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Jesus sought to use all language and gesture so to make everyone understand. And upon this, He told His listeners the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
Jesus used figurative language to make a very important point. For Jesus tried all to make us understand the dynamics of His coming, death, and resurrection and the dynamics of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus used figurative language to make a very important point. For Jesus tried all to make us understand the dynamics of His coming, death, and resurrection and the dynamics of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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| The five wise virgins |
- The bridegroom
- The ten virgins
- The lamps
- The sleeping
- The oil
- The waiting time
The bridegroom
The bridegroom (husband) refers to Jesus Christ, and the groom
(wife) refers to the Church. The Bible more than one time
figures the relationship between Jesus and the Church to that of the
bridegroom and the bride (John 3:29), (Ephesians 5:22-33), (Revelation 21:2), (Revelation 22:17).
That two adults agree to be husband and wife best explains the level of intimacy that could have been reached. Like how much love there is, and how close it is between husband and wife, Jesus wanted us to know it is how He is to us. Rather Jesus does not only want to relate with us, He loves it that we are in fellowship with Him, like the fellowship there is between husband and wife.
And in addition to this, like the excitement and the expectation that there are between two consenting adults to join in marriage, so it should be between us and the Groom who is Jesus. This makes the two parties to prepare maximally and to endeavor to avoid any shortcomings. For it is a special occasion and a special day. Who can tell the eagerness???!!!
That two adults agree to be husband and wife best explains the level of intimacy that could have been reached. Like how much love there is, and how close it is between husband and wife, Jesus wanted us to know it is how He is to us. Rather Jesus does not only want to relate with us, He loves it that we are in fellowship with Him, like the fellowship there is between husband and wife.
And in addition to this, like the excitement and the expectation that there are between two consenting adults to join in marriage, so it should be between us and the Groom who is Jesus. This makes the two parties to prepare maximally and to endeavor to avoid any shortcomings. For it is a special occasion and a special day. Who can tell the eagerness???!!!
The ten virgins.
In this parable, there were ten virgins. But what is most remarkable is that all the ten girls were virgins.
This is a true description of all those who subscribe to Christianity. To be
Christian is to confess Christ as Lord and Savior, and subsequently submit to His
authority.
Yet just like the parable does expound on it, many of us simply have the appearance of a Christian people but in substance are lacking in what makes us so. Many people falsely believe that by simply attending Church and identifying with the Believers so are they counted Christians. This is not so.
Jesus said not whoever says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23). He goes on to stress the fact that to follow Him makes sense in substance and not in appearance or talk. We are counted His followers if we obey His commands (John 15:14), (Luke 6:46). For the five wise virgins had been so for obeying the Lord and loving what they were and what they did, while on the other hand, the five foolish ones had been only self seekers.
Yet just like the parable does expound on it, many of us simply have the appearance of a Christian people but in substance are lacking in what makes us so. Many people falsely believe that by simply attending Church and identifying with the Believers so are they counted Christians. This is not so.
Jesus said not whoever says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23). He goes on to stress the fact that to follow Him makes sense in substance and not in appearance or talk. We are counted His followers if we obey His commands (John 15:14), (Luke 6:46). For the five wise virgins had been so for obeying the Lord and loving what they were and what they did, while on the other hand, the five foolish ones had been only self seekers.
The five foolish virgins
The lamps.
A Christian must shine. A Christian must let observed. For if as Christians walk in the light, we will not stumble (Matthew 5:15), (John 11:9-10), (John 12:35).
We ought to make a living testimony and remain Christians everywhere
regardless of when it comforts us or not.
The five wise virgins walked in the light by holding onto their lamps till the bridegroom showed up. The five foolish virgins though lacked purpose of keeping in the light. For darkness comes with suspicion, but light reveals every bit. By being transparent, we build trust and reliance.
The five wise virgins walked in the light by holding onto their lamps till the bridegroom showed up. The five foolish virgins though lacked purpose of keeping in the light. For darkness comes with suspicion, but light reveals every bit. By being transparent, we build trust and reliance.
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| Lamp |
It is also crucial that we consider that both the wise and the foolish ones slept. For sleep applies to every animal, bird, or reptile. That is, it is irresistible to fall in sleep. Meaning we are all faced with the same demands and dictates of nature. But how one prepares before they sleep is what matters and tells the edge between a wise person and a foolish one.
Yet since this is a parable, the sleep being referred to is figurative. For while others can be spiritually awake, albeit literally asleep, others can be spiritually asleep albeit literally awake. But according to how Jesus tells the parable, it can be both. One can be both spiritually and literally asleep.
In this then, we ought to work hard, but much more so to be wise in how we go about our spirituality. For what matters may not necessarily be how hard you have worked or appear to be working, but how wise you are in preparing yourself. While you may be fancying what a house you love to put up, it is also very much possible that you may not realize it in your life time. For you may never succeed in fully subduing the demands and dictates of life, but prepare to be spiritually alert to avoid being taken off guard.
Take for example the case of Jesus in the boat with the disciples (Matthew 8:23-27), (Mark 4:35-41). Much as the disciples appeared to be literally awake, they were spiritually asleep. On the other hand, though, Jesus who seemed to be literally asleep, had been spiritually awake.
What mattered then? Was it the one who was literally awake, or the one who was asleep? For despite having presented literally asleep, Jesus responded swiftly and stopped the fiercely blowing wind or the storm for that matter. To sleep the way Jesus had presented to be asleep, is what we call being wise, even when faced with the demands and dictates of this life. We must be spiritually on guard.
Yet since this is a parable, the sleep being referred to is figurative. For while others can be spiritually awake, albeit literally asleep, others can be spiritually asleep albeit literally awake. But according to how Jesus tells the parable, it can be both. One can be both spiritually and literally asleep.
In this then, we ought to work hard, but much more so to be wise in how we go about our spirituality. For what matters may not necessarily be how hard you have worked or appear to be working, but how wise you are in preparing yourself. While you may be fancying what a house you love to put up, it is also very much possible that you may not realize it in your life time. For you may never succeed in fully subduing the demands and dictates of life, but prepare to be spiritually alert to avoid being taken off guard.
Take for example the case of Jesus in the boat with the disciples (Matthew 8:23-27), (Mark 4:35-41). Much as the disciples appeared to be literally awake, they were spiritually asleep. On the other hand, though, Jesus who seemed to be literally asleep, had been spiritually awake.
What mattered then? Was it the one who was literally awake, or the one who was asleep? For despite having presented literally asleep, Jesus responded swiftly and stopped the fiercely blowing wind or the storm for that matter. To sleep the way Jesus had presented to be asleep, is what we call being wise, even when faced with the demands and dictates of this life. We must be spiritually on guard.
The Oil
Oil in this parable represents a Christian's sacrifices for the love of
God. The denial of self of the pleasures of this world. The sacrifices
of prayer time and the fasting. The preaching of the gospel despite the
harsh conditions and the lack of the requirements, but go on to persist
on.
To never be swayed by the conditions that be is the oil which should keeps us alight (Matthew 24:13), (Revelation 14:4). The five wise virgins kept their oil because they knew it is what would keep their candles burning and alight.
The light dispensed by the burning candles is what would give them the opportunity to see the groom. Rather without keeping alight, it is not possible to be allowed in and see the groom. But the five foolish virgins intended to gamble about a very crucial matter. A matter of life and death. They were only caught in their craftiness.
To never be swayed by the conditions that be is the oil which should keeps us alight (Matthew 24:13), (Revelation 14:4). The five wise virgins kept their oil because they knew it is what would keep their candles burning and alight.
The light dispensed by the burning candles is what would give them the opportunity to see the groom. Rather without keeping alight, it is not possible to be allowed in and see the groom. But the five foolish virgins intended to gamble about a very crucial matter. A matter of life and death. They were only caught in their craftiness.
The waiting time
This is where it is all summed up. No one knows the year the month, the
day nor the hour, not even the second, or the micro second. For any time can be that time (Luke 17:26-27), (Matthew 24:36), (Matthew 24:39), (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4), (Revelation 16:15).
If to say, even that time itself is not aware it is.
The five wise virgins considered that they never knew the time. Upon this, they prepared themselves pretty enough to fend off any eventualities, and it worked. Like the five wise virgins, we must remain upbeat because we are assured that He will surely show up (Matthew 24:42), (Luke 21:36), (Mark 13:33). As to how and when, it is not of us to know. But we can fend off any eventualities by being faithful and steadfast in what we believe in.
The five wise virgins considered that they never knew the time. Upon this, they prepared themselves pretty enough to fend off any eventualities, and it worked. Like the five wise virgins, we must remain upbeat because we are assured that He will surely show up (Matthew 24:42), (Luke 21:36), (Mark 13:33). As to how and when, it is not of us to know. But we can fend off any eventualities by being faithful and steadfast in what we believe in.
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| Waiting for the groom |
Thus
conclusively, what is of us most to learn here is the fact that we
should not only be Christians, but we must be Christians of purpose. The
five wise virgins had purpose and vision, the foolish ones lacked in
all. Rather we should simply attempt to be Christians, we should rather be Christians in the entire form that it is. Let us give it all our strength and thought.
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