Bible Study The Ten Virgins

[Douglas Summers]

The "Ten Virgins" is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted parables in Scripture. In the Olivet discourse, in Chapter Matt. 24: 36-51, Jesus teaches about ,being watchful of His coming, And those who are evil servants among the faithful, and the plight of the two. In (Matt. 24:48-51). He then gives an illustration in a parable of the "Ten Virgins" and how it relates to the "Kingdom of the Heavens". The Ten virgins went forth with their lamps (The Word of God, Psalms 119:105) (Luke 16:27-31). Five were wise and five were foolish, for five had no oil in there Lamps (Matt. 13:1-6; 18-21), But, five did (Matt. 13:8-9; 23). Why the number 10? The number 10 in Scripture is associated with testing (The Ten Commandments Ex. 20:1-23) (The Church Rev. 2:10). While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept (From the last death of the last Apostle and the beginning of the Church in Rome) The return of the Lord was never preached. The early Church would not allow people to read the Bible.. Martin Luther said he never read the Bible till he was a grown man, Bibles were not allowed to the common people, they took their biblical instructions from the Church hierarchy. During that time (hundreds of years) the coming of the Lord was never taught. Even in 1200 A.D. You would not have herd the teaching of the return of the Lord. It was only after the reformation the return of the Lord was taught. (This was a time of slumber and sleeping of the Church) (Matt. 25:5).
Notice when the Lord (Bridegroom) comes calling (at midnight) when you would least expect it, That is why He says "Be Ready" , But five of the virgins were not recognized by the Lord, and the door was not opened, But five were, and the door was opened (Matt. 24:40-42). The whole of these Parables and illustrations are about being ready at all times, for the Lord will come when you least expect Him. He is not coming for the religious, but for the born again. Are you looking for Him?

 

[for_his_glory]

The five had oil in their lamps as the lamp is the word of God and the oil represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides us and teaches us the truth of His word. These were Spiritually prepared as the Bride when the Bridegroom comes for His Bride. The other five only had a lamp, but knew nothing of the oil they needed to bring light to it. These are they that will not enter the kingdom of God as they were not Spiritually prepared as a Bride before the Bridegroom comes.

 

[Tessa]

Matthew 25:8-9

The foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to give them some of their oil. The wise refuse because there may not be enough for them all. I have never understood that last part. How can they give them the Holy Spirit? And if they could how would there not be enough for them all?

 

[ezra]

Matthew 25:8-9
The foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to give them some of their oil. The wise refuse because there may not be enough for them all. I have never understood that last part. How can they give them the Holy Spirit? And if they could how would there not be enough for them all?

we have to get it for ourselves...

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.’

they was slothful and thought they could ride in on theirs . many think because they had a religious experience baptism repeated a prayer that some one told then to say baptized .did all the right thing going through the motions .but never had a born again experience born of the spirit . if we do not have the spirit we are none of his..Romans 8 . we have lots of religion a form of Godliness but deny the power there of

 

[Douglas Summers]

Matthew 25:8-9

The foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to give them some of their oil. The wise refuse because there may not be enough for them all. I have never understood that last part. How can they give them the Holy Spirit? And if they could how would there not be enough for them all?

You can not enter in on association with church membership. The oil represents the Holy Spirit and is intimate and personal with each born again believer. It is not that they would not share, the point was, we receive the Spirit from God....not men. While we can share our grace with others (the treatment of man), we must call upon the name of the Lord, Instead, they did not know Christ at all, but looked to the wisdom of man. Ponder upon the Scriptures I referenced in that post, It might give you some insight. Ezra's post was a good explanation also.

 

[ezra]

there are several good explanations examples of the 5 wise 5 foolish . every one has a different thought. i see things more different than many ..i take it to a level of understanding like the hand writing on the wall one the interpretation come through... K.I.S.S = keep it simple stupid ***** that is my method i have to break it down to level i can understand

 

[Tessa]

The bit I don't get is 'there may not be enough for both us and you'.

It's worded like that for a reason.

I agree with what you are both saying.
But I think there is something else there too

 

[Edward]

The bit I don't get is 'there may not be enough for both us and you'.

It's worded like that for a reason.

I agree with what you are both saying.
But I think there is something else there too

I don't get that either.

 

[ezra]

its a individual responsibility that is the message i have looked at several commentators this morning did google search they all agree 5 wise represents those who are truly real they had lamps/torches with extra oil the 5 foolish had nothing they was not ready they was not saved not sure what your looking for i have did a comparison with several commentators ..i can not use your oil/Holy spirit i must get it on my own when Jesus returns he is coming for those looking for him/that love his appearing . the Bible says
Revelation 1:7

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

what does that mean ? exactly what is says the lost{ 5 foolish) will see him the saved {5 wise } will see him much like the hide and seek game ready or not here i come .only thing is he wont have to hunt us down

 

[ezrider]

Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.



The ten virgins all thought they had oil to burn in their lamps, and they all slept and slumbered. But at midnight a cry went forth, and they all rose to go forth to meet the bridegroom. The oil was needed so that their way might be lit in the darkest of hours. Now the foolish took no oil with them, but that does not mean there was no oil in there lamp to begin with; and likewise the wise virgins feared that they might not have enough oil for themselves.

For each of the virgins, the oil that filled their lamps before they departed was mined from the scriptures and the word of God. And the oil that was mined was the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Now when they each arose to go forth they lit their lamps, and they did burn for a while as they went forth and trimmed them.

Now the foolish virgins took no oil with them, meaning they did not know the Spirit of the Lord within them. Soon their lamps went out and they were left alone in the dark, sent off to buy from those who sell. And like the oil barrens and profiteers, the power from the light of the Son has been suppressed that they might sell unto you their oil. And like those who pillage for profit by fracking for oil, or those who would squeeze every drop of oil they can from the tar sands at the expense of the common wealth, the foolish virgins return again to the Bible or to those who sell books about the Bible, trying to squeeze every last drop of oil that remains from the dried ink on the pages of a book. The foolish virgins never understood that for all the oil they might mine, and for all the oil that they might purchase, there is never enough oil to sustain the lamp, for it soon burns dim before it need more oil.

Now the wise virgins started off with the same oil in their lamps as did the foolish, but the wise virgins took some oil with them, and they carried that oil in their container of Faith. Now after they has arose and went forth, they lit their lamps and trimmed them, and when their lamps began to dim and the darkness overtake them they did not turn back, but they called upon their Faith and it sustained them for a while and their lamp remained lit. But the wise virgins were called wise for a reason, for they perceived that the oil of their faith was no different than the oil they first began with; the oil mined from the scriptures. And as the oil of their faith weakened to the point that there lamps were barely lit, they drew on their last bit of faith and called upon the Lord to lighten their way in the darkness. And when they saw that the Lord did send forth His Spirit to lighten their way, and that the darkness was not as frightful as they thought, they learned to trust in the Lord and to trust in His Spirit.

Now trusting in the Spirit of the Lord to lighten the way before them, the wise virgins found that if they took their eyes off the path for a moment to gaze at the world around them they would quickly loose sight of that light, and they would once again stumble around in the darkness until they call upon the Lord once again. Soon the Lord reminds them that they should carry a little extra oil with them, and so He gives to them the gift of His Faith. Now back on their way with their lamps lit and trim, when the wise virgins find the darkness deepening around them, they soon discover that once they call upon that Faith to refuel their lamp, that they are soon able to trim their lamp to meet the magnitude of darkness before them. And as the darkness grows around them, their lamps begin to burn brighter, and soon they discover that once they have called upon that gift of Faith, that the Spirit of the Lord sustains them and that His oil does not diminish.

Our light begins to shine brighter and our Faith begins to grow when we can learn to express the Word of God within us rather than just the word of God as it found in the ink on the pages of a book.

 

[ezrider]

Amos 8:11-14
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God,
that I will send a famine in the land,
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east,
they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

The unwise virgings shall run to and fro seeking the word of the Lord from those who buy and sell, but they shall not find it. It shall be hidden from them. But as they run to and fro seeking the word of the Lord, their knowledge of the law and of evil shall increase to their own shame and contempt.

Daniel 12:1-4
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

[Tessa]

I agree with what you are all saying.

It's this but 'There may not be enough for both us and you ...'

There may not be enough? ?

My answer would have been 'you have to be buy the oil yourself, I'm unable to give you mine.' They have a spirit of their own and can only fill it with their own faith and love.

Why not enough?

That is the only part I don't understand. All the rest I do understand.

 

[ezrider]

I agree with what you are all saying.

It's this but 'There may not be enough for both us and you ...'

There may not be enough? ?

My answer would have been 'you have to be buy the oil yourself, I'm unable to give you mine.' They have a spirit of their own and can only fill it with their own faith and love.

Why not enough?

That is the only part I don't understand. All the rest I do understand.

Have you ever walked out of the grocery store with bags of food, cash in your purse and some spare change, only to wave off the hungry homeless man or beggar that stalks you, saying I'm sorry, but I have nothing I can give you?

 

[ezra]

I agree with what you are all saying.

It's this but 'There may not be enough for both us and you ...'

There may not be enough? ?

My answer would have been 'you have to be buy the oil yourself, I'm unable to give you mine.' They have a spirit of their own and can only fill it with their own faith and love.

Why not enough?

That is the only part I don't understand. All the rest I do understand.

enough oil to last the night symbolic speaking

 

[for_his_glory]

Matthew 25:8-9

The foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to give them some of their oil. The wise refuse because there may not be enough for them all. I have never understood that last part. How can they give them the Holy Spirit? And if they could how would there not be enough for them all?

This is my take on it.

Every Christian is given a measure of faith that Gods grace will be sufficient in their own life. If they give part of their faith away then grace may not be sufficient enough for them as it takes away from the portion God specifically gave to each one.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

[Tessa]

But we cannot give away our grace, salvation or faith to someone else.
We can share it by telling the gospel - could that be what it means? We will be unable to share our faith as we can do now? But then how could that take away some of our faith and leave us without enough? It is just those few words I am having difficulty with. 'Not enough for us and you'

How can anyone give away part of their faith.

 

[Tessa]

Have you ever walked out of the grocery store with bags of food, cash in your purse and some spare change, only to wave off the hungry homeless man or beggar that stalks you, saying I'm sorry, but I have nothing I can give you?

Only when I haven't got it

 

[ezra]

How can anyone give away part of their faith.

they cant

 

[Tessa]

Amen!

 

[Edward]

Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.



The ten virgins all thought they had oil to burn in their lamps, and they all slept and slumbered. But at midnight a cry went forth, and they all rose to go forth to meet the bridegroom. The oil was needed so that their way might be lit in the darkest of hours. Now the foolish took no oil with them, but that does not mean there was no oil in there lamp to begin with; and likewise the wise virgins feared that they might not have enough oil for themselves.

For each of the virgins, the oil that filled their lamps before they departed was mined from the scriptures and the word of God. And the oil that was mined was the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Now when they each arose to go forth they lit their lamps, and they did burn for a while as they went forth and trimmed them.

Now the foolish virgins took no oil with them, meaning they did not know the Spirit of the Lord within them. Soon their lamps went out and they were left alone in the dark, sent off to buy from those who sell. And like the oil barrens and profiteers, the power from the light of the Son has been suppressed that they might sell unto you their oil. And like those who pillage for profit by fracking for oil, or those who would squeeze every drop of oil they can from the tar sands at the expense of the common wealth, the foolish virgins return again to the Bible or to those who sell books about the Bible, trying to squeeze every last drop of oil that remains from the dried ink on the pages of a book. The foolish virgins never understood that for all the oil they might mine, and for all the oil that they might purchase, there is never enough oil to sustain the lamp, for it soon burns dim before it need more oil.

Now the wise virgins started off with the same oil in their lamps as did the foolish, but the wise virgins took some oil with them, and they carried that oil in their container of Faith. Now after they has arose and went forth, they lit their lamps and trimmed them, and when their lamps began to dim and the darkness overtake them they did not turn back, but they called upon their Faith and it sustained them for a while and their lamp remained lit. But the wise virgins were called wise for a reason, for they perceived that the oil of their faith was no different than the oil they first began with; the oil mined from the scriptures. And as the oil of their faith weakened to the point that there lamps were barely lit, they drew on their last bit of faith and called upon the Lord to lighten their way in the darkness. And when they saw that the Lord did send forth His Spirit to lighten their way, and that the darkness was not as frightful as they thought, they learned to trust in the Lord and to trust in His Spirit.

Now trusting in the Spirit of the Lord to lighten the way before them, the wise virgins found that if they took their eyes off the path for a moment to gaze at the world around them they would quickly loose sight of that light, and they would once again stumble around in the darkness until they call upon the Lord once again. Soon the Lord reminds them that they should carry a little extra oil with them, and so He gives to them the gift of His Faith. Now back on their way with their lamps lit and trim, when the wise virgins find the darkness deepening around them, they soon discover that once they call upon that Faith to refuel their lamp, that they are soon able to trim their lamp to meet the magnitude of darkness before them. And as the darkness grows around them, their lamps begin to burn brighter, and soon they discover that once they have called upon that gift of Faith, that the Spirit of the Lord sustains them and that His oil does not diminish.

Our light begins to shine brighter and our Faith begins to grow when we can learn to express the Word of God within us rather than just the word of God as it found in the ink on the pages of a book.

So...they weren't being led by the Spirit?
That makes sense. Click.