Parable of the ten Virgins

[Inertia]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

_________
.

 

[Fred]

I'll respond to the first two questions.

Oil represents the Holy Spirit and His cleansing in every believer (1 John 2:20, 27).

Salvation is given as a free gift and so therefore cannot be purchased. Seeking to do anything to "buy" this gift nullifies it for that person.

 

[Inertia]

I'll respond to the first two questions.

Oil represents the Holy Spirit and His cleansing in every believer (1 John 2:20, 27).

Salvation is given as a free gift and so therefore cannot be purchased. Seeking to do anything to "buy" this gift nullifies it for that person.

Other points of view:

- The oil represents righteous living - five of them don't have to make things right again
- The oil represents true faith vs. a hope that their association with believers will in some way help their current situation
- The oil represents almsgiving or acts of mercy ( Matthew 6:1 - 4)
- The oil represents real genuine love for Jesus. ( The act of attempting to purchase it shows where their true heart is. )
- The oil represents spiritual vigilance and preparedness with a living faith. ( Foolish virgins had an amount of oil, but not enough to abide until the end ) "Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13 )

_______
.

 

[Arial]

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

The purchase of oil.

2.) What does "oil" represent?

Oil.

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

It says nothing about a millennial kingdom. As you know there are several views of the thousand years mentioned in Revelation. The only thing the passage says about His return is that no one knows when it will be.

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

No.

It is a parable. Parable: a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle. It is talking about persevering in the faith, enduring to the end. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Always being ready to be found faithful. The subject is; "For the kingdom of heaven will be like----"

 

[Selah7]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

1. “While all true believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, none can give their oil to someone else (see Mt 25:3-8) People must seek (find) the Lord for themselves. We get the oil from God’s Word.
2. The oil is the wisdom of God—Knowledge, enough to keep your lamp lit throughout the entire tribulation—knowing the signs of the return of the King of kings and Lord of lords
3. Jesus returns at the 7th trump which brings in the Millennium.
4. The parable explains how it is we are not deceived when the AC is here claiming to be God—by having all the oil necessary to endure until the end when Jesus returns.

The oil in this passage is #1637 in the Greek Strong's Dictionary. It is "elaion" which comes from the prime #1636, "elaia, el-ah'-yah", "el" is God, and "ah" is God, and "yah" is God, Three forms of the Godhead. This is the olive tree that the olive oil comes from. The wisdom of God, the oil, comes from the olive tree. and we get that oil from His word.

​

1637. elaion ►

​

Strong's Concordance elaion: olive oil​ Original Word: ἔλαιον, ου, τό Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: elaion Phonetic Spelling: (el'-ah-yon) Definition: olive oil Usage: olive oil, oil. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1637 élaion – olive oil (from 1636 /elaía, "olive tree"); (figuratively) the indwelling (empowering) of the Holy Spirit. While all true believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, none cangive their oil to someone else (see Mt 25:3-8)! Each person must seek (find) the Lord for themself.

 

[civic]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

_________
.

Matthew 24 which precedes 25 has to do with His 2nd Coming in Judgment/ wrath . Matthew 25 ends with it as well with the sheep and goats . Being ready for the bridegroom to return is a constant for He will come when it’s least expected. Those parables are about being prepared, faithful and obedient until He returns.

 

[Inertia]

1. “While all true believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, none cangive their oil to someone else (see Mt 25:3-8) Each person must seek (find) the Lord for themselves. We get the oil from God’s Word.
2. The oil is the wisdom of God—Knowledge, enough to keep your lamp lit throughout the entire tribulation—knowing the signs of the return of the King of kings and Lord of lords
3. Jesus returns at the 7th trump which brings in the Millennium.
4. The parable explains how it is we are not deceived when the AC is here claiming to be God—by having all the oil necessary to endure until the end when Jesus returns.

The oil in this passage is #1637 in the Greek Strong's Dictionary. It is "elaion" which comes from the prime #1636, "elaia, el-ah'-yah", "el" is God, and "ah" is God, and "yah" is God, Three forms of the Godhead. This is the olive tree that the olive oil comes from. The wisdom of God, the oil, comes from the olive tree. and we get that oil from His word.

​

1637. elaion ►

​

Strong's Concordance elaion: olive oil​ Original Word: ἔλαιον, ου, τό Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: elaion Phonetic Spelling: (el'-ah-yon) Definition: olive oil Usage: olive oil, oil. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1637 élaion – olive oil (from 1636 /elaía, "olive tree"); (figuratively) the indwelling (empowering) of the Holy Spirit. While all true believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, none cangive their oil to someone else (see Mt 25:3-8)! Each person must seek (find) the Lord for themself.

Ah - I've read many explanations, but this one is another that I can add to the list of explanations.

- Thanks

_________
.

 

[Inertia]

The purchase of oil.

Oil.

It says nothing about a millennial kingdom. As you know there are several views of the thousand years mentioned in Revelation. The only thing the passage says about His return is that no one knows when it will be.

No.

It is a parable. Parable: a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle. It is talking about persevering in the faith, enduring to the end. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Always being ready to be found faithful. The subject is; "For the kingdom of heaven will be like----"

Why do the foolish virgins feel that they have to purchase oil in order to be accepted by the bridegroom? Is there a type of oil that is better than others?

How did the wise virgins manage to budget their oil in order to meet the bridegroom's strict oil-level specifications?

_______
.

 

[Inertia]

Matthew 24 which precedes 25 has to do with His 2nd Coming in Judgment/ wrath . Matthew 25 ends with it as well with the sheep and goats . Being ready for the bridegroom to return is a constant for He will come when it’s least expected. Those parables are about being prepared, faithful and obedient until He returns.

This reminds me of John 15:4-7 -

Key term = "abide"

_______
.

 

[Arial]

Why do the foolish virgins feel that they have to purchase oil in order to be accepted by the bridegroom? Is there a type of oil that is better than others?

How did the wise virgins manage to budget their oil in order to meet the bridegroom's strict oil-level specifications?

_______
.

Perhaps you should answer those questions instead of asking me. I already presented my view of the parable. One doesn't understand a parable by saying this natural thing represents this spiritual thing, and this other natural thing represents this spiritual thing. That is not what a parable is or does. One does come up with a lot of false teachings by doing that.

 

[Inertia]

Perhaps you should answer those questions instead of asking me. I already presented my view of the parable. One doesn't understand a parable by saying this natural thing represents this spiritual thing, and this other natural thing represents this spiritual thing. That is not what a parable is or does. One does come up with a lot of false teachings by doing that.

I'm hoping for a more in-depth conversation about this narrative.

par·a·ble

noun

1. a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

Understanding why the foolish virgins were foolish is an important factor in order for the reader to grasp meaning. Whenever two or more interpretations are possible, even plausible, the most reasonable solution should be adopted.

Here, the grammatical structure allows many interpretations depending on one's religious background. Catholic teaching for example provides the following explanation:

"oil is the symbol of very deep and very personal gestures"

________
.

 

[Carbon]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

_________
.

Oh, great topic, just seen it.
I'm going to look into it a bit.

 

[ChristB4us]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

_________
.

I believe because the ten virgins ARE the kingdom of heaven is why they have the oil for being in that kingdom of Heaven.

So the question is why were they not ready?

And so the iniquity is believing they need to fill themselves up with that oil ( the Holy Spirit ) for why the Bridegroom did not know them because they were in iniquity that was denying Him as always Spirit-filled.

To seek to fill yourself up with the Holy Spirit is denying His promise for having come to & believed in Jesus Christ where He said we would never hunger nor thirst to be filled again.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

We are not leaky vessels as this is a testimony from God as always spirit-filled as God has saved us.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

To seek a continual filling of the Spirit is to make the father look evil as if He did not give you the Holy Spirit the first time for knocking at the door of Jesus Christ by the hearing of the gospel for when you had first believed.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

So there is no more filling to be had but to move on to perfection by walking in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Keeping your eyes on Jesus Christ is the only way to heed Paul's warning not to seek another Jesus or another spirit to receive.

2 Corinthians 11:1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

[Carbon]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?

2.) What does "oil" represent?

3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?

or

4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

_________
.

I believe this is a great pastoral sermon by Christ. And he is speaking of the state of his church. As there will be goats among the sheep.

Again, I think it's talking about the state of the church. And that it is not sufficient to profess to follow Jesus but we must also persevere. When the bridegroom comes he will know his bride because they have received the gift of the Spirit (which is the oil). It seems obvious the lamps would be the heart.
The Bridegroom is Christ of course, the time of the wedding is at his second coming. I think the "night" refers to the churches state in the world 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Also the virgins are those who profess Christ. But the wise virgins are the true believers. Those who are foolish are those who have tasted of the heavenly gift (as in Hebrews 6) but have not perservered.

Importantly, those who are asking for some oil . (8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’) remind me of,)
Are these who Christ will say these terrible words to:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matt 7.

 

[Eleanor]

Biblical reference: Matthew 25

1.) What does the purchase of oil mean?
2.) What does "oil" represent?
3.) Does the parable explain Christ's return during the Millennial Kingdom?
or
4.) Does the parable explain the rapture of the Church?

It appears to be part of a trilogy presenting genuine and counterfeit faith, professors of faith vs. possessors of faith.
1) Mt 24:45-51--no faithfulness (i.e.,belief), hypocrite,
2) Mt 25:1-13--no Holy Spirit (spiritual life),
3) Mt 25:14:30--no fruit.

The parable of the virgins is the second one.
The foolish virgins had no oil (Holy Spirit).
They were shut out.

Purchase of oil: we have no oil of our own, we must go to the One who does.

 

[Inertia]

I believe because the ten virgins ARE the kingdom of heaven is why they have the oil for being in that kingdom of Heaven.

So the question is why were they not ready?

And so the iniquity is believing they need to fill themselves up with that oil ( the Holy Spirit ) for why the Bridegroom did not know them because they were in iniquity that was denying Him as always Spirit-filled.

To seek to fill yourself up with the Holy Spirit is denying His promise for having come to & believed in Jesus Christ where He said we would never hunger nor thirst to be filled again.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

We are not leaky vessels as this is a testimony from God as always spirit-filled as God has saved us.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

To seek a continual filling of the Spirit is to make the father look evil as if He did not give you the Holy Spirit the first time for knocking at the door of Jesus Christ by the hearing of the gospel for when you had first believed.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

So there is no more filling to be had but to move on to perfection by walking in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Keeping your eyes on Jesus Christ is the only way to heed Paul's warning not to seek another Jesus or another spirit to receive.

2 Corinthians 11:1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

^That^ is another explanation I haven't read previously. - nice

Quick question: Since the kingdom of heaven is modeled by the ten virgins and their responses in this parable, how does one reconcile this model with Jesus' teaching on division within the kingdom?

"Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls." (Luke 11:17)

________
.

 

[Inertia]

I believe this is a great pastoral sermon by Christ. And he is speaking of the state of his church. As there will be goats among the sheep.

Again, I think it's talking about the state of the church. And that it is not sufficient to profess to follow Jesus but we must also persevere. When the bridegroom comes he will know his bride because they have received the gift of the Spirit (which is the oil). It seems obvious the lamps would be the heart.
The Bridegroom is Christ of course, the time of the wedding is at his second coming. I think the "night" refers to the churches state in the world 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Also the virgins are those who profess Christ. But the wise virgins are the true believers. Those who are foolish are those who have tasted of the heavenly gift (as in Hebrews 6) but have not perservered.

Importantly, those who are asking for some oil . (8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’) remind me of,)
Are these who Christ will say these terrible words to:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matt 7.

Thanks for the detailed response. There is a lot of meat here to consider. More later...

________
.

 

[Inertia]

It appears to be part of a trilogy presenting genuine and counterfeit faith, professors of faith vs. possessors of faith.
1) Mt 24:45-51--no faithfulness (i.e.,belief), hypocrite,
2) Mt 25:1-13--no Holy Spirit (spiritual life),
3) Mt 25:14:30--no fruit.

The parable of the virgins is the second one.
The foolish virgins had no oil (Holy Spirit).
They were shut out.

My current thinking about the parable is parallel to your response too. The fact that they are all asleep puts the virgins on the same level ground, but the fact that half of them believes they can abide better by purchasing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is foolish indeed.

________
.

 

[Carbon]

Thanks for the detailed response. There is a lot of meat here to consider. More later...

________
.

Looking forward to it.

 

[Deleted member 5]

The parable reminds me of those who believe they are saved because back in the day they punched their ticket to heaven.

But there has been no serving the LORD, no ongoing sanctification, no interest in God, they are nominal Christians. It is all based upon easy-believism, and they will be in for a rude awakening at His return, and find that their lamps have no oil.

We run into trouble when we try to make the parables walk on all fours as they say instead of getting the bottom line point of them.