The Wise And Foolish Believers

Jesus Christ was and is the greatest teacher of all times. He presented His lessons of truth in clear and forceful statements that strike the hearts of the hearers. He always used the most simple language. The simplest language is the most eloquent. We speak, write or communicate to be clearly understood, not to confuse the heart and mind of the hearer or reader.

Jesus the LORD, makes further explanation by practical illustrations, parables (or stories of earthly things that have heavenly meaning). His illustrations were taken from familiar things of daily life, like the “fowls of the air, the lilies of the field, the seed, the shepherd and his sheep, the door, salt, etc.” With these objects, he illustrated immortal truths which the unlearned and unschooled and most ordinary human being will easily understand. The foregoing instances demonstrate the characteristics of a good - - the best - - teachers or writers. They strive to teach and write to be understood.

Thus, by way of illustration or example, in simple language the Lord Jesus related this parable.

“25 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.” (Matt. 25: 1-13 KJV).

Have You Oil in Your Lamps?

Notice that five of these virgins are represented as wise and five as foolish, and all had lamps. They all knew the truth that they must prepare for the coming of the bridegroom (or Jesus Christ/God in person). There was no apparent difference between the wise and the foolish until the cry was made, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him”.

The only difference was that the wise had taken precautions to put oil on their lamps. In other words, the wise were all the time ready. But the foolish had not provided for this emergency. It was only when the expected event was at the doorstep that they made an earnest and distressed petition to those who were wise to share them some of their oils. The foolish had neglected to prepare themselves to meet the bridegroom, and now at the last moment, turned to those wise who had provided themselves with oil - enough oil. Both have everything they needed, except the most important of all - the oil, as far as the foolish virgins were concerned.

The pertinent question to ask is: Why is it that the wise did not share their supply of oil to the foolish ones? As we make the spiritual application of the parable, we can perceive the reason. The Lord Jesus himself said, “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 rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matt. 25:8-9 KJV). When the foolish returned after buying oil, the door of heaven was already closed.

Thus, it is not possible for those who have faith and are wise to divide their supply of oil with those who have not. In other words, the LORD Jesus is saying that it is not possible for those who have made a thorough heart work, to impart the benefit of this to those who have done but surface work. “Salvation is personal”.

All the ten virgins appeared to be waiting or expecting for the coming of the bridegroom, like all of us believers, and yet the test brought out the fact that five were not really ready spiritually. This is like the case of many of us. I said, “us”, because I include myself. Meaning, we know from the Bible that Jesus Christ will soon come to redeem all true and faithful believers, and we appear to others as His true disciples but in truth and in fact, we are not. To which class do we belong? Do we belong to the foolish or wise virgins (or believers)? Now is the time to prepare for heaven, not when the Lord Jesus comes, the day and hour of which we do not know, only God the Father knows (Matt. 24:36; Luke 12:40; 1 Thess. 5:2).

The foolish virgins represent those who are hypocritical. In Tagalog (Pilipino) “mapagkunwari”. In other words, they had a regard for truth; they advocated the truth, they were intending to go forth to meet the bridegroom; they are attached to those who believe the truth, and go with them, having lamps, which represent a knowledge of the truth. They are active members and officers of religious sects, denominations and organizations like Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, etc.

Many receive the truth readily, but they fail to assimilate truth, and its influence is not abiding. They are like the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their lamps. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which is brought into the soul through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who earnestly search the Scriptures with much prayer, who rely upon God with firm faith, who obey His commandments, will be among those who are represented as wise virgins. These are not perfect people, for only one is perfect - the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is 100% human and 100% divine. But these men/women are sinners saved by the grace of God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Jesus Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Be believing and wise.