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The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Updated: Feb 18


Before we dive into the parable, let's find out why Yeshua used parables in the first place.


“And the taught ones came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And He answering, said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, but to them it has not been given. “For whoever possesses, to him more shall be given, and he shall have overflowingly; but whoever does not possess, even what he possesses shall be taken away from him. “Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. “And in them the prophecy of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) is completely filled, which says, ‘Hearing you shall hear and by no means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive, for the heart of this people has become thickened, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart, and turn back, and I heal them.’ “And blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear, for truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:10-17)


Yeshua used parables so that those who truly sought after him and the Father's will (disciples) would be able to understand what he was saying. Those who were not followers of Yeshua would not understand the true meaning of the parable, thus fulfilling prophecy. When it comes to the Parable of the Ten Virgins there is a lot of debate as to what it means, and many just throw their hands up in the air and say it’s a mystery. I don’t think it’s a mystery and can be easily understood with the right mindset, that is the Torah observant mindset.

 

The Context of the Parable


Before we read the Parable of the Ten Virgins let’s look back and see what was being discussed prior. In Matthew chapter 24 the disciples asked Yeshua what would be the signs of his coming, he goes on to list what must happen before he returns. After this, he tells them that no one knows the day or the hour of his return and to stay vigilant.


“But concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers of the heavens, but My Father only. “And as the days of Noah, so also shall the coming of the Son of Adam be. For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also shall the coming of the Son of Adam be. Then two shall be in the field, the one is taken and the one is left. “Two women shall be grinding at the mill, one is taken and one is left. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Master is coming. “And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. “Because of this, be ready too, for the Son of Adam is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:36-44)


Pretty straightforward, no one knows when he will return, and we should be alert and ready to go when he comes. But what does it mean to be ready for the return of our king?

 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins


In chapter 25 he elaborates on this with the Parable of the Ten Virgins.


“Then the reign of the heavens shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “And five of them were wise, and five foolish. Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, took no oil with them,” but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. “Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!’” “Then all those maidens rose up and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’” “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, indeed, there would not be enough for us and you. Instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. “And later the other maidens also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’ But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’” “Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Adam is coming,” (Matthew 25:1-13)

 

Explaining the Parable


Let’s break it down from the top, the virgins are the “Christians” or followers of Yeshua, and the bridegroom is Yeshua.


“And יהושע said to them, “Are the friends of the bridegroom able to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days shall come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they shall fast.” (Matthew 9:15)


The lamp and the light are the Torah and the following of its instructions.


“For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light, And reproofs of discipline a way of life,” (Proverbs 6:23)


But only the wise follow the Torah, that is why they have the light emanating from their lamps, and the foolish do not. I can already imagine people saying, “Jesus said he was the truth, the way, and the life.” This is true, but we must remember that Yeshua is the Torah.


“For if you believed Mosheh (Moses), you would have believed Me, since he wrote about Me. ” (John 5:46) Moses wrote the Torah.


“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)


“Blessed are the perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of יהוה!” (Psalm 119:1)

“Your righteousness is righteousness forever, And Your Torah is truth.”(Psalm 119:142)


“The Torah of the wise is a fountain of life, Turning one away from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 13:14)


This is further supported by John.


“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.” (John 1:1)


“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14)


Back to the parable, the cry goes out that the bridegroom is coming, I believe this to be the signs we are to keep watch for. Then the bridegroom comes and those that are wise are taken and those that are foolish are left. The foolish call out but Yeshua tells them that he never knew them, this is referenced earlier in Matthew.


“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23)


Remember lawlessness is the transgression of the Torah, and he tells the foolish virgins the same thing he tells those who practice lawlessness. That’s why Yeshua is so persistent in telling his disciples to keep watch and to be ready, and for those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear can know the truth of the parable.


As always don’t believe a word I say and test all things, even this, and let the Rauch Hakodesh guide you into all truth. Let go of all the years of indoctrination of man doctrine and let the Rauch Hakodesh open your eyes as to the Biblical truth not being talked about.


P.S.

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