Matthew 25

¹Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Virgins signify Christians. The bridegroom is Jesus. Their lamps are what they used to illuminate their path as they were on their way to meet the Bridegroom. That would seem to me to be symbolic of their relationship with God and with Jesus.

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:

The oil here is representing the relationship each virgin has with Jesus. The foolish virgins were Christians who never developed a relationship with Jesus. I know a lot of people think that once you become a Christian, you instantly have a relationship with Jesus. I used the analogy of my relationship husband. Before we even married, I knew all kinds of things about him…. I knew what his favorite meal was, how he liked his coffee and strange little things like the position he gets in to fall asleep and that he takes the first bite of his sandwich on the corner. No detail or story was too small, I wanted to know everything and he was the same way with me…and when we finally did get married, everything was great because we already had a close personal relationship. My love for him drove my desire to know all about him… and in the same way, my love for Jesus drives my desire to know all about him.
All ten of the virgins started a relationship with Jesus by learning what Jesus did for them to save their souls from hell. They all learned and accepted the payment for their sins that Jesus provided for them. 5 of the Christians invested themselves into developing a deep, close relationship…and learning everything they could about their beloved savior. 5 of these Christians were lazy about their relationship, they didn’t make staying close to Jesus a priority.

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The lamp oil is the fuel that keeps the flame burning to light the way, so you don’t get lost or stumble. What that looks like in relation to today’s time is a Christian who is studying the word, rightly dividing the word of truth. Someone who spends time in prayer… and by prayer I mean an actual conversation with God and Jesus. This looks like a person who knows the word and lives by the word in obedience to the Lord Jesus… aka the Bridegroom.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

When you trim a lamp you cut off the part of the wick that is charred and fix the wick again, so the lamp can burn brightly, after trimming you fill the lamp with oil.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

The time of testing that comes with the Tribulation is going to require each person to have that close relationship with Jesus and to know the word well. There will be so much deception at that time the bible said if it’s possible it will fool even the very elect. Christians are going to have to know the voice of their savior Jesus, and that means, knowing his word and his ways. Look at where this parable is given… when Jesus is speaking of the end times….he’s talking about what to look for and how to know the season of his return. That tells me that the oil for the lamps includes knowing these signs well. The foolish virgins won’t be prepared… even though they know the bridegroom is coming, they did not prepare for the call to meet the bridegroom. Kind of like those brothers and sisters in the Lord that don’t study end times because they expect to be raptured out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

The wise virgins can not share their devotion to the bridegroom… because that is a personal thing and has to be developed personally.

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.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Marriage is when you both combine and become one. When Jesus sees the 5 foolish virgins, he doesn’t know them… the 5 wise one he knows. When Jesus takes in the 5 wise Christians he knows them…. because he is part of who they are… he knows them because he lives inside of them…. with the foolish Christians, they don’t reflect Jesus… so Jesus doesn’t know who they are.

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

He concludes the statement with this verse… so this parable is about the end times. Jesus tells us to watch because we don’t know the day or hour when he comes, but we need to be ready to meet him. He’s told us about the conditions of the earth and mankind and how hard everything will be so we can get ready for that time. If we fail to heed this warning from Jesus, we will be like the 5 foolish virgins.

¹⁴ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

¹⁶ Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

¹⁷ And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

¹⁸ But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

²⁰ And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²² He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²⁴ Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

²⁶ His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

²⁸ Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

³⁰ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What is an unprofitable servant other than one who receives Jesus as his savior thinking he could not be lost now, then returns to the world. I’ve known a person who was living a worldly sinful life… when I questioned her, she said, “I already got saved, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.” I think there are a lot of people who believe this. There are people that also count on a moment of time before their death where they can pray and get saved… and while you can get saved on your death bed, there are no promises you’ll get that chance. NOW is the acceptable time of salvation II Corinthians 6:2.

³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Quick note, these Christians blessed of the Lord had to be reminded they did these good works… because, they weren’t trying to be saved through works. Their works for the Lord were spontainous from their born again spirit nature that they were walking in… to them it was just how we conduct ourselves in honor Jesus and the salvation he gave.

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.