“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
— Matthew 25:1–13 (KJV)
Introduction: A Parable Spoken to the Church
The Parable of the Ten Virgins is one of the most direct and searching teachings Jesus ever gave concerning His return. Spoken during the Olivet Discourse, just days before the crucifixion, this parable is not addressed to the world, but to those who profess to belong to the kingdom of heaven. All ten are called virgins. All carry lamps. All go out to meet the bridegroom. Yet only half enter the wedding.
This parable exposes the difference between outward profession and inward preparation. It warns that proximity to truth is not the same as possession of truth, and that association with Christ is not the same as readiness for Christ.
The Kingdom Context: “Then Shall the Kingdom of Heaven Be Likened”
Jesus begins with the word then, tying this parable directly to the events of the last days described in Matthew 24. This is an end-time parable. It belongs to the season of Christ’s return, false security, delay, and sudden judgment.
The “kingdom of heaven” here does not describe heaven itself, but the visible sphere of those who claim allegiance to Christ on earth. This includes true believers and mere professors. The parable reveals that within this kingdom there will be a division when the Bridegroom comes.
The Ten Virgins: A Picture of Professing Believers
All ten virgins share important similarities:
- All are called virgins, symbolizing outward purity and separation
- All carry lamps, representing profession of faith
- All go out to meet the bridegroom, showing expectation of His coming
- All fall asleep during the delay
Nothing outwardly distinguishes the wise from the foolish at first glance. This is crucial. The separation is not between believers and unbelievers in the obvious sense, but between prepared and unprepared professors within the visible church.
The Lamps and the Oil: Profession Versus Possession
The lamp represents outward testimony—religious knowledge, confession, activity, and appearance. The oil, however, represents inward spiritual life. Throughout Scripture, oil is associated with the Holy Spirit, divine anointing, and true life from God.
The wise virgins brought oil in their vessels. The foolish had lamps, but no reserve. When the moment of testing came, what they lacked was exposed.
This teaches a foundational truth:
- Faith cannot be borrowed
- The Spirit cannot be substituted
- Salvation cannot be shared secondhand
Church membership, religious habits, and borrowed belief cannot sustain a soul in the hour of Christ’s appearing.
The Delay and the Sleep: A Test of Perseverance
The bridegroom delays, and all ten virgins sleep. Sleep here does not represent apostasy, but human weakness and the passage of time. Even true believers grow weary while waiting. The key difference is not the sleep, but the preparation made before the sleep.
The delay tests whether faith is rooted in expectation or merely excitement. Those who prepare only for the short term reveal that they never truly expected the bridegroom to come.
The Midnight Cry: The Suddenness of His Coming
“At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
Midnight speaks of darkness, unexpectedness, and finality. The return of Christ will not fit human schedules. It will interrupt life, expose hearts, and demand immediate readiness.
At that moment, preparation cannot be rushed. The foolish virgins discover too late that spiritual life cannot be acquired at the last second.
The Closed Door: Final Separation
The most sobering words of the parable are these:
“And the door was shut.”
This door represents the end of opportunity. When Christ comes, grace for salvation gives way to judgment. The foolish virgins plead for entry, but hear the devastating reply:
“I know you not.”
This does not mean Christ was unaware of them. It means He never had a saving relationship with them. They knew about the bridegroom, but were never truly known by him.
The Central Warning: Watch, Therefore
Jesus ends the parable with a clear command:
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Watching is not passive. It is a life of repentance, faith, obedience, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. It is perseverance in truth while the world grows dark and the church grows mixed.
This parable teaches that readiness is not emotional excitement about prophecy, but a settled, enduring walk with Christ.
Conclusion: A Call to True Readiness
The Parable of the Ten Virgins stands as a warning to the end-time church. It declares that not all who expect Christ are prepared for Christ. The difference is not visible until the final moment, but by then it is too late to change.
Now is the time to examine whether the oil of the Spirit dwells within, whether faith is living and personal, and whether readiness is rooted in truth rather than appearance.
The Bridegroom is coming. The question is not whether the lamps are lit, but whether the vessels are filled.