith) isn't enough. Being in the right position (church attendance) isn't enough. Expecting Christ's return (correct theology) isn't enough. What's essential is the oil—the Holy Spirit, genuine conversion, true relationship with Christ. This can't be borrowed at the last minute, transferred from others, or acquired after the door has shut. The time to prepare is now, while the opportunity exists. The shut door is final; the 'I don't know you' is irrevocable. The call is to examine ourselves: are we like the wise virgins with genuine faith and the Holy Spirit, or like the foolish with only outward profession?