THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

Outlines on the Parables of Jesus 3. The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)

Matthew 25:1–13

This parable stresses the importance of being ready for the coming of Christ. He will come again—John 14:1–6. All the prophecies in Matt. 24 concerning His coming are in the process of being fulfilled. He wants His people to be awake and alert. Satan seeks to put God’s people to sleep spiritually, so they will not be ready.

I. The People—vv. 1–5

A. The story—v. 1. A parable to teach us readiness.

B. The symbols—vv. 2–4

1. The foolish. They took no extra oil, thinking that they had plenty (cf. Rev. 3:17).

2. The wise. They were prepared with an extra supply of oil. They did not depend upon past resources.

C. The sleeping—v. 5. While waiting for the wedding, they all slept. The wise went to sleep prepared, the foolish, unprepared (cf. Prov. 27:1).

II. The Plan—vv. 6–9

A. Preparation—vv. 6–7. “The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” They trimmed their lamps. We, as Christians, must trim our spiritual lives in readiness for His coming—Matt. 24:44.

B. Pleading—v. 8. The foolish asked the wise to give them some of their oil. They were dependent on others for entrance to the wedding feast. Each person must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

C. Personal—v. 9. The wise told the foolish to go and buy oil for themselves. No one can accept Christ for you. Each person must be born again—John 3:1–8.

III. The Problem—vv. 10–12

A. Problem—v. 10. Note: “The door was shut.” God gave the people in Noah’s day time to prepare—Gen. 6:3. Some day the door will be closed (see Prov. 29:1; Isa. 55:6).

B. Plea—v. 11. “Open to us.” The wise could not open the door. Only Christ can open the door—John 14:6.

C. Punishment—v. 12. Note: “I know you not.” Only those who are born again will gain entrance—John 3:1–8; Mark 16:16.

IV. The Preparation—v. 13

Prepare by watching!

A. Watch your character—1 Cor. 7:1. You are developing good or bad habits. It takes a lifetime to build good Christian character.

B. Watch your consecration—Rom. 12:1, 2. Caleb, though 85 years old, could say that he had fully followed the Lord—Deut. 1:36. God wants full surrender, full dedication.

C. Watch your companions—2 Cor. 6:17. You are known by your associations. Choose Christian friends—Amos 3:3.

Are you awake? Do you have enough oil? The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Paul tell us to be filled with the Spirit—Eph. 5:18. Don’t depend on past experiences or blessings. Each day, renew the touch of God upon your life. Learn to walk in the Spirit … pray in the Spirit … live in the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit controls your life, you will be ready when the bridegroom comes.

THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1–13 KJV 1900

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Outlines on the Parables of Jesus 3. The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)

THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1–13

This parable stresses the importance of being ready for the coming of Christ. He will come again—John 14:1–6. All the prophecies in Matt. 24 concerning His coming are in the process of being fulfilled. He wants His people to be awake and alert. Satan seeks to put God’s people to sleep spiritually, so they will not be ready.

I. The People—vv. 1–5

A. The story—v. 1. A parable to teach us readiness.

B. The symbols—vv. 2–4

1. The foolish. They took no extra oil, thinking that they had plenty (cf. Rev. 3:17).

2. The wise. They were prepared with an extra supply of oil. They did not depend upon past resources.

C. The sleeping—v. 5. While waiting for the wedding, they all slept. The wise went to sleep prepared, the foolish, unprepared (cf. Prov. 27:1).

II. The Plan—vv. 6–9

A. Preparation—vv. 6–7. “The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” They trimmed their lamps. We, as Christians, must trim our spiritual lives in readiness for His coming—Matt. 24:44.

B. Pleading—v. 8. The foolish asked the wise to give them some of their oil. They were dependent on others for entrance to the wedding feast. Each person must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

C. Personal—v. 9. The wise told the foolish to go and buy oil for themselves. No one can accept Christ for you. Each person must be born again—John 3:1–8.

III. The Problem—vv. 10–12

A. Problem—v. 10. Note: “The door was shut.” God gave the people in Noah’s day time to prepare—Gen. 6:3. Some day the door will be closed (see Prov. 29:1; Isa. 55:6).

B. Plea—v. 11. “Open to us.” The wise could not open the door. Only Christ can open the door—John 14:6.

C. Punishment—v. 12. Note: “I know you not.” Only those who are born again will gain entrance—John 3:1–8; Mark 16:16.

IV. The Preparation—v. 13

Prepare by watching!

A. Watch your character—1 Cor. 7:1. You are developing good or bad habits. It takes a lifetime to build good Christian character.

B. Watch your consecration—Rom. 12:1, 2. Caleb, though 85 years old, could say that he had fully followed the Lord—Deut. 1:36. God wants full surrender, full dedication.

C. Watch your companions—2 Cor. 6:17. You are known by your associations. Choose Christian friends—Amos 3:3.

Are you awake? Do you have enough oil? The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Paul tell us to be filled with the Spirit—Eph. 5:18. Don’t depend on past experiences or blessings. Each day, renew the touch of God upon your life. Learn to walk in the Spirit … pray in the Spirit … live in the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit controls your life, you will be ready when the bridegroom comes.

THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

This parable stresses the importance of being ready for the coming of Christ/For us the rapture of the church. All the prophecies have been fulfilled concerning his coming for the saints. He wants His people to be awake and alert. Satan seeks to put God’s people to sleep spiritually, so they will not be ready.

Matthew 25:1–5 KJV 1900

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

matt. 25:1-5

A. The story.

A parable to teach us readiness.

B. The symbols

0. Virgin depicts purity.

This parable is speaking of those who have been made pure through salvation, his blood.

1. The foolish. They took no extra oil, thinking that they had plenty.

Revelation 3:17 KJV 1900

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

2. The wise. They were prepared with an extra supply of oil. They did not depend upon past resources.

C. The sleeping

While waiting for the wedding, they all slept. The wise went to sleep prepared, the foolish, unprepared (cf. ).

Proverbs 27:1 KJV 1900

Boast not thyself of to morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Matthew 25:6–9 KJV 1900

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

A. Preparation

“The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” They trimmed their lamps. We, as Christians, must trim our spiritual lives in readiness for His coming—.

Matthew 24:44 KJV 1900

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

B. Pleading

The foolish asked the wise to give them some of their oil. They were dependent on others for entrance to the wedding feast. Each person must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

C. Personal

The wise told the foolish to go and buy oil for themselves. No one can accept Christ for you. Each person must be born again—.

John 3:7–8 KJV 1900

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

john 3:

John 3:1–8 KJV 1900

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

john 3:

Matthew 25:10–12 KJV 1900

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

matt. 25:

A. Problem

“The door was shut.” God gave the people in Noah’s day time to prepare—. Some day the door will be closed (see ; ).

B. Plea

“Open to us.” The wise could not open the door. Only Christ can open the door—.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

C. Punishment

“I know you not.” Only those who are born again will gain entrance—; .

Mark 16:16 KJV 1900

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Prepare by watching!

A. Watch your character—.

1 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

You are developing good or bad habits. It takes a lifetime to build good Christian character.

B. Watch your consecration—, .

Caleb, though 85 years old, could say that he had fully followed the Lord—. God wants full surrender, full dedication.

Deuteronomy 1:36 KJV 1900

Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord.

C. Watch your companions—.

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2 cor.

You are known by your associations. Choose Christian friends—.

Amos 3:3 KJV 1900

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Are you awake? Do you have enough oil? The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Paul tell us to be filled with the Spirit—.

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Don’t depend on past experiences or blessings. Each day, renew the touch of God upon your life. Learn to walk in the Spirit … pray in the Spirit … live in the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit controls your life, you will be ready when the bridegroom comes.