The Parable of the
Ten Virgins
Icebreaker: Describe a time you had an event come up that you weren’t prepared for. What was the final outcome?
Introduction: To help us better understand the parable of the ten virgins we will begin this study in Matthew chapter 24. After we read and discuss these verses we will be more prepared to study the parable of the ten virgins.
Read Matthew 24:36-39; “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
These verses warn against attempts to set an exact date for the return of the Son of Man (The Second Coming of Jesus Christ) as the Father alone knows when that will happen. Jesus does give a comparison to the days of Noah and the Flood, to the days of His return, which illustrates the condition of humanity. People were carrying on with life and chose to be oblivious to the signs of the time and were unprepared when the flood came. Once the flood came it was too late for them to be saved. Jesus is teaching us to be prepared; we will see that more clearly as we get deeper into this study.
Read Matthew 24:40-41; Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
I know there are many different interpretations on these verses so I am going to give you what I think best fits the context of what I believe Jesus is teaching in these verses. Jesus is teaching on the pending judgment that will take place at His Second Coming and He is teaching people to be ready (which you will see in verses 42-44). So with that thought process, I support the following teaching. The ones taken will be taken to judgment and death. The ones left will be left to enter the blessings of the millennial kingdom.
Read Matthew 24:42-44; “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
When I read these verses I believe Jesus is telling us we must be ready and alert for His return. He uses the illustration of the head of the house and the thief to make that point.
Re-read verse 44; “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” I believe Jesus is telling us to be spiritually ready for His Second Coming.
Note: The verses we have read tonight clearly show me that we need to be in a right relationship with Jesus when He returns. He is coming back to judge sin. If a person has intentional and unrepentant sin in their lives they are in a dangerous place.
Read Matthew 25:1-4; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Note: Per the NASB there were two phases to Jewish weddings. First the bridegroom went to the bride’s home to obtain his bride and observe certain religious ceremonies. Then he took his bride to his own home for a resumption of the festivities.
Why do you think Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom?
In this parable, Jesus is the bridegroom. When He returns He is bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. This parable does tell us that all ten virgins took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. The five foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring extra oil. The prudent (wise) ones took their lamps and brought extra oil in flasks with them.
-There are different teachings on what or who the virgins represent. I believe the virgins can represent people’s lives, some are ready for Jesus’ return and some are not.
Read Matthew 25:5-9; Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
What happens when the bridegroom is delayed in getting to the wedding?
All the virgins got drowsy and fell asleep. Remember that the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ. The delay of the bridegroom in this parable represents something significant. The bible warns us about falling asleep: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
Let’s read verses that tell us why there is a delay in Christ’s return. 2 Peter 3:8-9; But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
What happens when the bridegroom shows up?
Verse 6 tells us that the bridegroom (Jesus) shows up at an unexpected time when everyone was sleeping. All the virgins wake up, prepare (trim) their lamps and light them. The foolish ones see that their lamps are going out and now they realize that they didn’t bring enough oil. So they ask the wise ones to borrow them some oil. But, the wise ones respond, we don’t have enough for us and you. You need to go to the market and buy more oil for yourselves.
Note: Even though the wise ones had fallen asleep, because they had prepared in advance, they were ready for the unexpected arrival of the bridegroom. Jesus is teaching us that we need to be alert and prepared for his return.
Read Matthew 25:10-13; And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
What happens when the foolish virgins are gone?
While the foolish virgins were gone the bridegroom shows up. He takes the ones who were ready (the five wise virgins) and goes into the wedding feast and closes the door.
What do the wise virgins represent?
They represent the believers of Jesus Christ that were truly following Him and prepared and ready for His unexpected return. Luke 12:35; “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
Note: We have to be spiritually right with God all the time, we can’t rely on others help (righteousness) to get us into heaven. That is why in verse 9 the wise couldn’t lend oil to the unwise. I believe the oil represents a life that has been regenerated (born-again) by the Holy Spirit.
What do the five unwise virgins do when they return?
Verse 11 tells us that they ask the Lord (bridegroom) to open the door for them and let them in.
In verse 12 how does the Lord (bridegroom) respond to the foolish virgins? What does that mean to you?
He answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Know (ginosko)-means to perceive, understand, recognize, gain knowledge, realize, come to know. Ginosko is the knowledge that has an inception, a progress, and an attainment. It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.
After looking at the definition of know, what do you think Jesus means when He says; “I do not know you”?
Jesus said something similar in Matthew 7:21-23; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Key Learning: I believe Jesus is teaching against self-deception, a mere verbal profession that we claim to know Him without surrendering our hearts and will to His Lordship. Jesus wants us to really know Him, by having an intimate relationship with Him. The life we live should bear evidence of our obedience to God’s Word and will (Read Matthew 7:16-20).
Read Matthew 25:13; Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Jesus is again warning us that we need to be alert and ready for His return. Since we don’t know when He is coming back we don’t want to be unprepared. You don’t want to be living in rebellion to God, which is living a life of sin.
Closing thought: I believe in this parable Jesus is teaching us to be ready. We need to be ready to enter the kingdom of heaven and we need to be ready for His Second Coming. I believe that is what Jesus is teaching in the parable of the ten virgins and in Matthew 7:21-23. These two sets of scripture support one another.
I believe Jesus is teaching us that “being ready” should be evidenced in two ways. First: we have to really know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Secondly, we have to being doing God’s will. That can only come by surrendering our will to God’s will and obeying His Word. This is what a true “Born-Again” believer and disciple of Jesus Christ should be like. God’s will is that everyone would accept His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Read Matthew 7:24-27; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
We have a choice to make in life. We can be like the wise builder & wise virgins who accept Jesus Christ and have Him as the foundation of our lives. Or, we can be like the foolish builders & foolish virgins and reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The decision is ours to make in life before we die. We can either accept or reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
How do you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
Here is a sample prayer that you can use.
Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of the Living God and that you died on the cross that I may now have forgiveness of my sins and receive eternal life. I believe that you rose on the 3rd day and now sit at the right hand of the Father. Please forgive me for every sin I have committed or done in my heart and come into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. Today I surrender myself to you.
If you decide to pray this, the prayer must come from your heart. You must mean what you pray or nothing will change. It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the sincerity of whether or not you really mean it in your heart.
-We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding salvation. We are also here to pray for any needs that you may have.
-You can contact Kevin & Jocelyn at - Second in line Ministries – 218-428-3087.
Icebreaker: Describe a time you had an event come up that you weren’t prepared for. What was the final outcome?
Introduction: To help us better understand the parable of the ten virgins we will begin this study in Matthew chapter 24. After we read and discuss these verses we will be more prepared to study the parable of the ten virgins.
Read Matthew 24:36-39; “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
These verses warn against attempts to set an exact date for the return of the Son of Man (The Second Coming of Jesus Christ) as the Father alone knows when that will happen. Jesus does give a comparison to the days of Noah and the Flood, to the days of His return, which illustrates the condition of humanity. People were carrying on with life and chose to be oblivious to the signs of the time and were unprepared when the flood came. Once the flood came it was too late for them to be saved. Jesus is teaching us to be prepared; we will see that more clearly as we get deeper into this study.
Read Matthew 24:40-41; Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
I know there are many different interpretations on these verses so I am going to give you what I think best fits the context of what I believe Jesus is teaching in these verses. Jesus is teaching on the pending judgment that will take place at His Second Coming and He is teaching people to be ready (which you will see in verses 42-44). So with that thought process, I support the following teaching. The ones taken will be taken to judgment and death. The ones left will be left to enter the blessings of the millennial kingdom.
Read Matthew 24:42-44; “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?
When I read these verses I believe Jesus is telling us we must be ready and alert for His return. He uses the illustration of the head of the house and the thief to make that point.
Re-read verse 44; “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” I believe Jesus is telling us to be spiritually ready for His Second Coming.
Note: The verses we have read tonight clearly show me that we need to be in a right relationship with Jesus when He returns. He is coming back to judge sin. If a person has intentional and unrepentant sin in their lives they are in a dangerous place.
Read Matthew 25:1-4; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Note: Per the NASB there were two phases to Jewish weddings. First the bridegroom went to the bride’s home to obtain his bride and observe certain religious ceremonies. Then he took his bride to his own home for a resumption of the festivities.
Why do you think Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom?
In this parable, Jesus is the bridegroom. When He returns He is bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. This parable does tell us that all ten virgins took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. The five foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring extra oil. The prudent (wise) ones took their lamps and brought extra oil in flasks with them.
-There are different teachings on what or who the virgins represent. I believe the virgins can represent people’s lives, some are ready for Jesus’ return and some are not.
Read Matthew 25:5-9; Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
What happens when the bridegroom is delayed in getting to the wedding?
All the virgins got drowsy and fell asleep. Remember that the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ. The delay of the bridegroom in this parable represents something significant. The bible warns us about falling asleep: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
Let’s read verses that tell us why there is a delay in Christ’s return. 2 Peter 3:8-9; But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
What happens when the bridegroom shows up?
Verse 6 tells us that the bridegroom (Jesus) shows up at an unexpected time when everyone was sleeping. All the virgins wake up, prepare (trim) their lamps and light them. The foolish ones see that their lamps are going out and now they realize that they didn’t bring enough oil. So they ask the wise ones to borrow them some oil. But, the wise ones respond, we don’t have enough for us and you. You need to go to the market and buy more oil for yourselves.
Note: Even though the wise ones had fallen asleep, because they had prepared in advance, they were ready for the unexpected arrival of the bridegroom. Jesus is teaching us that we need to be alert and prepared for his return.
Read Matthew 25:10-13; And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
What happens when the foolish virgins are gone?
While the foolish virgins were gone the bridegroom shows up. He takes the ones who were ready (the five wise virgins) and goes into the wedding feast and closes the door.
What do the wise virgins represent?
They represent the believers of Jesus Christ that were truly following Him and prepared and ready for His unexpected return. Luke 12:35; “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
Note: We have to be spiritually right with God all the time, we can’t rely on others help (righteousness) to get us into heaven. That is why in verse 9 the wise couldn’t lend oil to the unwise. I believe the oil represents a life that has been regenerated (born-again) by the Holy Spirit.
What do the five unwise virgins do when they return?
Verse 11 tells us that they ask the Lord (bridegroom) to open the door for them and let them in.
In verse 12 how does the Lord (bridegroom) respond to the foolish virgins? What does that mean to you?
He answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Know (ginosko)-means to perceive, understand, recognize, gain knowledge, realize, come to know. Ginosko is the knowledge that has an inception, a progress, and an attainment. It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.
After looking at the definition of know, what do you think Jesus means when He says; “I do not know you”?
Jesus said something similar in Matthew 7:21-23; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Key Learning: I believe Jesus is teaching against self-deception, a mere verbal profession that we claim to know Him without surrendering our hearts and will to His Lordship. Jesus wants us to really know Him, by having an intimate relationship with Him. The life we live should bear evidence of our obedience to God’s Word and will (Read Matthew 7:16-20).
Read Matthew 25:13; Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Jesus is again warning us that we need to be alert and ready for His return. Since we don’t know when He is coming back we don’t want to be unprepared. You don’t want to be living in rebellion to God, which is living a life of sin.
Closing thought: I believe in this parable Jesus is teaching us to be ready. We need to be ready to enter the kingdom of heaven and we need to be ready for His Second Coming. I believe that is what Jesus is teaching in the parable of the ten virgins and in Matthew 7:21-23. These two sets of scripture support one another.
I believe Jesus is teaching us that “being ready” should be evidenced in two ways. First: we have to really know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Secondly, we have to being doing God’s will. That can only come by surrendering our will to God’s will and obeying His Word. This is what a true “Born-Again” believer and disciple of Jesus Christ should be like. God’s will is that everyone would accept His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Read Matthew 7:24-27; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
We have a choice to make in life. We can be like the wise builder & wise virgins who accept Jesus Christ and have Him as the foundation of our lives. Or, we can be like the foolish builders & foolish virgins and reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The decision is ours to make in life before we die. We can either accept or reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
How do you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
Here is a sample prayer that you can use.
Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of the Living God and that you died on the cross that I may now have forgiveness of my sins and receive eternal life. I believe that you rose on the 3rd day and now sit at the right hand of the Father. Please forgive me for every sin I have committed or done in my heart and come into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. Today I surrender myself to you.
If you decide to pray this, the prayer must come from your heart. You must mean what you pray or nothing will change. It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the sincerity of whether or not you really mean it in your heart.
-We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding salvation. We are also here to pray for any needs that you may have.
-You can contact Kevin & Jocelyn at - Second in line Ministries – 218-428-3087.
