Verses 1-4 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.
This chapter is a continuation of the discussion and teaching session Jesus had with His disciples while sitting down on the mount of Olives. This mountain is more like a hill and it is also called Mount Olivet because of all the olive trees that used to grow on its slopes. It is located just east of the old part of the city of Jerusalem.
In this chapter Jesus likens the spiritual kingdom of Heaven to physical things people can relate to in this world so that there can be a greater understanding of a kingdom that cannot be experienced by the senses of touch, vision, or hearing while in an earthly body of flesh.
Virgins are metaphor for those people who have not gotten involved with idolatry and false religions and who are serving the LORD. These virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so that the wedding or marriage could start. The bridegroom is metaphor for Jesus. The number 10 in Scripture is the number of or represents worldly government or control and the number 5 in Scripture represents death. The lamps are metaphor for the Gospel which is the Word of God and the oil is metaphor for the Holy Ghost/Spirit. ” Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105 The vessels are metaphor for the virgins’ bodies wherein resides their spirits and souls (the mind, the will, and the emotions).
The English definition of “foolish” is someone lacking good sense or judgment. The Greek word translated as “foolish” is “moros” from which we get the word moron. It means foolish, impious or godless. The word “foolish” is an adjective describing a person or thing. The word “fool” is a noun and is someone who acts unwisely or who is foolish. What does the Bible say about fools?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
“The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Proverbs 3:35
“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” Proverbs 14:16
“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” Proverbs 15:5
“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” Proverbs 23:9
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Proverbs 26:11
“The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 2:14
The Bible is full of verses about fools and foolishness, but the sampling of verses above should demonstrate how God sees a person who is foolish or who is a fool by nature. But the biggest fool is written about in Psalms 14:1 and 53:1. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalms 14:1
Putting everything together, these ten virgins living in a worldly system and professing to be followers of Jesus Christ are described as waiting for His return, five of them having the Word of God in their hearts through the aid of the Holy Ghost/Spirit and five of them having the Word of God but without the aid of the Holy Ghost/Spirit so that they have a head knowledge but not a heart knowledge. Looking at them, it would be difficult to know which virgins were true believers and which were not really true believers but merely professing believers. The wise virgins or believers in Jesus Christ made sure they had the presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit with them indwelling their bodies and souls. The foolish were careless and did not take the Holy Ghost/Spirit with them. They were not equipped to meet the bridegroom or the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 5-6 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “slumber” is “nustazo” and it means to fall asleep, to be negligent or careless, or to linger or delay. This is a picture of the Church. Although Christians believe that Jesus will return to Earth one day, because of not knowing when that will be there is a tendency to become careless or negligent in regards to their service to the LORD. There is the unspoken belief that there will always be a tomorrow and that Jesus’ return is way off in the future. Also, because of the widespread teaching of the Scofield false doctrine in which a specific order of events are reported to have to happen before Jesus can return to this Earth, many Christian believers are not looking for or prepared for the return of the LORD Jesus Christ. The ten virgins were tired of waiting for the bridegroom to come and so they were sleeping until they heard the cry that he had come. Notice that the wise as well as the unwise virgins were asleep.
Application: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (assisted and supported in times of hardship and distress) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 No one knows when they will breathe their last breath and enter into eternity or when time will end because of the return of the LORD Jesus Christ. The Christian believer should always be striving to serve the LORD first with their time and with their treasure, and then tend to the things of life after putting God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Verses 7-10 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.
The wise virgins, even though they slumbered at times, were ready for the coming of the bridegroom. Likewise, the Christian believers who keep themselves in the presence of the LORD through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost/Spirit and through Bible study, prayer, and obedience to the Word of God, even if they slumber at times, are ready for the coming of Jesus and/or their death and then life eternal in Heaven. The unwise virgins were not prepared and the door was shut to them. Likewise, those people professing to be Christians but who are not really in a relationship with God through His Holy Ghost/Spirit will not be prepared for His coming and will not be admitted into eternity with the LORD. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done may wonderful works? And than will I profess unto them I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23 Think about it.
Verses 11-13 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.
Application: If you, the reader, are a parent, think about your relationship with your child and how you want it to be. You want your child to want to be with you, to want to listen to you, to want to take your advise, to want to talk to you and tell you what is on his/her mind, to be honest, to be obedient, to be faithful, to do his/her assigned chores on time and without grumbling, to tell others what a great parent you are, to love you unconditionally, and so forth. God is your spiritual Father. You, if a Christian believer, are His child. He wants the same positive attitudes and behaviors from His child as you want from your child. The neighbor down the road may have a child, but that child is not yours even though that child may come to your house and spend time with you and your child. This analogy is what Jesus is talking about in the parable above. His spiritual children should be like the child above, wanting to be in His presence, to listen to Him through prayer and His Word, to take the advise of the Holy Ghost/Spirit as He prompts and guides through life, to talk to Him and tell Him what is on their minds, to be honest, to be obedient, to be faithful, to obey His commandments and do the work He assigns on time and without grumbling, to tell others what a great God He is, to love Him unconditionally just because He is, and so forth. All God’s children should be watching for His return and be prepared with righteous living and a pure heart, or else they will hear the words, “I know you not.”
Verses 14-18 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
So the first parable is about being prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven and looking for and expecting the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. In this second parable, a man leaves his goods to three servants, and knowing them rather well, he leaves different amounts to each of them based on what he knows to be their strengths and weaknesses. Two of the servants invest wisely and receive back double of what they invested. One, out of fear or laziness, fails to invest what has been given to him. Now that in itself is not a bad thing as this servant did not loose his masters goods. But the spiritual application needs to be considered.
The Greek word translated as “talents” is “talanton” and it means a weight, or a sum of money weighing a talent. In Israel, a talent of silver weighed about 100 pounds and a talent of gold weighted about 200 pounds. The word does not mean a natural aptitude or skill which the English word means today. So these servants were given either money or possessions that were valued by weight. The third servant was indeed given money as verse 27 below confirms that the goods was money.
Verses 19-23 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Two of the servants care for their master’s goods carefully and double them. The master upon returning from the far country praises them and makes them rulers over more of that which belongs to him. Notice that it was not the amount of talents that mattered to the master. It was that both of these servants, when entrusted with his goods handled them wisely and made a profit, doubling his goods. It was their performance that mattered to the master. As a result, the master knew that they could be trusted and more responsibility and opportunity was to be given to these two servants.
Verses 24-25 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
The third servant returned to the master just that which had been given to him to be responsible for. There was no change in either the talent or the servant.
Verses 26-30 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
In the sinful natural world, investing money for interest is done all the time. The master chastised his servant because had he at least put the money with a banker or broker, there would have been interest accruing all the time the master was gone. The Greek word translated as “exchangers” is “trapezites” and it means one who exchanges money for a fee, and pays interest on deposits. The master took that which had been entrusted to the servant and gave it to the servant that had the most talents.
So this parable is dealing with the faithfulness and willingness of God’s servants to do that which they are commanded to do. The spiritual metaphor for this parable is as follows. The master is the LORD. The three servants are Christian believers who have been called by God and who are at different levels of their faith and obedience. The talents are the gifts and blessings bestowed by God on His servants: salvation, forgiveness, love, guidance, provisions, healing, the indwelling of His Ghost/Spirit, eternal life and so on. The journey and the far country is the ascension of the LORD after His earthly ministry into Heaven where He remains until the time of His second coming or return as promised. The return of the master is most likely the end of time and the judgement. The command to “enter thou into the joy of thy lord” is the reward of eternal life in Heaven because of a job well done. The casting of the unprofitable servant into outer darkness is eternal life in Hell. The reaping and gathering in verse 26 means that God uses His people to carry on the ministry He did while living on this Earth. His people preach the Gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18
What Jesus is saying in these verses is that the Kingdom of Heaven is made up of those people He has called to salvation. These people receive His free gift of salvation and all that goes with having a personal relationship with Him and serving Him. Each Christian believer has different abilities and some are able to accomplish more in their time here on Earth than others, but the reward at the end of their life is the same for each believer. Some Christian believers do not obey or serve Him and at judgement time, they will be cast into Hell and not receive any praise or reward. So the Kingdom of Heaven as explained by these two parables is made up of believers who are prepared to serve and to go into eternity to be with their master, the LORD Jesus Christ, but it is also made up of believers who are not prepared to serve and to go into eternity to be with the LORD Jesus Christ. When in the Kingdom of God, the expectation is that as gifts from God have been given freely to each believer, the believer will in return give gifts to others, the greatest gift being the hearing of the Gospel and the conversion of the unsaved soul.
Application: This teaching of Jesus regarding the unprofitable servant goes against what most churches teach today. If people raise their hand at an altar call and professe to accept Jesus as LORD and Savior, they are lead to believe that they are saved forever regardless of what they do with the rest of their life. This is the once saved, always saved doctrine. Some teach that if a believer does not go to Heaven, it is because they were never saved from sin, death and Hell in the first place. There is no way to prove this, but the idea is taught as fact in many churches. But this parable refutes this teaching. The unprofitable servant was a servant of the master. He knew his master well in that he was aware that his master did not do the work of sowing but that it was his job as a servant to sow so his master could reap. He had a fear of his master. He thought he could get by through just returning that which his master had given him without any effort to advance the things belonging to his master. This unprofitable servant describes many Christian believers today. They accept God’s gift of salvation and eternal life in Heaven and then do nothing to advance the spiritual Kingdom they are now a part of. They think they can just get by by doing the bare basics such as warming a pew on Sundays at their local church. But God expects his servants to serve in whatever capacity they can to spread the message of the Gospel to reach the lost and to grow the Kingdom of God through repentance and conversion of those people they reach out to. Like the multiplying of the talents, God uses his servants to multiply the people of His spiritual Kingdom through their testimony and work.
Verses 31-34 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
In countries where sheep herding is the normal method of husbandry, it can be seen that in a mixed flock of both sheep and goats, the sheep will travel together and the goats will travel together and it is not unusual to see the goats on the left side of the shepherd and the sheep on the right side of the shepherd. Jesus knew this when telling this parable to people who worked the land and understood agricultural principles.
Verses 35-40 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The LORD is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) and He watches the attitudes and actions of mankind and He knows each person’s thoughts. The servants of the LORD are to be working for the Kingdom of God. That does not necessarily mean that each Christian believer is to strive to preach and teach and evangelize if that is not what they are called to do. However each Christian believer can feed the hungry, can give water to the thirsty (both physical and spiritual), can help with housing for the homeless in their town, can provide clothing to the poor, can visit the sick in hospitals and can visit the elderly in nursing homes, can visit inmates in prison or engage in letter writing, and can support with their finances their local church and its outreach ministries. There is always something the believer CAN do. Think about it.
Verses 41-46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25)
Notice that the everlasting fire was originally prepared for Satan and his fallen angels and not intended for mankind. But because mankind has chosen to partner with the Devil and his angels and to serve them, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: but the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.” Isaiah 5:14-16