10 Virgins In The Bible

What would you do if you were promised virgins upon your death? That’s the question a bunch of people on the Internet (and some radical extremist groups) are asking, and the answer is pretty disturbing. I don’t know about you, but this article is the best thing that could’ve happened to my productivity today. Let’s dive into 10 virgins in the bible, three moral lessons from the parable of the ten virgins and 10 virgins in the bible meaning.

The Bible is full of strange, fascinating stories. You know about Noah and his ark, or King David and Goliath, or Moses parting the Red Sea. But did you know that the Bible also contains a story about 10 virgins who are all waiting for their bridegrooms to return home from work one day?

Their names are all different: Mary, Ruth, Judith, Sarah, Rebecca, etc. They come from different backgrounds and live in different places—Mary is a girl from Galilee whose father is a carpenter—but they share one thing in common: they’re all virgins waiting for their husbands to come home.

But these husbands are not just any ordinary men; they’re actually angels! And they have been sent on a mission by God himself to tell people about him so that more people will believe in him and go to heaven when they die instead of going somewhere else where sinners go (like hell).

So what happens next? Well… you’ll just have to read on!

Churchgists will provide you with all the relevant information you are looking for on 10 virgins in the bible meaning, characteristics of the ten virgins, what is the oil in the parable of the ten virgins, and so much more.

10 Virgins In The Bible

[1] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. [2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: [4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Matthew 25

• Matthew 25: 1-13
• This parable begins with verse one and concludes in verse thirteen.
• The virgins go out to buy oil around verse 5, or at least that’s where it seems like they go out. Really, the whole thing is kind of confusing.

“The Ten Virgins” is actually a parable that Jesus told to his disciples.

You may be surprised to learn that you should count “The Ten Virgins” among the many stories from the Bible that were not written by God but rather by one of His followers. That’s right: “The Ten Virgins” story is actually a parable that Jesus told to his disciples, and it was recorded in the New Testament of the Bible after Jesus’ death. In this case, though, Jesus wasn’t talking about virgins in any traditional sense—he was talking about women who were preparing for a Jewish wedding and needed oil lamps to guide them through their nighttime ceremony. The lesson here isn’t really about sex or chastity at all; it’s more of a broad warning from Jesus to his followers that they should be prepared for when he returns to Earth in order to usher in what Christians call the apocalypse and take them into eternal life.

Candles were really expensive.

So, why would a woman who had just discovered her betrothed was dead carry around an expensive jar of oil that she could use to sell? The answer is actually pretty simple: candles were really expensive. People in ancient times didn’t have electricity, so they had to make do with other sources of light, such as lanterns and oil lamps. These weren’t cheap pieces of equipment either—lanterns could cost up to four months wages for the average worker! Oil was important because it was used to fuel these lights. So when a woman carried around an expensive jar of oil, it wasn’t something she did lightly.

Another example was cloth dyeing. One piece of clothing dyed purple would cost about half a year’s wages for the average worker! That’s not something people did lightly either! In short, what we call “common sense” today is often very different from what people considered normal before the modern era.

In the story, all ten virgins are sleeping when the groom arrives. They are all taken by surprise.

In the story, all ten virgins are sleeping when the groom arrives. They are all taken by surprise. This is a mistake that you should never make; do not fall asleep on your wedding night! No one can say for sure when the bridegroom will come, so therefore it is imperative that you stay awake to be prepared for his arrival.

Five of the virgins had brought extra oil with them while they waited.

As you can imagine, the five virgins who brought extra oil are seen as the wise virgins. The five who did not bring extra oil are seen as foolish.

The oil represents something in our lives. In this context, it is the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 25:3-4 it says, “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” This scripture is showing us that we need to be prepared for when Jesus returns! We need to have Him in our lives and we need to do good deeds for others so that we are ready for His return.

Don’t be like one of the foolish virgins! Keep your lamp filled up and ready to go. I know I want to be ready! What about you?

The five foolish virgins ask the five wise ones to share their oil, but they refuse.

You, the wise virgins, are unwilling to share your oil with your foolish friends. You are concerned about having enough oil for yourselves and have no desire to help out your friends. You may be worried that should you give up some of your oil, there would not be enough left (for yourselves) to reach the wedding banquet in time. Or maybe you are not concerned about arriving late at all; maybe you just don’t want the wedding banquet to end before you get there. Either way, you will not lend a single drop of your precious oil to your friends and this is extremely selfish on your part. After all, if it were one of their weddings that was about to begin, you’d want them to do everything in their power to help you out so that you could make it in time for the festivities! Why then didn’t any of them think twice from helping out a fellow virgin bridesmaid?

The wise virgins say if they share their oil, there will be no oil left for them and they’ll be locked out too.

The wise virgins boldly and firmly told the foolish: ‘if we share our oil with you, there will be no oil left for us and we’ll be locked out too.’ This is a wise decision because it teaches us to value taking care of ourselves so that if we’re ever in a situation where someone needs our help, we won’t be helpless ourselves. It also serves as an example of how to remain firm in one’s commitments, even when someone else is asking for a favor. Of course it would have been more generous for the wise to have given their oil to the foolish, but it would’ve been irresponsible for them to do so since they would have missed out on the wedding celebration themselves. However, this doesn’t mean that we should take advantage of others or treat them unfairly even though we might not need anything from them—especially since our situations might change and someday soon find ourselves needing their help.

The foolish virgins go out in search of more oil and miss the wedding banquet entirely.

Here I want to draw your attention to the foolish virgins going out in search of more oil. This is symbolic of ongoing work that must be done after salvation. In other words, once you are saved God will continue to work in your life, but if you ignore him he will eventually stop calling to you. At that point, it will be too late.

I also want to draw your attention to the bridegroom coming while the foolish virgins are gone and the door being shut. We know from other scriptures that we are not saved by our works but by faith alone in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore these verses do not contradict this truth, but instead confirm it. The wise virgins did have enough oil because they had allowed God to fill their lamps with his love and grace through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for their sins (Romans 5:1). Their works were a result of their salvation and could only come about because of it (James 2:17-18).

In Jewish weddings, the groom would arrive in the middle of the night and wake everyone up so they could walk together to his home where the wedding feast or banquet would be held.

A groom would arrive in the middle of the night with his friends and wake everyone up. The bride, her friends and family, and all the wedding guests would follow him to his home where the wedding feast or banquet would be held. In fact, Jesus used this custom when He spoke about His second coming in Matthew 25:6

The groom was referring to Jesus who will come again just like a groom comes for his bride at a Jewish wedding. Like a groom comes at night with his groomsmen to get his bride, Jesus will come again with His angels at night. Since nobody knows what time of the night it will be (Matthew 24:36), Christians must always be ready by living righteously before God.

When they finally return with the additional oil, it is too late to join the wedding party.

Like the five foolish virgins, your company has not prepared for the unexpected. While you may have developed a plan to pursue your ideal customer and sell them your best product, you are not prepared for anything that is different from what you expected.

You know how it goes: You’ve been planning a major event for months, and finally it arrives. The meeting or conference is a success; attendees are excited about the speakers, networking opportunities, and unique experiences. But then—it’s over! You can’t help but think: “Was that it? Is that all there was?”

Just like with weddings and funerals, where we celebrate marriage or mourn loss—sometimes with tears shed while sharing fond memories of the person who has passed on—the same is true after any big event has come to an end.

three moral lessons from the parable of the ten virgins

In this parable, Jesus is warning us not to forget to bring enough “oil” for our spiritual lamps so we can walk through life confidently at any moment that we are called upon by God for a specific purpose

Let’s start at the end so we can work our way back. For Christians, when we die, we will enter everlasting life in heaven, where there is a banquet that Jesus has prepared for all of us. The “midnight call” represents the moment we meet God face-to-face.

The lamps are our hearts because they are what guides us through this life on earth as we wait for Jesus to come and take us to heaven.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit that lives within us—to have a lamp or heart full of oil means you have Jesus’ spirit inside you, while an empty lamp symbolizes a soul that belongs to Satan.

The virgins represent those who are alive right now; those who wait for God’s call either with or without His oil (the Holy Spirit).

So what does it mean when five of the virgins make it into heaven with God’s full blessings and five don’t? It means half of them were prepared to meet God at any second and half were not!

10 virgins in the bible meaning

If I may call our attention to the comparisons and contrasts between the wise and foolish virgins of Matthew 25. They have seven things in common.

First, all the virgins were in “the kingdom of heaven”: by which we understand, the sphere of Christian profession.

Second, they were all of them “virgins”: not five virgins and five harlots: by which we understand, they all claimed to belong unto Christ.

Third, they all “went forth to meet the Bridegroom”: they were one in purpose, having a single end in view.

Fourth, they all had “lamps,” the same sort of lamps.

Fifth, they all “slumbered and slept.”

Sixth, they all heard the cry “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.”

Seventh, they all “arose and trimmed their lamps.”

There are six points of difference between them.

First, five of them were “wise” and five of them were “foolish.”

Second, the wise “took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (v. 4), but the foolish ones did not do so.
Third, at the crucial moment the foolish virgins had to acknowledge “our lamps are (slowly but surely) gone out” (v. 8 margin).

Fourth, the foolish virgins “went to buy” oil (v. 10), the wise ones had no need to do so.

Fifth, the wise were shut in with the Bridegroom, but the foolish were shut out (v. 10.)

Sixth, the foolish virgins were disowned by the Lord (vv. 11, 12).

Let us think about this for a second. “There is a certain class today who differ not from the children of God as to their testimony: its purity, its orthodoxy, its sincerity. These are not Spiritists, Russellites, or the daughters of the Mother of Harlots, but ‘virgins’ doctrinally they are pure. They are pictured as going forth ‘to meet the Bridegroom,’ not one to the ‘desert’ and another to the ‘secret chambers’ (Matt. 24:26), seeking a false Christ. The Object of their service was the same Person which the wise virgins were occupied with.

The vital point in their ‘foolishness’ was not that they ‘slumbered and slept’ but that they had no oil in their VESSELS. Theirs was oil in their ‘lamps’ the testimony or doctrine but none in their vessels or souls.”

The above deeply impresses us with the great importance of making sure individually whether there be oil in my vessel: the “vessel” is the soul, the “oil” is Divine grace in it. Whatever may be the precise signification of “behold the Bridegroom cometh” whether it refer to the hour of death, the “premillennial return of Christ,” or the Day of Judgment, one thing is clear: it points to the crucial testing time.

As it has been pointed out: Balaam had oil in his “lamp,” as also had Judas when Christ sent him forth with the other Apostles to “preach” (Matt. 10:5-7), yet their hearts were destitute of the saving grace of God! What a terrible discovery for the foolish virgins to make: “our lamps are gone out” a discovery made too late to do them any good.

This parable of the “virgins” is indeed a searching and solemn one. It has deeply exercised many a sincere soul. It has caused not a few genuine saints to wonder if, after all, the “root of the matter” were in them. It has given real point to that exhortation “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5).

On the other hand, vast numbers of professing Christians are quite unmoved by its pointed message, complacently assuming that they are numbered among the “wise” virgins, and taking no trouble to seek proof that the oil is in their vessels. Strangest of all, perhaps, some of the Lord’s own people scarcely know how to set about the task of ascertaining their state, and are so suspicious of themselves they readily conclude that their vessels are devoid of the vital oil.

The key passage for the significance of this Scriptural figure is, “Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows” (Psalms 45:7), where the reference is to the Mediator, for God “giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him” (John 3:34); in consequence thereof, He is “fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips” (Psalms 45:2). The holy “oil” was first poured upon the antitypical Aaron, and then it runs down to all the “skirts of His garments” (Psalms 133:2), that is, to the meanest and feeblest Christians. Just as the little finger or toe is animated by the same life and vitality as actuates the head and heart of a person, so every Christian is vitalized by the same Spirit as was given to Christ, the Head. As the Spirit sanctified the human nature of Christ by fitting and enriching it with all grace, so His grace is communicated to all His members.

The “oil,” then, in the vessels of the wise virgins refers to the life of the Spirit in the soul of a Christian. It is the presence of Divine grace in the heart in contrast from knowledge in the head or correctness of outward deportment which distinguishes the actual possessor from the empty professor. How important then is it that we spare no efforts to ascertain whether or not that Divine grace resides in us! Yet at this very point Christians encounter a real difficulty: as they honestly and diligently look within they perceive such a sea of corruption, ever casting up mire and dirt, they are greatly distressed, and ready to conclude that Divine grace surely cannot be present in such hearts as theirs.

But this is a serious mistake; as genuine oil is distinguishable from counterfeits by its properties, so grace in the soul may be known by its characteristics and effects. But the exercised soul should begin his search for indwelling grace with it definitely settled in his mind, that, in every heart where grace resides there is also an ocean of sin; and just as oil and water will not mix, but continue to preserve their distinct properties even when placed together in the same vessel, so the flesh and spirit will not combine in the Christian, but remain in opposition to each other unto the end.

Admitting, then, a sea of depravity within, my object is to find out if there be any “oil” at all which the surgings of sin are unable to destroy. When I see smoke, I must infer fire (however flickering), and if I can discern in my heart any spiritual grace (however feeble) I must infer the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Be not unduly discouraged, then, dear Christian friend, because you discover so much filthy water in your “vessel” (the editor does the same), but rather confine your attention unto searching for the “oil” within you, and remember that the presence of the same is to be determined by its properties and effects. Let us name a few of these. First, oil illumines, therefore are the blinded Laodiceans bidden to go to Christ for eye salve (anointing oil) that they may see (Rev. 3:18). Now where Divine grace has been bestowed that soul is enlightened. True, says a serious reader, but the point which exercises me so much is, Is my enlightenment a spiritual and supernatural one, or merely a natural and intellectual one, acquired by the mind being instructed through sitting under sound teaching? Those mentioned in Hebrews 6:4 were “once enlightened,” yet no saving work of grace had been wrought in them!

Some readers may be total strangers to all such distressing experiences, and wonder why any real Christian should call into question the exact character of his or her illumination, troubling themselves not at all whether their enlightenment be natural or supernatural. Poor souls, it is greatly to be feared that a rude awakening is awaiting them from their Satan-induced sleep. But what shall we say to those who are awake and deeply concerned about their eternal interests? How are such to determine the matter?

We answer, test the point. Was there not a time when you “saw no beauty in Christ that you should desire Him?” Is it so with you now? Or has He become in your eyes the “altogether lovely” One? You may be afraid to call Him yours, yet if your heart truly yearns for Him, then you must have been spiritually enlightened the “oil” is in your vessel.

Second, oil softens. Oil was much used by the ancients for medicinal purposes, and we moderns might well take a leaf out of their books. It will melt caked wax in the ear; make tender a calloused bunion. It is very useful for boils: repeated applications softening, then causing to burst, and then healing.

Thus it is in the operation of the Holy Spirit. He finds the elect hard and obdurate by nature, and swollen with pride and self-conceit; but Divine grace softens them, melting their flinty hearts, bursting the boils of self-righteousness, and imparting a contrite spirit. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

When Divine grace has been imparted the heart is supernaturally softened. But right here the sincere soul experiences still greater difficulty, and is ready to exclaim emphatically, Then I must still be in an unregenerate state, for my heart is “as hard as the nether millstone.” Wait a moment, dear friend, and test the matter. What are the marks of a “hard heart” as given in Scripture? Are they not a total absence of a feeling sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, an utter unconcern whether God be pleased or displeased with my conduct, no mourning in secret when Christ has been dishonored by me?

Is that true of you, who are so ready to conclude you are still in a state of nature? If it is not, if sin is your burden and your soul grieves over your lack of conformity to Christ, then your heart must have been spiritually softened the “oil” is in your vessel.

Third, oil heals. Hence we find the great Physician, under the figure of the good Samaritan, having compassion on the assaulted traveler, binding up his wounds and “pouring in oil and wine” (Luke 10:34); and He is still caring thus for His people through the gracious ministry of the Spirit. How often the blessed Comforter applies “the balm of Gilead” to the sin-afflicted people of God. What horrible bruises and putrefying sores do sin and Satan inflict upon the souls of the saints, yet how frequently and tenderly does the Spirit mollify and relieve them. First, He works repentance in the heart, which is a purging grace, carrying away the foul and poisonous love of sin; and then He strengthens hope, which is a comforting grace so that the joy of the Lord once more becomes his strength. Divine grace removes the load of guilt from the conscience, applies the cordial of the promises, and gives the weary pilgrim a lift by the way “set him on His own beast” (Luke 10:34).

Here, then, is another property and effect of Divine grace: it heals the soul. We can well imagine some fearful reader exclaiming, Alas, that cuts off my hope, for there is no soundness in me. Listen, dear friend, no Christian is completely and perfectly healed from the disease of sin in this life, but he is delivered from the most fearful and fatal effects of it; and it is at this point you are to examine yourself. What are the worst things which the Fall has produced in man? Enmity against God, the love of sin, the idolizing of self. Test yourself by these things. Do you still hate God? If so, would you repine because you love Him so feebly! Are you still in love with sin? If so, why do you grieve over its workings! Is self now your idol? If so, why do you, at times, loath yourself! Sin has not been eradicated, but its wounds are being healed the “oil” is in your vessel.

The limited space now at our disposal prevents us doing more than barely mentioning a number of other features. Oil makes the joints flexible and nimble, and therefore was much used by athletes; so grace enables the Christian to “serve in newness of spirit” (Rom. 7:6) and run the race set before him. It is an excellent thing for those who have stiff joints, for it penetrates to the bones (Psalms 109:18). It makes the countenance fresh and comely (Psalms 104:15): what is more attractive to the spiritual eye than a gracious character. It sweetens our persons, so that we are unto God a “sweet savor of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15), whereas the wicked are a “smoke in His nostrils” (Isa. 65:5). It gladdens, and thus we read of “the oil of joy” (Isa. 61:3): the heart is exhilarated when grace is active. It is an aid to digestion; so, only as grace is active within us, can we assimilate our spiritual food.

Oil and water will not intermingle: the old man is not bettered by the new, nor is the new corrupted by the old. Oil cannot be made to sink beneath the water, but always floats on top; so grace in the believer is indestructible, and at the end it will be seen to have fully triumphed over sin. Oil is a super-eminent liquid, for it will not incorporate itself with anything lighter; it will have the highest place above all other liquids. So the graces of the Spirit are of a superior character as far above the gifts of nature as spiritual blessings excel earthly things. Oil quietens troubled waters, giving relief to a ship in a storm: so grace often subdues the turbulent workings of sin. What a blessed promise is that in Psalm 92:10, “But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil”: new supplies of grace, blessed revivings are granted God’s tried people. Yes, there is “oil in the dwellings of the wise” virgins (Prov. 21:20.

This short article is not designed for the searching and exposing of empty Christian professors, but for the establishing and comforting of “the living in Jerusalem.” If the latter will prayerfully re-read its paragraphs and honestly measure themselves by their contents, they should be able to “prove” themselves (2 Cor. 13:5). It is not the absence of sin, nor the decreasing of its power within, which evidences regeneration, but the presence of a contrary and holy principle, which is known by its spiritual longings and efforts.