Matthew 25:1-13
I have discovered a remarkable interpretation of this parable that I would like to share with you. The story in the Bible goes like this:
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
They (the foolish virgins) are asking the wise virgins “Let us take your place in the Kingdom of Heaven”, and they are asking in their fallen state, their sinfulness, they have yet to be redeemed or born again yet in their pride they assume they will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God as sinners. The wise virgins rightly answer, go your way, and buy your own. They are saying you cannot have our righteousness, it is not ours to give, and if by chance you repent and gain the righteousness of Christ, you better pray that you are not too late for the wedding feast of the Lamb. They end up being locked out of Heaven even in their pursuit of it (in pursuit of the Righteousness of Christ) which indicates that there is a limited time to being right with God, and by not being prepared now, you essentially forfeit a future time that may never exist for you. Today is the day of salvation, (2 Corinthians 6:2). Note: most likely the foolish virgins in their pursuit of righteousness, redemption and the presence of God, most likely pursued the path of works and self righteousness, rather than the way of humility and faith in Christ alone. Like the wise virgins, after we compel sinners to repent and accept the free gift of salvation and they continually refuse and reject it, we allow them to go their own way and provide for themselves their own salvation or buy their own oil, (as in this story) in Romans 10:5 it says: Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” Surely the Lord sends people in real life and these foolish virgins on a futile endeavour after continually rejecting the gospel of Christ. Conclusion, works righteousness and pride are ultimately a fools errand. Hence, “The path of fools will destroy them.” Proverbs 1:32. This is Mike.
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