Jesus often taught in parables because they reveal profound spiritual truths to those who are willing to hear. Among these is the parable of the ten virgins, a story that is closely connected with one of Scripture’s greatest themes — the Bride.

From Genesis to Revelation, the theme of the Bride reveals God’s covenant love and His eternal purpose to prepare a people for His Son. The parable of the ten virgins forms part of that unfolding story.

As always, Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture. While many explanations have been offered for this parable, I believe there is a deeper significance that reaches beyond simply dividing the virgins into wise and foolish. You may agree or disagree with this interpretation, but it is worth considering in the light of the whole counsel of God.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Jesus told the parable in Matthew 25:1–13. Ten virgins are waiting with the bride for the arrival of the bridegroom.

The main events are straightforward:

• Ten attenddants wait for the bridegroom to begin the wedding celebration
• Five wisely bring extra oil for their lamps
• Five neglect to prepare for a long wait
• All fall asleep while waiting
• At midnight the cry rings out, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him! Matthew 25:6.
• The unwise virgins discover their lamps are going out and ask the others for oil
• The wise cannot share what they have and advise them to go out buy their own
• While the foolish virgins are away, the bridegroom arrives
• The prepared onesenter the wedding banquet, and the door is firmly shut
• The others return too late and hear the heartbreaking words, I do not know you.

Looking Beyond the Virgins

The imagery becomes even richer when viewed against the background of the Jewish wedding. We will explore those customs in another post, but one detail is important here:

The bridegroom comes to receive his bride.

The virgins are present because they belong to the wedding party, but they are not the bride.

This raises an important question.

If the bride is the bridegroom’s central focus, who or what do the virgins represent? How does this relate to those who are waiting for Christ’s return today?

Different Responses

If the parable points to the beginning of the final events before the Bridegroom comes to receive His Bride and take her to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:6–9, then we need to consider the differing responses.

• All ten virgins know about the bridegroom
• All are waiting
• All fall asleep.

Five were prepared for a delayed arrival while the others were not. Preparation that reveals the condition of the heart.

The oil is not merely something they possess. It represents a life that remains eagerly waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom, no matter how long it takes. It’s all about relationship.

What Does This Mean Today?

The universal Church is made up of many traditions and denominations, each emphasising different aspects of Scripture. In each group are believers whose relationship with Christ varies greatly.

Some have only a limited assurance of salvation. Although they believe the promise of eternal life if they accept Christ as their Saviour, John 3:16, their attention remains fixed on the things of this world rather than on growing in fellowship with Christ.

Others follow the Lord but remain spiritually immature. They know much about God yet still struggle to deny themselves daily and take up their cross, Luke 9:23.

Then there are those, found across many different denominations, whose greatest desire is to know Christ more deeply and live lives worthy of Him. Although their understanding may not be complete, their hearts are fully devoted to the Bridegroom.

God alone sees the heart, 1 Samuel 16:7. Therefore, it is not our place to judge who belongs in which company.

The Parable of the Sower

Another parable may help us gain another understanding of the ten virgins.

In the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:1–23, the seed is the Word of God, yet the responses are very different.

• Some seed fell on hard-trodden path – birds eat the seed which is unable to penetrate the hard soil
• The rocky ground – no room for roots to develop for there is only a thin layer of soil over rock
• The thorny ground – the life of the young plants is choked by weeds.

Then there is the good soil but differing measures of fruitfulness — thirtyfold, sixtyfold and one hundredfold.

The kingdom of God contains genuine believers who differ greatly in spiritual maturity, yet all are called to continue growing in their relationship with Christ, Ephesians 3:14.

They Accompany the Bride

Back to the parable of the ten virgins. The wise attendants accompany the Bride because they are prepared for the Bridegroom’s coming. They are honoured guests at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

The foolish attendants are locked outside because they were unprepared when the Bridegroom arrived.

Does that mean they are eternally lost?

Not necessarily.

The Timing

Those who understand this parable as occurring before the Great Tribulation, see the foolish virgins as believers who were not ready when Christ came for His Bride.

Yet, from the Tribulation period, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, tribes, and peoples and tongues, stand before the throne and before the Lamb, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, Revelation 7:14 19. They have sealed their testimony with their lives rather than worship the Antichrist, Revelation 6:9; 20:4.

Are some of these the unwise virgins given a second chance?

A Different Interpretation

Others read the parable differently. They place it at the end of the Tribulation and see the virgins as representing Israel awaiting her Messiah. In that interpretation, the closed door points directly to the imminent and final judgment by the Lamb of God.

I lean towards the first interpretation because I believe the wider testimony of Scripture indicates that Christ gathers His Bride before the Tribulation begins, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; 1 Corinthians 15:52-53; Matthew 24:40,41.

Nevertheless, the central lesson of the parable does not depend on which prophetic view one adopts.

The Importance of the Ten Virgins

The greatest lesson of the parable is not about identifying the different companies. Its central message is about being ready.

Jesus repeatedly calls His people to watch, remain faithful and be prepared for His coming.

Whether His return comes sooner or later than we expect, those who love Him should live in continual expectation, keeping their lamps burning and their hearts fixed upon the Bridegroom. It is all too easy to ‘fall asleep’ while we wait, instead of standing in the power of now faith.

• The Bridegroom will come whether we are ready or not
•  The Word of God will be fulfilled
• His Bride will be ready.

Every believer is called to live with that expectancy, for you know neither the day nor the hour, Matthew 25:13. Therefore, encourage one another with these words, 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

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Dr. Wendy is a servant of the Lord who lives to share words of encouragement from the Word of God in thes e end of time days.

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