LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13.
Matthew is the only one of the four evangelists who uses the expression "kingdom of heaven". This is because his gospel was written for the Jews, and reveals Christ as the King of kings. The Lord Jesus used this parable when speaking about his second coming, in chapters 24 and 25. This shows us that he was referring there to the millennial kingdom and not to the salvation or damnation of men. He was talking about what would happen after his return and the entrance into the kingdom.
This parable speaks of all who have been regenerated, for virginity is the characteristic of a new creature (2 Cor. 11:2). The 10 is a complete number, and the ten virgins allude to all the saints. However, five were wise, and the other five were foolish. And not only the virginity, but also the lamp, shows us their regeneration, for the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord (Prov. 20:27), and the oil in the lamp is his Spirit (Zech. 4:1-6).
But let us note that the lamps of the foolish women were going out. This gives us evidence that it is not a question of salvation, but of the kingdom, for the Lord Himself says in Isaiah 42:3 that the smoking lamp shall not be quenched. Salvation remains as eternal grace in the life of these Christians. The harm will be in the kingdom; temporary, but painful. As the Lord says, with "weeping and gnashing of teeth".
Verse 7 shows us another revelation of grace - that all the saved will rise together. At the voice of the bridegroom, all awoke from sleep, all arose. So where is the difference between the wise and the foolish? Only in the oil of the lamps. If they all had lamps, what is the meaning of the oil in the vessels? The communion of saints, the filling of the Spirit. Paul teaches us this in Ephesians 5:18-19.
The oil for the vessels is only acquired in the communion of saints, through all the saints (Eph. 3:18). It is the oil that descends from the head who is Christ to the hem of the garments - the church (Ps. 133). Only this communion can fill us with the Spirit. It is the anointing oil that abides in us (1 Jn. 2:27). The foolish ones, who despised the communion, at the Lord's return, will be left out.
In that day, the foolish will not be able to partake of that oil which can only be acquired in the communion of saints. Therefore, beloved brethren, let us not be foolish, but let us seek to know what is the will of the Lord (Eph. 5:17).