In the parable, the oil in the wise virgins’ lamps represents their righteous living and obedience. We each fill our own lamp, which represents our own life, with our obedience and righteousness. Heavenly Father’s blessings to us for our righteous actions cannot be given to the disobedient.
We can say that the ten virgins reflect people who believe in Jesus Christ, have heard His message, and know the rules they should follow. They are not like the rest of the world’s people.
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The Ten Virgins In The Bible
This counsel refers to the parable of the ten virgins, which illustrates how we are to prepare for Christ’s Second Coming (see Matthew 25:1–13). Here are some explanations that may help you as you study this parable and ponder its meaning.
This story continues a talk Jesus had with his friends in the chapter before this one. Christ tells them in Matthew 24 what will happen at the end of the world. He tells them what to look for to know that he is coming back soon. Jesus tells them this story about the 10 virgins after telling them about these signs.
If you are new to the Bible, Jesus taught a lot through parables, which are stories from this world that have messages from heaven. Like many other parables, this one makes you think about who you are. I always believe it is good to look at your heart and figure out where you are. Let’s do that today. To help you, I want you to think about these five facts from the story of the ten virgins.
Matthew 25:1-13
In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins who are waiting for the bridegroom to come. Five of them are described as wise, while the other five are foolish. They all had lamps, but only the wise ones took extra oil with them. When the bridegroom was delayed, all ten virgins fell asleep.
At midnight, the cry went out that the bridegroom was coming. The virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones realized that their lamps were going out, so they asked the wise ones for some oil. However, the wise virgins told them to go buy oil for themselves.
While the foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The five wise virgins entered the wedding feast with him, and the door was shut. When the foolish virgins came back and knocked on the door, the bridegroom said he did not know them.
This parable teaches us the importance of being prepared and ready for the return of Jesus. Those who are wise will have their lamps filled with oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, and will be ready to meet Him when He comes.
Key Lessons From The Parable of the Ten Virgins:
- Be prepared: Just like the wise virgins, we should always be prepared for the return of Jesus.
- Stay vigilant: We must stay awake and alert, not knowing when the bridegroom will come.
- Don’t rely on others: We cannot rely on the faith of others to save us. Each person must have their own relationship with Jesus.
Parable of The Ten Virgins Summary
Jesus tells a tale in Matthew 25 of the New Testament called the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The parable is about ten virgins who are waiting for a bridegroom to arrive. Five of the virgins are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and do not bring any extra oil. When the bridegroom arrives, the wise virgins are ready to go with him, but the foolish virgins are not. The parable is often interpreted as a warning to be prepared for the second coming of Christ.
The parable begins with the kingdom of heaven being compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while the other five were foolish and did not bring any extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, all of the virgins fell asleep. At midnight, the cry went out that the bridegroom was coming, and the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish virgins asked the wise virgins for some of their oil, but the wise virgins refused, saying that there would not be enough for all of them. The foolish virgins went to buy more oil, but while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived and the wise virgins went with him to the wedding feast. When the foolish virgins returned, they found the door to the wedding feast was shut and they were not allowed in.
The parable is often interpreted as a warning to be prepared for the second coming of Christ. The bridegroom represents Jesus, and the virgins represent believers. The oil in the lamps represents the Holy Spirit, and the lamps themselves represent good works. The wise virgins are those who are prepared for the second coming of Christ, while the foolish virgins are those who are not prepared. The parable emphasizes the importance of being ready for the second coming of Christ, as no one knows when it will happen.
Three Moral Lessons From The Parable of The Ten Virgins
You Need Oil to Be Ready for His Coming
From the story of the 10 virgins, one thing that stands out is what it takes to be ready for his return. As we already said, being filled with the Holy Spirit is the most important part of being ready. Also, this needs more than just Sunday morning. The most important thing is what you do the rest of the week. Most of your growth in Christ will happen when you’re not at church. This is where you get your heart ready for when Jesus comes back. It was clear that those who took extra oil were ready for him to come. People who didn’t were not. So even though they looked ready, they weren’t really ready for the groom. This is how things will be when Jesus comes back. Many people will look ready because they have lamps, but they won’t be ready because they don’t have oil.
Preparation Happens before You Die
I hope that the story of the 10 virgins has taught you that what you do now determines where you will go in the afterlife. It’s too late after you die or fall asleep. For all time, you are sealed. Don’t forget that those who were ready went into the dinner while the door was locked. People who weren’t ready were not allowed in. I’m telling you this to encourage you to tell other people about the Gospel. Today is the big day, and we want as many people as possible to be at the dinner when he shows up. If you are reading this and Jesus is not your Savior, please turn to Him right away. Today is the day of peace.
This Is Really a Parable about the Rapture
In our story, the virgins got tired and went to sleep. In the Bible, to fall asleep can also mean to pass away. There was a cry that woke them up after they fell asleep. People who were ready went into the dinner with the groom when that cry went off. People who weren’t ready were locked out. This is a picture of the end of the world. Think about what Paul wrote in Thessalonians. Some similarities may stand out to you.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Jesus was helping his disciples understand what that day will be like when he returns for us.
10 Virgins In The Bible Verse
Matthew 25:1-13 ESV / 27 helpful votes
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. …
Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. …
Matthew 25:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:13 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes
But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
Psalm 119:105 ESV / 9 helpful votes
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Matthew 25:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
Matthew 25:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
Matthew 24:1-51 ESV / 8 helpful votes
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …
Matthew 9:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Revelation 19:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes
For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
Matthew 25:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV / 7 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
John 3:29 ESV / 6 helpful votes
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
Matthew 25:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes
But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Revelation 2:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Matthew 25:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
Matthew 25:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
Matthew 24:45-51 ESV / 5 helpful votes
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, …
Numbers 10:1-36 ESV / 5 helpful votes
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. …
Revelation 7:1-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, …
Revelation 3:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Galatians 5:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Matthew 25:30 ESV / 4 helpful votes
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 4 helpful votes
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. …
Matthew 25:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew 25:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes
But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
Matthew 25:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Matthew 24:42-44 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 13:24-30 ESV / 4 helpful votes
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ …
Psalm 119:130 ESV / 4 helpful votes
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
Exodus 19:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes
The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments
Revelation 17:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 14:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes
It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
Revelation 14:1-4 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
Revelation 3:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Revelation 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Revelation 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Revelation 2:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
John 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 8:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Luke 21:1-38 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, …
Luke 12:37 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Matthew 25:31-46 ESV / 3 helpful votes
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, …
Matthew 25:10-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:3-4 ESV / 3 helpful votes
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
Matthew 22:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes
And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, …
Matthew 7:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Revelation 19:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes
It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. …
Revelation 2:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. …
1 Thessalonians 4:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; …
Luke 12:35-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. …
Matthew 25:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Matthew 25:10-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Matthew 25:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
Matthew 25:7-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
Matthew 24:40-41 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
Matthew 24:36-44 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. …
Matthew 24:1-25:46 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jesus told a story in the New Testament book of Matthew called the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The parable is about ten virgins who are waiting for a bridegroom to arrive. Five of the virgins are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and do not bring any extra oil. The parable is often interpreted as a warning to be prepared for the second coming of Christ. The parable emphasizes the importance of being ready for the second coming of Christ, as no one knows when it will happen.
