The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1–13
“Prepared or pretending? The Truth Behind the Ten Virgins”
Many of us today are living like the foolish virgins. We attend church services, fellowships, keshas, sing worship songs, carry our Bibles, and serve in church ministries. Outwardly, we look religious — but inwardly, we are empty and living in sin. We live in an era where we talk about God but lack a personal relationship with Him. We go to church to seek His blessings, but we do not want God Himself — and we are not prepared for His coming.
The Need for Spiritual Awakening
We need to wake up. There is a great need for us to be spiritually awakened and to have true, genuine faith. We need to be filled by the Holy Spirit and live by the Spirit. May God change our minds and hearts from the things of this world. May He help us not to be conformed to the pattern of this world. Let’s be watchful and alert because Christ will return when we are not ready.
Many of us are spiritually asleep. We have been distracted by the world — wealth is what we seek, and we live to gratify the desires of the flesh. But one day we will fall asleep (biblical view of death), and the door will be shut. There will be no more chance left. In the twinkling of an eye, we will hear the trumpet and see Jesus — and we will not know how quickly time has passed. The time is now to be prepared before the second return of our Lord Jesus.
Our Daily Need as Believers
Our need today as believers is to seek the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit daily — to stay faithful in prayer, holiness, and devotion, and to live as people expecting their Lord’s return. God is calling His church to be awake, ready, and filled with oil — not half-prepared but fully surrendered.
Matthew 25:1–13
Jesus describes ten virgins (young women) who take lamps to meet the bridegroom (representing Jesus).
Five are wise and bring extra oil; five are foolish and do not. The bridegroom’s arrival is delayed, and all fall asleep. At midnight, a cry announces his coming, and they trim their lamps. The foolish ones, out of oil, ask the wise for some, but are refused and told to buy their own. While the foolish are away, the bridegroom arrives, and the wise enter the banquet with him. The door shuts, and when the foolish return, they plead, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us! "He replies, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you. "Jesus concludes:
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Meaning of the Parable
- The bridegroom represents Jesus Christ.
- The Oil represents the Holy Spirit, genuine faith, and good works enabled by grace. Zechariah 4:1-7, 1 Samuel 16:13, Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38
- Lamp represents the word of God, The believer’s life and witness Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 20:27, 2 Samuel 22:29
- The Extra Oil represents spiritual readiness.
- The Ten Virgins represent all believers who profess to follow Jesus Christ. Outwardly, they all look ready and prepared for the return of Christ — but inwardly, there is a difference.
- The Wise Virgins are the true believers with genuine faith, filled with the Holy Spirit, living by the Spirit daily, and having an intimate relationship with God.
- The Foolish Virgins are the believers who outwardly look religious but without inner transformation. They look ready, but they lack the Holy Spirit who sustains their faith. They live to gratify their sinful nature.
- The Delay is God’s patience toward each of us, testing our perseverance.
- The Midnight Cry represents the second return of Jesus Christ, when all people — dead or alive — will hear the sound of the trumpet.
Lessons We Can Learn
One day, Jesus Christ will return. The question is not when He will return, but how well spiritually prepared are you? Are you a wise or foolish virgin? Jesus Christ will come unexpectedly. Are you prepared?
There are two ways: you may die before the return of Jesus Christ, or He may return while you are still alive. Either way, the truth is that every person — dead or alive — will hear the trumpet, and all of us will see Jesus coming on the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).Sadly, many of us are living like the foolish virgins — not prepared at all. We attend church, fellowship, keshas, and even serve in ministry. Outwardly, we look religious, but deep within, we are empty, living in sin, and lacking the Holy Spirit. Our worship is in vain if we are not living by the Spirit. Romans 8:5–8 says that those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on gratifying sinful deeds; they are controlled by the flesh and cannot please God.
A Personal Reflection
Am I the foolish virgin?
Outwardly, people may consider me a faithful believer in church — but inwardly and secretly, I am not transformed. When I am outside the church, I take pleasure in sin. I live a lukewarm life — one foot in the church and the other in the world. I lack genuine faith and live in hypocrisy. Honestly, I am living like a foolish virgin. There is a great need for you to change — to be spiritually awakened. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit so that He can help you live by the Spirit. It is not too late to fill your lamp with extra oil.
A Call to True Readiness
Today, God is calling you to live by the Spirit, have genuine faith, and build a personal relationship with Him. Outward religion will only lead to death; it will never transform you inside. You can sing, serve, worship, read the Bible, and attend church, but if inwardly you have not been transformed and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, you cannot be prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. All your oil will run dry, and your faith will not last long. Only the Holy Spirit — who is our oil — can fill our hearts and empower our faith so that we are able to persevere through suffering, stand against the schemes of the evil one, and not conform to the pattern of this world. Without the Holy Spirit in our lives, we cannot please God or live by the Spirit.
The Lamp and the Word
We also need the lamp to light our path.
Psalm 119:105 says:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The Bible helps us in our spiritual journey — showing the next step, revealing truth, and protecting us from stumbling in sin or confusion. It reminds believers that we walk through a world full of darkness — uncertainty, temptation, and deception — but God’s Word acts as our steady light, helping us walk safely and confidently according to His will.
Live as the Wise Virgins
Today, let’s live like the wise virgins.
They had the Holy Spirit and lived by the Spirit.
They had genuine faith and daily fellowship with God.
They patiently maintained their spiritual flame through prayer, worship, and obedience. Confession and having faith in Jesus is not enough — God wants us to live what we confess. He wants us to be transformed inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit and into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He loves those who read His Word, hear it, and put it into practice. The only way to be prepared for the coming of Jesus is by wearing the full armor of God. (You can read the series on the full armor of God here: Each Piece of the Full Armor of God)
Conclusion: A Prayer for Transformation
Beloved, the midnight cry is drawing near. Many of us have grown comfortable — attending church, singing, serving — yet our hearts are far from God. The lamp may still be in your hand, but the oil is gone. God is calling His people to repent and be spiritually awakened before it’s too late. Do not wait for the cry to come before you prepare; by then, the door will be shut.
Now is the time to turn from sin, to seek forgiveness, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Return to your first love — Jesus Christ. Let Him renew your heart, cleanse your life, and fill you with His oil of grace. The King is coming — let Him not find you empty, distracted, or asleep. Repent, be filled, and be ready — for the bridegroom is on His way.
May God transform our minds and hearts,
fill us with His Spirit each day,
so that we live by the Spirit
and be prepared for the coming of our Bridegroom —
Jesus Christ.
