Matthew 25:1 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”(page)
This begins the parable of the ten virgins…..
…five which are wise…for they not only brought their lamps….but extra oil for them….”in their vessels”….trying to be prepared for every good work (Ephesians 2:10)…..while waiting for their Bridegroom.
(In scripture, wise means reverent to God and His commandments. Only the Holy Spirit works this awe in us.)
….five which are foolish….for they brought lamps but no extra oil for them….”shining”,…..only looking forward to their reward and happiness forever.
(In scripture foolish means “heedless”….turning a deaf ear to God’s commands….as though they could bypass them. The Lord said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments”. It is not agreeing with His Will, but doing His Will that shows our love to Him.)
They were all …..full of excitement for the celebration to come….at the first.
They thought that they were all ready to light their lamps when He came!
But the bridegroom tarried. He did not come when expected….so they first sat down…..then they fell asleep….all of them.
But there was a shout, to wake them up….(praise God that He sends some to wake us up! How many awakenings and revivals have come by the voice of….”the Bridegroom cometh!”)
So they all got up….and tried to “trim their lamps”…..
That is, they began to be diligent in the outward forms of religion….Bible study, going to church, praying.
But the error was not in the lamps……in the outward actions……but in the oil (a picture of the Holy Spirit)…..
…..some had Him….some did not.
The wise had extra in their vessels…..for the Holy Spirit is always with us…..and when we yield to Him there is abundant power for enlightening, and courage.
It is true they were guilty…..they did not stay awake and shine for Christ as they should…..but when they were awakened…..they got themselves right with God, yielding to the Holy Spirit……and right with others…..
….standing ready for the Bridegroom’s coming.
But the foolish had none. Why? Did not they have lamps? Yes….there are many which have the outward form of Christianity…..many good works are done by people who love what Jesus stands for….yet who have never given themselves to Christ Jesus the Lord.
Weren’t the foolish prepared at first? No, for they never had a supply of oil….or the Holy Spirit.
Many have a ‘spirit’ of enthusiasm….or a ‘spirit’ of happiness at being part of something larger than themselves….
….but only the wise had the supply of oil (Holy Spirit) that would not run out.
Matthew 25:8 “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.”
You would think this the right thing to do…..but the wise said that they could not provide for them…..
….Only God could…and that is what these foolish refused to do from the first…they would not “go” or submit to God…….for “foolish” is heedless.
Matthew 25:10 “ And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
Time runs out for every person on earth.
These foolish virgins had let their time of “seeking the Lord” go by…..without doing it….till time had run out.
Like Jeremiah, I often look at our generation and feel:
Jeremiah 8:21, 9:1 “For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt;….astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”
How many around us need to hear the gospel?
How many we meet, can see the Light of Christ shining in us?
Jeremiah 8:22 “Is there no balm in Gilead: is there no Physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”
Yes, there is a balm to heal every ailment.
Yes, there is a great Physician to mend and heal every sin…..Jesus Christ the Lord.
Let us awaken…..and…..be wise and receive Him and His Word to us…..and shine as lights in this world.
We can not give the “oil” of the Holy Spirit to others…..but we can sure lead them to the Lord Jesus Christ….before it is too late.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 