The following is a brief interpretation of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish (Unwise) Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-10:

25:1  “…like 10 virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom”

  • these are pure, holy people – not lovers of sin
  • lamps represent the Word of God – the virgins are illuminated by its light
  • they are anxious to see the bridegroom – definitely holy people

25:2  “… five of them were wise, five were foolish”

25:3  “They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.”

  • they were foolish, not evil, not knowing how long until the bridegroom would appear
  • oil represents the spirit of Truth – the wise virgins have absorbed it into their hearts (vessels)

25:6  “Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.”

25:7  “Then ALL those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.”

  • righteous, holy, excited people
  • trimming their lamps represents searching the scriptures for truth

25:8  “And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.’”

  • oil cannot be transferred one to another – the cost of this oil is self-denial, trials for righteousness sake, putting aside earthly hopes, hearts yearning and waiting for the bridegroom.

25:10 “And while they (the foolish virgins) went away to buy oil…the door was shut”

  • too late.  Jesus says to this class, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot…So because you are lukewarm…I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich…and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched…I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself…and eye salve…so that you may see” Revelation 3:15-18.
  • now the door is shut, the invitation to be Christ’s bride is over, and they are left. They say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved,” Jeremiah 8:20. 
  • yet they are still virgins. They will experience hard trials to develop. Song of Solomon 5:6,7, “I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and had gone!…I searched for him but I did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me. The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, they struck me and wounded me; the guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.”

Prophetically, the door will be shut before Israel is converted. Romans 11:25, 26, “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles (the true church completed) be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved.” Otherwise, we cannot determine in advance the time of the door closing. We simply know we must love God with all of our beings and apply ourselves to zealously serve Him.

Additional Resource:  Christian Questions Podcast Episode #1143: What Does Jesus Expect From Us? Uncovering the age-lasting meaning of The Wise and Foolish Virgins Preview Video  CQ Rewind Show Notes