I will give my interpretation first, and open the thread for comments, questions and/or competing interpretations. All are free to respond.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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.
10 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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13)
This follows immediately on the heals of Jesus telling the disciples that they would need to properly feed His household until the Lord's return (Matthew 24:44-51). As such, it appears to be a teaching on the dangers of what we would today call spiritual "burn out." The wickedness of the end-times will create a demand on Christian ministry that is beyond any human capacity to keep up with, so walking in the empowerment of God will be more necessary than ever in history. Unfortunately, there will be those who are foolish enough to allow the burdens of ministry and the never-ending demands of it to cause them to become distant from God, no longer spending time with Him in prayer especially because ministry needs are incessant. As a result, they will reach a place of spiritual burn out, and in a last ditch effort they will appeal to those who are still walking close to the Holy Spirit. But ministers who are not burned out do not have the power to magically transfer their spiritual strength to those who are, and when those who have allowed themselves to reach a place of spiritual burn out attempt to get back to a place of empowerment, the incredible darkness of the times will make this nearly impossible.
A quick synopsis:
- The ten virgins = Church leadership in the end times, who must light the way spiritually for Christ's bride to meet her Bridegroom at the "midnight hour," the darkest time in human history, just before the Lord's return.
- The Bridegroom = Christ Jesus, the Church being the bride.
- The virgin's lamps = Their understanding of the word of God, which scripture says is a "lamp unto our feet."
- The oil = The anointing of the Holy Spirit, which gives light to God's word. This is referenced to passages especially like 1 Corinthians 14:26-31, where the spiritual gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy lead congregations to revelation from God's word.
- "They all slumbered and slept" = I believe this prophesies the period from the end of the early church era to the coming time of the second outpouring. Church leadership has largely been in a deep sleep but will eventually awaken when "the call goes out" and it becomes apparent that the Lord's return is now finally at hand (as it becomes obvious that end-time prophecy is being fulfilled before their eyes, and the fulfillment of all things is approaching).
- Trimming their lamps = People trimmed a lamp to get the most light out of the wick that they could. So too, Christian leaders will suddenly be seeking to get the most light they can out of the prophetic word of God.
- The foolish virgins say, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." = Referred to in the intro; spiritual "burn out" will be taking place among the foolish, because they did not maintain a closeness to the Holy Spirit, who gives light to God's word so as to show Christ's bride the way in the darkness. The wise will still be receiving prophetic light, whereas this light will be going out amongst the foolish. This request of theirs appears to possibly be through something akin to laying on of hands, since they will say, "Give us some of your oil." This is a strange request, but they will be desperate, and know that the wise possess a power in the Spirit that they no longer do. But the reply they get will reveal the problem.
- "Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." Spiritual anointing and empowerment, like all things from God, can only be "purchased" through prayer, which is the key to understanding this verse. One must go to God personally for the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit, and one "purchases" it through prayer. Prayer is the currency of Heaven, and this idea of "purchasing" the things of God through prayer is repeated over and over in scripture, for instance concerning receiving the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 14:13, 1 Corinthians 14:1), the power to speak the word boldly (Ephesians 6:18-19), spiritual insight, being clothed in the Holy Spirit, and attaining a faith purified as gold in the fire (Revelation 3:18). So the wise will direct the foolish to go to God for what they need in prayer.
- "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." = As stated, if one has not developed the habit of staying close to the Presence of God these dark and evil times, trying to do after burning out may be all but impossible. And while the foolish are off trying to get their act together spiritually when they should have been ministering light to the church, the Lord will come. Those who were walking in the Spirit and the true light of His word will be taken with Him to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, while those who were not ready will be left behind, and the door will now 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." = The words "I know you not" are key here. Because their light went out, the Lord can no longer "recognize" them or what they teach (without true spiritual light, a person's teachings always trail off into error). They appear as strangers to Him now, so He says to them at the door, "I know you not."
- "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" = an exhortation to walk in the light the Holy Spirit gives for as LONG as necessary, so as to light the way for the bride properly.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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.
10 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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13)
This follows immediately on the heals of Jesus telling the disciples that they would need to properly feed His household until the Lord's return (Matthew 24:44-51). As such, it appears to be a teaching on the dangers of what we would today call spiritual "burn out." The wickedness of the end-times will create a demand on Christian ministry that is beyond any human capacity to keep up with, so walking in the empowerment of God will be more necessary than ever in history. Unfortunately, there will be those who are foolish enough to allow the burdens of ministry and the never-ending demands of it to cause them to become distant from God, no longer spending time with Him in prayer especially because ministry needs are incessant. As a result, they will reach a place of spiritual burn out, and in a last ditch effort they will appeal to those who are still walking close to the Holy Spirit. But ministers who are not burned out do not have the power to magically transfer their spiritual strength to those who are, and when those who have allowed themselves to reach a place of spiritual burn out attempt to get back to a place of empowerment, the incredible darkness of the times will make this nearly impossible.
A quick synopsis:
- The ten virgins = Church leadership in the end times, who must light the way spiritually for Christ's bride to meet her Bridegroom at the "midnight hour," the darkest time in human history, just before the Lord's return.
- The Bridegroom = Christ Jesus, the Church being the bride.
- The virgin's lamps = Their understanding of the word of God, which scripture says is a "lamp unto our feet."
- The oil = The anointing of the Holy Spirit, which gives light to God's word. This is referenced to passages especially like 1 Corinthians 14:26-31, where the spiritual gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy lead congregations to revelation from God's word.
- "They all slumbered and slept" = I believe this prophesies the period from the end of the early church era to the coming time of the second outpouring. Church leadership has largely been in a deep sleep but will eventually awaken when "the call goes out" and it becomes apparent that the Lord's return is now finally at hand (as it becomes obvious that end-time prophecy is being fulfilled before their eyes, and the fulfillment of all things is approaching).
- Trimming their lamps = People trimmed a lamp to get the most light out of the wick that they could. So too, Christian leaders will suddenly be seeking to get the most light they can out of the prophetic word of God.
- The foolish virgins say, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." = Referred to in the intro; spiritual "burn out" will be taking place among the foolish, because they did not maintain a closeness to the Holy Spirit, who gives light to God's word so as to show Christ's bride the way in the darkness. The wise will still be receiving prophetic light, whereas this light will be going out amongst the foolish. This request of theirs appears to possibly be through something akin to laying on of hands, since they will say, "Give us some of your oil." This is a strange request, but they will be desperate, and know that the wise possess a power in the Spirit that they no longer do. But the reply they get will reveal the problem.
- "Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." Spiritual anointing and empowerment, like all things from God, can only be "purchased" through prayer, which is the key to understanding this verse. One must go to God personally for the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit, and one "purchases" it through prayer. Prayer is the currency of Heaven, and this idea of "purchasing" the things of God through prayer is repeated over and over in scripture, for instance concerning receiving the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 14:13, 1 Corinthians 14:1), the power to speak the word boldly (Ephesians 6:18-19), spiritual insight, being clothed in the Holy Spirit, and attaining a faith purified as gold in the fire (Revelation 3:18). So the wise will direct the foolish to go to God for what they need in prayer.
- "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." = As stated, if one has not developed the habit of staying close to the Presence of God these dark and evil times, trying to do after burning out may be all but impossible. And while the foolish are off trying to get their act together spiritually when they should have been ministering light to the church, the Lord will come. Those who were walking in the Spirit and the true light of His word will be taken with Him to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, while those who were not ready will be left behind, and the door will now 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." = The words "I know you not" are key here. Because their light went out, the Lord can no longer "recognize" them or what they teach (without true spiritual light, a person's teachings always trail off into error). They appear as strangers to Him now, so He says to them at the door, "I know you not."
- "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" = an exhortation to walk in the light the Holy Spirit gives for as LONG as necessary, so as to light the way for the bride properly.
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