Matthew 25:1-13 King James Version (KJV)
25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
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2 [/SUP]And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
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3 [/SUP]They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
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4 [/SUP]But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
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5 [/SUP]While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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6 [/SUP]And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
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7 [/SUP]Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
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8[/SUP]And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.[SUP]
9 [/SUP]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.
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10 [/SUP]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.
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11 [/SUP]Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
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12 [/SUP]But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
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13 [/SUP]Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Five of the virgins were religious, they thought they were saved. Millions presently are in the Church, but not in Christ.
The wording of the five foolish virgins in our text is all too familiar to the reader of Matthew’s Gospel:
Matthew 25:11 - "Later, the other virgins came too, saying,
‘Lord, Lord! Let us in!’ 12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth,
I do not know you!"
Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven" but only the one who does the
will of my Father in heaven. John 6:40 - For my Father’s
will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day). 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful works?’ 23 Then I will declare to them,
'I never knew you. Go away from me, you who work iniquity!’
The difference between the foolish virgins and the wise virgins: The wise virgins had oil for their lamps, while the foolish virgins did not. The wise virgins had the opportunity to obtain oil, and did so. The foolish virgins had plenty of opportunity to procure oil, but did not.
It is possible to be in close contact with Christ, and with Christians, and yet not be saved. I am reminded of a similar passage in the Gospel of Luke:
Luke 13:23 - Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" So he said to them, 24 "Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply,
‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you workers of iniquity/evil doers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out.
