MESSAGES FROM MATTHEW ON THE MINISTRY OF JESUS:
The Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
The Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2017
The wedding ceremony is supposed to be the official start to a lifetime of marital bliss...supposed to be.
"How did the wedding go?" asked the minister's wife. "Just fine until I got to the part where I asked the bride if she would obey. She said, 'Do you think I'm nuts?' The groom said, 'I do,' and things went downhill from there."
The wedding ceremony is supposed to be the official start to a lifetime of marital bliss. Wedding ceremonies in the past were probably not as confrontational, but they still may have been complicated, especially if they were big enough, as in Jesus' parable of "The Ten Virgins."1
Jesus is approaching the end of his earthly ministry. He will soon leave his disciples, and he has only a few days to convey final instructions to them, which he does by telling a parable, a true-to-life story about how important it is to be prepared for his return.
The parable is a common figure of speech in the gospels, one Jesus employs frequently, often to teach about the future kingdom of heaven,2 as he does here. To understand a parable, there are three steps that offer a simple and straightforward approach to interpretation:
Jesus is approaching the end of his earthly ministry. He will soon leave his disciples, and he has only a few days to convey final instructions to them, which he does by telling a parable, a true-to-life story about how important it is to be prepared for his return.
The parable is a common figure of speech in the gospels, one Jesus employs frequently, often to teach about the future kingdom of heaven,2 as he does here. To understand a parable, there are three steps that offer a simple and straightforward approach to interpretation:
- Determine the setting. Identify the occasion that prompts Jesus to tell this tale.
- Divide the story. Separate the main details, those essential to the telling, from the minor details, those optional to the telling.
- Discover the significance. Find the one point Jesus wants to convey to his audience.
I. Jesus predicts the messiah's advent = Determine the setting (Matt 24:1-3).
The occasion that prompts Jesus to tell this parable is a conversation he has with the disciples back in chapter 24 about his future return:3
Matt 24:1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Jesus' response to the disciples' query is an entire block of instruction about eschatology (final things) that Bible scholars call "The Olivet Discourse," which includes, among other things, this parable of "The Ten Virgins."
Application: People are generally impatient and often find waiting to be a difficult task. Whether waiting for a much-anticipated package to arrive or waiting for an "I'm-already-late" traffic light to change, we are generally in a rush and inclined more to instant gratification than to delayed gratification. But God never hurries, and yet He is never late. That is because He makes the schedule. Moreover, He does not synchronize His schedule to anyone else's. In fact, you can either synchronize your schedule to His schedule or you will be forever out of sync, always ahead or behind but never really 'on time.'
God has a unique perspective of time, unique because He sees it, He understands it, and He controls it. As God says through Isaiah...
Application: People are generally impatient and often find waiting to be a difficult task. Whether waiting for a much-anticipated package to arrive or waiting for an "I'm-already-late" traffic light to change, we are generally in a rush and inclined more to instant gratification than to delayed gratification. But God never hurries, and yet He is never late. That is because He makes the schedule. Moreover, He does not synchronize His schedule to anyone else's. In fact, you can either synchronize your schedule to His schedule or you will be forever out of sync, always ahead or behind but never really 'on time.'
God has a unique perspective of time, unique because He sees it, He understands it, and He controls it. As God says through Isaiah...
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isa 46:10)
The only way to make time work in your favor is for you to work for God, to make His schedule your schedule, not expect Him to follow your schedule, to operate on His clock. This includes recognizing that some events, perhaps many events, are out of your control, even beyond your knowledge, like the precise time of Jesus' return:
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know [when] your Lord will come." (Matt 24:36,42)
The special time of Jesus' return is unpredictable. Many have tried, and their attempts have even spawned groups devoted to their calculations, but their efforts have all failed because the precise time is unpredictable. Nevertheless, the general time of Jesus' return is predictable, and he says so:
Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. (Matt 24:32-33)
"The Ten Virgins" parable underscores this limit: The attendants had a basic idea when the groom would show up, otherwise they could not have planned a wedding banquet, but they did not know precisely, so they had to wait.
Having established the first step—determine the setting—the next step is to consider the parable itself.
Having established the first step—determine the setting—the next step is to consider the parable itself.
II. Jesus explains the messiah's advent = Divide the story (Matt 25:1-13).
This parable is part of a larger discussion about the future and a description of God's kingdom in the Messianic Age. 4 Jesus likens the anticipation of his return to the anticipation a wedding party has for the arrival of the groom.
This parable is part of a larger discussion about the future and a description of God's kingdom in the Messianic Age. 4 Jesus likens the anticipation of his return to the anticipation a wedding party has for the arrival of the groom.
A. The story has two lines of events.
- Initially, attendants await the groom (vv. 1-5).
Matt 25:1 The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
- Eventually, attendants accompany the groom (vv. 6-10).
Matt 25:6 At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil;5 our lamps are going out.' 9 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
In first century Judaism the custom often was that the bride would wait with her attendants for the groom to arrive and escort her to the wedding banquet. If, as was the case here, the hour was late and night had already fallen,6 the attendants would be traipsing about in the dark and would need their lamps to light the way. As such, individual lamps were not merely a fashion accessory but a functional necessity that relied on oil for fuel. Some of the bride's maids prepared adequately by bringing an extra quantity of oil in case whatever residue might be left in their lamps ran out while it was still dark. Presumably night had already fallen or would soon be upon them, and few shops were still open. Consequently, only some of the bridesmaids were adequately prepared to fulfill their wedding party duty and accompany the couple to the reception banquet.
While some interpreters may allegorize elements of the story, giving special meaning to what is really a minor detail (e.g., oil = Holy Spirit), people who recognize the limits of such a method look for a more direct approach to understanding the text. After noting the circumstances that occasion Jesus' telling of this story, the next step is to identify important elements and to eliminate unimportant elements, specifics vital (or not) to the main point that Jesus wants to convey.
An allegory has many elements, all offering seemingly important contributions to the story. A parable has fewer elements, with only some offering important contributions to the story. Hence, it is necessary to distinguish between the two kinds of specifics, major details and minor details.
While some interpreters may allegorize elements of the story, giving special meaning to what is really a minor detail (e.g., oil = Holy Spirit), people who recognize the limits of such a method look for a more direct approach to understanding the text. After noting the circumstances that occasion Jesus' telling of this story, the next step is to identify important elements and to eliminate unimportant elements, specifics vital (or not) to the main point that Jesus wants to convey.
An allegory has many elements, all offering seemingly important contributions to the story. A parable has fewer elements, with only some offering important contributions to the story. Hence, it is necessary to distinguish between the two kinds of specifics, major details and minor details.
B. The story has two kinds of particulars.
1. Major details are those essential to the story's point:
a. The bride (Church)
b. The groom (Christ)
c. The (wise) well-prepared attendants (= the faithful)
d. The (foolish) ill-prepared attendants (= the unfaithful)
2. Minor details are those optional to the story's point.
a. Lamps
b. Oil jars
c. Door
d. Banquet
Application: Being able to sort through the details of life and identify those that are most deserving of your attention is a helpful skill. Is it more important to wear this jacket or that sweater? Should you stop for gas now or wait till later? In many cases the difference between two options does not matter. Either one will do. Sometimes the difference does matter, though, like deciding between telling the truth or telling a lie, fulfilling a promise or breaking your word. At such times the decision may actually come down to obeying God or not. David asks and answers:
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? ...He...who speaks the truth from his heart.... who keeps his oath even when it hurts." (Ps 15:1-2, 4)
Your most important decisions are the ones that matter to God, the ones that show His character.
While an allegory may have many points, a parable has only one point Jesus wants to make with his story. After identifying the main elements of the parable, the interpreter is ready to designate the single conclusion Jesus means to convey.8
While an allegory may have many points, a parable has only one point Jesus wants to make with his story. After identifying the main elements of the parable, the interpreter is ready to designate the single conclusion Jesus means to convey.8
III. Jesus summarizes the messiah's advent = Discover the significance (Matt 25:11-13).
Matt 25:11 "Later the others also came.9 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.10
A. The bridesmaids did not know when the groom would arrive, and only those attendants who were prepared could join the groom as he escorted his bride to the wedding banquet and could also take part in the feast.11
B. The disciples do not know when the messiah will arrive,12 and only those who are prepared will join the savior as he escorts his bride (the Church) to the banquet (heaven) and will also take part in the feast.13
Application: Sometimes a person's social standing is determined by whom he knows, and he may try to impress others with his connections by dropping the names of famous individuals in casual conversation. Whether or not he really knows the people he cites is uncertain but he thinks it will enhance his reputation. Yet name dropping does not always work in a person's favor:
Some...who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." ...[One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. (Acts 19:13, 15-16)
What will be essential in the end is not that you know Jesus but that Jesus knows you (Matt 25:13).15
"The Ten Virgins" is about being prepared for Jesus' return. Despite the warning this story presents, it is an event that will still catch many people by surprise.
"The Ten Virgins" is about being prepared for Jesus' return. Despite the warning this story presents, it is an event that will still catch many people by surprise.
For a pdf with Bibliography and Endnotes go here.
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