The Parable of The Ten Virgins

What is this parable all about, for I have heard all manner of explanations of it? None of which, I hasten to add, have ever made much sense other than to be used by ‘ministers’ to spiritually abuse and bully their flocks. I am sad to have to say there are more than several passages of Scripture that are used in this abusive way.

This is the general ‘Christian’ consensus on this parable. The virgins are always (metaphorically) the membership of the congregation. The five wise virgins are those members who are always at church every Sunday putting on their Sunday best, including their Sunday best behaviour and Sunday smiles and those members who are lax in their attendance and may even be ‘church’ hoppers or not very happy and find their Christian walk all a bit too tough. They find the daily cleansing, salvation by process and self-improvement very hard work and don’t understand the contradiction of Our Lord’s Words “Take my yoke upon you for it is light;” they find the yoke they are bearing very heavy indeed. Then to compound their awful Spiritual condition, along comes old Bible basher Joe and gives his sermon on The Ten Virgins and these poor wretches are now on their hands and knees under the weight of this man made yoke.

So, what is the real meaning of this parable? Well it is fairly easy to work out if you use the correct symbolism and study a little into the traditions of Jewish weddings. First and foremost The Bridegroom is Jesus Christ and His bride is the Church. Now this is where many Bible teachers go wrong and place the Ten Virgins in this parable as the Church and they are not. The Bride is not mentioned in this parable and it is not mentioned deliberately because Our Lord was making a very different point entirely.

Even in the first century, Jewish weddings had bridesmaids and that is what these Ten Virgins are – Bridesmaids. Now what is the role of a bridesmaid? Why, to look after the bride – who else? Who is the Bride – The Church that’s who. So who are these Bridesmaids? Ah now we’re getting to it!! The Bridesmaids are Ministers and Pastors and Teachers – those responsible for looking after the after The Bride; and again; who is The Bride? The Church of course. They’re supposed to be leading their flocks and feeding them. With what? The Good News what else? The Good News of Salvation and Grace and growing in Faith.

In Adam Clarke’s commentary He says the oil for the lamps is Grace and I agree with this analogy for without Grace it is impossible for The Light to shine. The five wise virgins are ministers who understand Grace and it flows from them and their flocks are uplifted and strong in The Faith and these brothers and sisters carry a light yoke. On the other hand we have the five foolish virgins who are Grace killers; they have no oil for their lamps so those lamps cannot shine. The Light (Jesus Christ) has gone out of their teaching and possibly out of their lives.

Last but not least we have the message of wisdom and foolishness where no symbolism is necessary. Romans 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

Mark 7:7-13 “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

So there we have it, the wisdom of Grace versus the foolishness of men and their Graceless religion. The legalistic blasphemous interpretation of Scripture which puts True Believers into bondage and makes the lives of many of God’s Children; hell!

The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Simplicity that is in Christ