BE PREPARED

There has been a lot of debate as to the meaning of the words of Jesus concerning the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). There is one sure thing certain and that is that the bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and this parable describes His return. Both the Old Testament (Isaiah 54:4-6; 62:4-5; Hosea 2:19) and the New Testament (John 3:27-30; Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20) the Messiah is represent...ed as a bridegroom. Both Israel and the Church are described in Scripture as the bride (Ephesians 5:25-32) for the Messiah.
It would be helpful to have some background information concerning weddings in the ancient Near East in order to understanding this parable. D.A. Carson in the “Expositor’s Bible Commentary” describes the setting thus:
  “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends would leave his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home. The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch. Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands. The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.” The torch was either a lamp with a small oil tank and wick or a stick with a rag soaked in oil on the end of it which would require occasional re-soaking to maintain the flame….”
The parents were the ones who arranged the marriage with the consent of the bride and groom. A period of many months would pass during which it would become clear, hopefully, that the bride was a virgin. On the day of the wedding the groom would go to the bride's house to claim his bride from her parents. His friends would accompany him and the marriage ceremony would take place at the bride's home. On that wedding night the groom would take his bride home. This involved a nighttime procession through the streets. The bride and groom would consummate their marriage at the groom's home the night of the wedding ceremony and there would be a banquet at the groom's home that would often last as long as seven days.
In this parable it is night as the bride's friends wait to welcome the couple and to enter the groom's house where the banquet would begin shortly. All ten of the virgins knew that the groom's appearing would be soon.
Disciples need to understand what it means to await the King's return with prudence.
". . . the point is simply that readiness, whatever form it takes, is not something that can be achieved by a last-minute adjustment. It depends on long-term provision, and if that has been made, the wise disciple can sleep secure in the knowledge that everything is ready." [Note: France, The Gospel . . ., p. 947.]
The five prudent (Gr. phronimoi, cf. Matthew 7:24; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 24:45) virgins not only anticipated Jesus' arrival but also prepared for it (cf. Matthew 3:2 : Matthew 4:17). The five foolish virgins anticipated it but did not prepare for it. Preparedness is what separated the wise from the foolish. Both groups of young women fell asleep. This period of delay corresponds to the time between the first signs of Jesus' coming and His appearance. Apparently only the wise virgins had oil with them and the foolish ones evidently just lit their torches or wicks without oil. [Note: Robertson, Word Pictures . . ., 1:196.] In that oil often represents the Holy Spirit in Scripture those with oil might be believers and those without oil unbelievers.
Shortly after the announcement went out the groom arrived (cf. Matthew 24:27; Matthew 24:39; Matthew 24:50), and there wasn’t enough time for the foolish virgins to obtain oil while the wise virgins entered the wedding feast, and someone shut the door into the banquet hall (cf. Matthew 25:34-40). All opportunity was lost, the foolish could not enter. Their cries were of no avail (cf. Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 23:37). The groom's refusal to admit them was because they had failed to prepare adequately.
What is to be learned is that all disciples need to prepare for Messiah's appearing as well as to anticipate that event. Jesus was not calling for alertness in this parable, remaining awake when others sleep, as important as that is. He was calling for preparation. Preparing involves trusting in Jesus as the Messiah.
Which return of Christ is this? Is it His return for the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation? Dispensational scholars divide over this issue, and that question won’t be answered here. Suffice it to say that whichever return it is, the lessons to be learned are relevant to both.
The thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming. We may be working, eating, sleeping, or pursuing leisure activities yet we must be doing it in a way that we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes. This would apply to either the coming of Christ for His Church or for the Tribulation saints as they await His second coming and for that matter, it must apply every day because you do not know if you will be alive from one moment to the next.
Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing one must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and literal resurrection from the dead (John 3:16; 14:6; Romans 10:9 and 10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10).
The five virgins who have the extra oil represent the truly born again who are looking with eagerness to the coming of Christ. The five virgins without the oil represent false believers who enjoy the benefits of the Christian community without true love for Christ. They are more concerned about the party than about longing to see the bridegroom. Their hope is that their association with true believers (“give us some of your oil” of verse will bring them into the kingdom at the end. This, of course, is never the case. One person’s faith in Jesus cannot save another.
I truly hope you don’t find yourself “going away to make the purchase” (v. 10) when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. Keep waiting and watching with joy and anticipation. When He comes for His it will be in a twinkling of an eye, a nano second and it will be late, the door will be shut.