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.
Matthew 25:10-12 NIV
Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
The parable of the ten virgins is one of a series of parables that Jesus used to describe his return and the need to be ready. In this parable, a group of virgins awaits the bridegroom, looking to escort him to his wedding banquet. It seems clear that Jesus is the bridegroom. And the journey to his wedding banquet is representative of his second coming and the gathering of his elect described previously (Matt. 24:30-31). But who are the ten virgins in this parable? And why were some of them excluded from the banquet?
All ten of these virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to come. And all of them believe they had a relationship with the bridegroom. So it would not seem they represented atheists, agnostics, or people from other religions. Instead, they are people who at least give lip service to being worshippers of God.
Five of these virgins were ready. They had been faithful to obey the master (Matt. 24:45:47), to use what he had given them (Matt. 25:21), and had ministered to those in need (Matt. 25:37-40). And they were welcomed into the banquet. But the other five had not and found out too late that giving lip service to following Jesus was not enough.
The bridegroom is returning someday for his bride. And all who are ready will join him. Are you ready for the wedding banquet? Don’t be left standing out in the dark hearing Jesus say, “I don’t know you.”
