THE PARABLE OF THE FOOLISH AND WISE VILLAGE GIRLS (Matthew 25:1-13)

1 “At that time 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.
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; 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.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

CONTEXT: THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST

The parable of the Ten Village Girls begins with the words, “At that time” (NIV) or “Then” (AV) which is a link with the previous chapter and a key to its interpretation. It likens the kingdom of heaven to the climax at the end of this age when Christ returns. The main reference of this parable is to the return of Christ.[1] This parable, which is unique to Matthew, stresses the need for alertness and preparation, and that each of us is responsible for his or her spiritual condition.

THE STORY ITSELF

Not all the details of the customs of ancient Palestinian weddings are known. However, the scene is a typical village wedding with teenage unmarried girls waiting to escort the bridegroom in a torch-lighted procession at the end of the marriage ceremony, as he brings his bride home for the wedding festival. Unfortunately for five of them, the wait was unusually long, and they were unaware of their carelessness.

The lamps were probably torches made of oil-soaked rags wrapped on a stick, which would burn for several minutes before being dipped in oil again. Without a further supply of oil they would go out soon after they were lit. No time was given for the bridegroom to leave for the feast. At the news of the bridegroom’s arrival, all ten put oil on their torches; but only five had reserve jars of oil needed later in the celebrations. Were they to share their oil, there would soon be no torches at all, so they politely refused to share. For their carelessness the foolish girls were excluded from the banquet.

This is a much-debated parable but the obvious lesson is the conclusion attached to it is: “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (verse 13) The parable ends with the command to be on the alert and ready, which echoes Matthew 24:36, 42, 44, and 50. The Greek “greegoreo”, in verse 13, is translated “keep watch” (NIV) or “be on the alert” (NASB) or “watch out” (GNB) or “stay awake and be prepared” (NLT). It is like the expression, “Keep your eyes open.”

A POPULAR INTERPRETATION OF THIS PARABLE

A popular interpretation explains the five foolish girls as professing Christians, or false members of the Church, while the five wise ones represent genuine disciples, or the expectant church. The imagery of the bridegroom representing the Messiah, and a wedding feast for his kingdom, is quite common in the NT. Here Jesus Christ is the heavenly bridegroom, and his sudden coming represents the unpredictable time of his return. The bride although not mentioned in the story, represents the bride of Christ, the Church. As the precise time of Christ’s return is unknown, obedience and watchfulness are essential.

This view argues that although the Church has known for 20 centuries that Jesus shall return, many believers are spiritually asleep. It also suggests that not every professing Christian will enter heaven; some have not sincerely trusted Jesus Christ and the Church includes both the good and the bad. (cf Matthew 7:21-23)

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GUARD AGAINST ALLEGORIZING

There are conflicting ideas and some confusion about the details of this parable with differing opinions. However, a parable usually has one main point of likeness between the story and its meaning, and we should not read too much into the details of the story. The details only serve to make the story realistic and true to life. In contrast, an allegory (like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress) may have many points of meaning. It is a mistake to allegorize the parables of Jesus. It is best to keep the main point of the story in view, rather than look for hidden meanings in every detail.

(See Appendices A and B for a more detailed discussion of this point.)

The story makes one very important point: watchfulness or alertness means that nothing should distract us from being prepared for the return of Christ. The details simply make the story. To seek further meaning could approve the disregard of another’s need and encourage selfishness.

The “wise” or “sensible” [2] (Barclay) are called that because they are prepared for the bridegroom’s delayed coming. Both wise and foolish wait and sleep and neither group is blamed for that. There is little point in finding symbolic meanings in the lamps, the oil or sleep. The only difference between the two groups is simply this: the wise bring not only oil in their lamps but an extra supply in separate jars, while the foolish bring no extra oil and are unprepared for his delay. Jesus is careful to indicate that the bridegroom is a long time coming. He hinted earlier, “But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, my master is staying away a long time.” (Matthew 24:48; compare Matthew 25:19).

ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS WHEN CHRIST WILL RETURN

This parable concludes with significant words that echo earlier warnings: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” It is strange that in spite of this caution so many throughout history have mistakenly wasted their time in the futile attempt to decide the date when the “parousia”[3] may be expected. Some have taken the term “day and hour” (Mark 13:32) to mean that the exact day of Christ’s return may be determined! Here (verse 13) as well in 24:36 and Mark 13:32, Jesus tells us clearly that no one but the Father knows the time of Christ’s return.

Jesus did not precisely timetable future events; he only gave certain guidelines, or indicators, by which we may discern the “signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3). We cannot be certain that the second coming will be in our lifetime, or in a particular decade, or in a particular year. Jesus did not encourage dogmatic interpretations, futile speculation and eccentric calculations about the date of his return. This type of Bible teaching is often the mark of a cult. Our present duty is to faithfully discharge our responsibilities and to extend the kingdom of God on earth through evangelism and discipleship. Let us not allow curiosity about the end-times to distract us from doing God’s work.

PERSONAL APPLICATIONS

Each of us is responsible for himself and must be prepared for the Lord’s return. Salvation is a personal possession and it is not transferable. Our individual choices determine our eternal destiny. You may have heard the saying, “God has no grandchildren. He only has children.” “Eternity with Christ tomorrow must be preceded by a life with Christ now.”
We shall be judged individually by our own character and deeds. What should I be doing today to prepare for Christ’s return?
“The oil that was used yesterday will not keep today’s lamps alight. So perhaps we may learn not to depend exclusively on past experiences; they will not be sufficient for the needs of the present. Daily grace must be obtained for daily need.”^[4] Our relationship with God must be our own.
We need to be spiritually prepared for life as it unfolds. A time of testing or trial may come without warning. We need to be ready to meet a crisis or be ready to grasp an opportunity.
The door of opportunity is still open. The two parables that follow encourage us to use our talents and help those in need. As with many opportunities in this life, there comes a time when the opportunity is lost. There is such a thing as being “too late.” Other doors may open but some may never open again. No amount of regret can change the consequences. Finally, death shuts the door of all opportunity. What should I be doing now?

CONCLUSION

The Anglican Bishop J. C. Ryle comments:

“Christ’s second coming whenever that may be, will take all men by surprise. He will find the vast majority of mankind unbelieving and unprepared. He will find the vast majority of believing people in a sleepy and indolent [lazy] state of soul. Politics, trading, farming, buying, selling, pleasure seeking will take up men’s attention just as they do now. Churches will still be full of divisions and wrangling about trifles and theological controversies will still be raging. Ministers will still be calling men to repent and congregations still putting off the day of decision. In the midst of all this Jesus Christ shall appear. The startled world shall stand before its King.” [5]

FOR REFLECTION

What difference does a belief in the return of Christ make to your Christian life? Why is it not enough to have his living presence, through the Holy Spirit, with us now?
While we wait for Christ’s return we are called to watch prayerfully and to work purposefully. It is not a call to get swept away with the latest speculation or to live as if Jesus must come tomorrow. It is a call to set priorities so that we are not ashamed when we stand before him.
The early Christians greeted one another with the word “Maranatha” which means, “The Lord is coming!” How often do we talk about and think about the Lord’s coming?
Our daily life should be disciplined by the reality of Christ’s sudden return. What things should I give up? What things should I continue to do? And what things should I begin to do?
If we want to be part of the Bridegroom’s wedding feast we need to focus on what is important to Jesus Christ. What things prevent you from being focused on God and his kingdom? How could you address these issues today?
Am I preparing for the future before it is too late? Have I allowed the lamp of my life to go out?

PRAYER

Lord, help me to prepare for the future and be watchful and ready at your coming. Strengthen this resolve in me as I consider the wise girls in this parable. Amen.

Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Teaching.

APPENDIX A: IT IS IMPORTANT TO GUARD AGAINST ALLEGORIZING

The term “virgins” (NIV) or “maidens” (Moffatt) is not significant. They were young unmarried girls who were probably teenage village girls and not bridesmaids. Bridesmaids would have been with the bride and not on the road, and as bridesmaids they would not have been excluded from the wedding ceremony. Some argue that the girls (either as virgins or as bridesmaids) represent born-again believers but the NT likens the Church to the Bride of Christ. How can the girls be both the bridesmaids and the bride at the same time?

The parable of the Ten Pounds or Minas, in Luke chapter 19, indicates that the number ten is commonly used as a round number, or a symbol of completeness, while the girls do not represent any group of people in particular. For example, if we allegorize the two sets of girls into true and false believers, or into holy and less holy believers, we have to reckon with the fact that they all fell asleep. The contrast between the two groups lies in the foresight of the prudent and the carelessness of the foolish. It is their unreadiness that is the folly of the foolish girls.

And if we allegorize the oil to mean the Holy Spirit, or true faith, or righteousness, we have to reckon with the fact that the foolish girls had oil to begin with as well as the wise, and that when it ran out they managed to buy some more. However, the Holy Spirit is not for sale and neither is faith or righteousness or works. If it is argued that the oil symbolizes a believer’s works, then it has to be decided if the foolish girls were saved or not. If they were not saved, then their lack of works (or oil) proved that they were not saved, and not getting into the banquet meant not getting into heaven. If you argue that the foolish girls were saved, then it follows that they lost their rewards (and not their salvation), and that the banquet represents rewards, or something like reigning with Christ.

The sudden arrival of the bridegroom has its counterpart in the sudden flood judgment of Genesis (Matthew 24:39), in the surprise entry of the thief (24:43), and in the surprise return of the householder from a journey (24:50). The suddenness of these catastrophes represents a crisis and parallels the climax of history at the end of the age and the following judgment of Christ. The foolish girls were not ready when the bridegroom arrived. The point of the parable is: “Don’t be careless like those foolish girls; keep alert and be prepared, for you do not know when a crisis (like the return of Christ) will come.” It is an encouragement to believers in any age to remain spiritually alert and prepared.

APPENDIX B: PROPHETIC INTERPRETATIONS

Passages of prophecy are always difficult and problematic so it is not surprising that expositors disagree among themselves. Often a passage of prophecy has both a primary and a secondary meaning. As in the accounts of Mark and Luke, the threatened judgment on Jerusalem in Matthew is interwoven with the judgment of Christ at the climax of history at the end of this present age.

An Immediate Prophetic Meaning

This view says the story was directed against the nation of Israel as their entire history was intended to be a preparation for the coming of Jesus. Instead the chosen people were unprepared and as a result of their rejection of the Messiah, Israel was rejected by God as a favoured nation. Jesus had warned in a previous parable, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43). While the judgment was not total as the apostles were Jews, it was nevertheless disastrous. The early Christians understood the foolish girls as a reference to Israel, and the wise girls as a reference to the Gentiles.

Jesus predicted that the Gentiles were to be included in the kingdom of God while many Jews for whom the kingdom was originally intended would find themselves excluded: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12). A future Messianic banquet was a picture of God’s kingdom, and fellowship at a table indicated relationship. Gentiles did not usually eat with Jewish people.

An End-Time Prophetic Meaning

Some expositors apply this parable to this present age. Others favour a futurist interpretation and apply the parable to an end-time period of tribulation when genuine believers have been raptured. According to this view, the parable is directed specifically toward a remnant of Jewish people in the period of tribulation.[6]

[1] The Greek word “parousia”, translated as “coming”, in the NT is used to refer to Christ’s Second Coming in Matthew chapter 24 (verses 3, 27, 37, and 39). The word does not occur in this parable but it is important in chapter 24, which is the context of the parable. The word was used in secular Greek for formal visits by those in authority such as an emperor, a king, a governor or a famous person. Their coming required readiness and preparation.

[2] The Greek “phronimos”, in verses 2, 4, 8, 9, translated “wise” comes from the word “phroneo”, “to have in mind, be mindful of, to think of”. It means to be prudent, discerning, intelligent, thoughtful, sensible, and street-wise. The wise girls showed good judgment, thoughtfulness and insight in providing for an emergency or crisis. In this parable their wisdom is preparedness and awareness. In the Bible the wise person is one who does God’s will and the foolish person is disobedient to the will of God.

[3] See footnote number one for the meaning of “parousia”.

^[4]Kaiser, W. C,1997, Hard Sayings of the Bible electronic edition, IVP.

[5] Daily Readings from J. C. Ryle, Robert Sheehan, page 302, Evangelical Press, 1982.

[6] The purpose of this study of the Parable of the Ten Village Girls is mainly devotional. It is not the author’s intention to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the differing eschatological (end-time) interpretations.