Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Wise and Foolish Virgins Explained

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Scriptures used in this lesson – Matthew 25 Verses 1-13

Matthew 24:46, Matthew 24:42, Matthew 25:24-26, Matthew 25:1–13, Genesis 28:16–19, Genesis 35:9–14, Exodus 25:6, Mark 6:13, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 12:29, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17,

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 in the Context of Matthew 24

We have been going through the book of Matthew verse by verse, sometimes word by word. Today, we begin chapter 25. Chapter 24 has been strong, but we must remember we are still in the same context. The thought has not changed. The question before us is simple. Where are we in the church world today? Are we in light or darkness? Should the thief in the night catch us unaware? Is the church a faithful servant doing its purpose, or an evil servant playing with the world?

The Faithful Servant and the Wicked Servant

Last week, we studied the faithful servant and the evil servant. The faithful servant is found doing what the Lord comes? The wicked servant is found slothful. He is doing what he wants. He is living in the world. The Lord numbered him with the hypocrites. That raises the question for the church. Are we like the five wise virgins who are established on the sayings of Christ and full of His presence? Or are we foolish – hearing only what we want while empty of His presence? Some will go into the marriage. Others will be shut out. Some will be cut off and numbered with the hypocrites. That is the issue before us.

Naturally, we want to say we are the wise virgins and the faithful servant. Yet these passages force us to examine our own lives. The real question is personal. Am I watching? Watching does not mean looking into the sky with telescopes and binoculars. Watching means doing. After asking about the church, we must ask about ourselves. Which am I? Am I a wise virgin? Am I a faithful servant? Or am I one of the others? This lesson is meant for those who are not fully certain where they stand.

Called to do something

Lessons like this help us understand what the Lord expects from His bride. They show what He expects from His church. We are not called to stand around. We are called to do something. So we turn to Matthew 24:46 and look again at the parable of the two servants. One servant is faithful. The other is wicked. The Lord says the faithful servant is the one whom his Lord finds doing when He comes.

Matthew 24:46

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

He’s saying here, make sure that you’re watching for the Lord. That’s where this whole thing is stimulating from. It’s from verse 42. Watch, therefore.

Matthew 24:42

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Everything in these parables grows out of that command. Each illustration points back to watching for the Lord. One parable speaks about the thief in the night. Another shows the servants. Today, we study the ten virgins. Next week, we will look at the talents and the servants. In every case, the people involved are required to do something.

Doing is Watching and Watching Means Doing

Watching is the central idea. Watching means doing. That raises a question for us as believers and as the body of Christ. Are we actually doing what we are called to do? Are we watching with binoculars and telescopes, or with our lives? The issue is preparedness for His coming. That is what this entire section is about.

The outline of Matthew chapter 25 follows this theme. First is the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Second is the parable of the servants and the talents, which we will study next week (Matthew 25:14-30). Third is the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46). After that, the narrative moves into Matthew chapter 26. There we see Judas’s betrayal and the Lord’s Supper.

Why Communion Matters in the Life of the Church

That brings me to something I noticed recently. We have begun having communion more often. I think that is good. Scripture says to do this as often as we will (1 Corinthians 11:25). The Lord never says praise as often as you will or teach as often as you will. He does say to share the Lord’s Supper often. Because of that, I want communion to become a regular part of our service.

Communion should stand alongside praise, teaching, and prayer. It belongs to the core life of the church. I have been enjoying it more and more. Last week, I did not plan to do it, yet I could not get away from it. We returned and shared communion again. I hope you are enjoying it as well. Jesus said to eat His body and drink His blood (Luke 22:19-20). I want us to do that often.

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – The Difference Between Wise and Foolish

So we begin with the first section of chapter 25 – the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

The Olivet Discourse Continues

The discourse in Matthew 24 does not end with the chapter break in Matthew 25. Jesus did not say now, Matthew chapter 25. He continued the same thought of the thief in the night, the faithful and evil servant, or watching in preparation. All that’s the thought that he’s continuing here. What I want you to see is that sometimes, in our Bible and scriptural readings, when we come to a chapter break, we break our chain of thought. And we’ll say, well, this is something different, but it’s not. Chapter 25 continues on the very same thought.

The thought goes back to what we looked at in verse Matthew 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” He says, watch there for it. It probably goes even back further than that, back to where he’s talking about, as it was in the days of Noah, where the Lord said, ” No man knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36).

This discourse likely reaches back to the earlier point in the teaching. What I want us to see is that chapter 25 is directly connected with chapter 24. There is no break in the setting or the message. Jesus is still sitting on the Mount of Olives speaking with His disciples. The same Olivet Discourse continues, and the same context remains.

Same Themes

Everything still concerns the same themes – Jerusalem, the coming destruction, the Great Tribulation, His coming, and the signs surrounding those events. Because of that, we must stay within His train of thought. Jesus did not end one subject and begin another. Chapter 25 continues the same flow and the same message that began earlier.

The central principle continues as well. That principle is watching. This parable expands and illustrates that idea. Watching is doing. The faithful servant is the one the Lord finds doing when He returns (Matthew 24:46). True watching means living out the purpose God has given us.

Preparedness Cannot Be Borrowed

Another truth appears in this parable. Preparedness cannot be transferred from one person to another. Each person must be ready personally. When the cry goes out at midnight that the Lord is coming and we are called to go out to meet Him, preparation must already be in place (Matthew 25:6). Everyone knows the story, and the lesson will make that clear.

The virgins trimmed their wicks. They rose up, and the five foolish virgins discovered they had no oil. They asked the wise for some of their oil. The wise answered and told them to go buy their own (Matthew 25:9). That moment reveals the principle of the parable.

When the Lord comes, no one can borrow what another person has. I cannot give you what I have. You cannot give me what you have. If a person waits until that moment to obtain what is needed, it will already be too late, and the door will be shut (Matthew 25:10-12). The message is about preparedness. We must already be doing what we are called to do, so we are not running at the last moment trying to buy oil.

Every Life Was Created for a Purpose

Life itself shows the same truth. Every person here was born for a purpose. God did not make a mistake with anyone. Each life was created for a reason and for something to be done in this world. When we walk in that purpose, we will have the oil and the readiness needed. God places talents into our lives and equips us to fulfill what He has given us to do (Matthew 25:14-30).

The Day of Reckoning

Preparedness means doing what the Lord has called us to do. That is the heart of this lesson. Many people imagine Jesus only as gentle and soft. Yet Scripture also shows another side. The Lord is a hard man in the sense that He requires an accounting. In the parable of the talents, the servants come to a day of reckoning (Matthew 25:19).

One servant hid his talent in the earth. When the reckoning came, he explained that he had been afraid and had buried what he received (Matthew 25:25). The parable shows that the Lord expects action and faithfulness from what He has placed in our lives.

Matthew 25:24-26

24 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.
26 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:

The servant returned the talent and said he was giving back what belonged to the master. He simply brought back the one talent that had been given to him. The Lord answered and called him a wicked and slothful servant (Matthew 25:26). That statement follows what the servant had already said about the master. He claimed he knew the master was a hard man who reaped where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered (Matthew 25:24). Because of that belief, he said he was afraid and hid the talent in the earth (Matthew 25:25).

Understanding the Expectation

Notice the Lord did not deny the statement. The reply confirms the servant understood the expectation. The master said that the servant knew he reaped where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered (Matthew 25:26). The point is clear. The servant knew what the master expected, but still did nothing with what he was given.

That raises a question about how we see Jesus. Do we see Him only as the baby in a manger, or do we see Him as Lord and King? The time being discussed is a day of reckoning and judgment. We will not stand before a baby. We will stand before the Lord who is the Lion (Revelation 5:5). He has given us something to do, and we must be about doing it.

The parable of the virgins shows the same seriousness. When the door is shut, it cannot be opened again (Matthew 25:10). Ten virgins expected to meet the Lord, yet only five actually entered. Many in the church world assume they will meet the Lord. Yet some will discover they have no oil (Matthew 25:3).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – The Final Warning to Watch

The lesson returns again to watching and doing. If we are not doing, then we are not watching. God has given His people work and purpose. I am encouraged by what we are doing, yet we can always do more. Prayer itself shows that truth. We can always pray more.

At the same time, we must not lose sight of grace. Scripture speaks of both the goodness and the severity of God (Romans 11:22). The Lord we meet is the Lion (Revelation 5:5). One day, we will stand before Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). With that in mind, we now read the parable itself.

The Parable

Matthew 25:1–13

1 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.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like this

The first thing we see in verse one is that the kingdom of heaven is likened to this parable (Matthew 25:1). Jesus says the kingdom of heaven will be like this. We are living in that kingdom, and this story explains what it will be like within it.

The parable speaks of ten virgins. The number ten often represents completeness or totality. Numbers like ten, one hundred, or one thousand carry that idea. Scripture says God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). That does not mean only one thousand and not one thousand and one. It means He owns them all. The same idea appears when Scripture declares that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). In the same way, the number ten here points to a complete group of people who believe they are going to meet the Lord.

Among those ten virgins, five are wise, and five are foolish (Matthew 25:2). That shows a division within the group. Some are wise, and some are foolish. The picture appears almost half-and-half.

What Does the Parable of the Ten Virgins Mean in Matthew 25 Verses 1-13?

That raises an important question. What does the Lord mean by wise and foolish? What does He connect with wisdom, and what does He connect with foolishness? To answer that, we look to the teaching of Jesus Himself. Matthew 7:24-27 explains the difference between the wise and the foolish (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Wise Man and the Foolish Man

In the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters five, six, and seven, Jesus concludes His teaching with a clear illustration. He says that whoever hears His sayings and does them will be like a wise man (Matthew 7:24). That wise man builds his house upon a rock. When the rain falls, the floods rise, and the winds beat against the house, it does not fall because it is founded on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

Jesus then describes the opposite example. The one who hears His sayings and does not do them is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand (Matthew 7:26). When the storms come and beat upon that house, it falls, and the fall is great (Matthew 7:27). Both men heard the same words. Both received the same teaching. The difference is that one obeyed the sayings of Christ while the other ignored them.

The wise man heard the word and shaped his life around it. He built his life, his family, his church, and eventually his influence in the city on the sayings of Christ. Because of that foundation, his life stood. The foolish man also heard the word, but he did not follow it. He built on his own wisdom, his own ability, and his own understanding. When the storms came, his life collapsed.

This passage shows that wisdom is hearing the sayings of the Lord and doing them. The whole section centers on doing what the word says. When Jesus speaks of a wise virgin, He is referring to someone who does what the word of God says. A foolish virgin is someone who hears the word but does not obey it.

Hearing the Word vs Doing the Word

That reality appears throughout the church world. Many hear the word, but not all live it. Some obey and become wise. Others ignore it and become foolish. Those who establish their lives, homes, church, and city on the sayings of Christ will be the wise ones who enter in (Matthew 25:10).

The other group will not have what is required. They will lack the oil that is necessary (Matthew 25:3). The wise build their lives on the sayings of Christ. The foolish build their lives on shifting sand even though they heard the same teaching.

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Why the Foolish Virgins Had No Oil

The foolish virgins took lamps but brought no oil (Matthew 25:3). That picture shows the danger of relying on personal ability rather than on the presence of God. A lamp without oil cannot give light. It is like buying an electric lamp but having no electricity to power it. The whole point is that the lamp alone is useless.

These virgins looked prepared and expected to meet the Lord, yet they had no oil (Matthew 25:3).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – What the Oil Represents in Scripture

That raises the next question: What does the oil represent? To answer that, we return to the first use of oil in Scripture in Genesis (Genesis 28:18).

Genesis 28:16–19

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

When studying Scripture, it is helpful to look at the first time a word appears. By tracing the first use, we begin to understand the meaning the Bible attaches to that word. A concordance helps us find that first occurrence and follow its development.

The First Mention of Oil in Scripture

One of those early examples appears in Genesis chapter 28 (Genesis 28:10-22). Jacob is fleeing from Esau and traveling toward Laban. During the journey, he sleeps with his head resting on a stone. In that place, he dreams and sees angels ascending and descending on what is often called Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28:12).

When Jacob wakes, he realizes something important has happened. He says the Lord is present in that place even though he did not know it before (Genesis 28:16). He declares that the place is the house of God and the gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17).

The next morning, Jacob takes the stone he used for a pillow and sets it up as a pillar. He pours oil on the top of the stone, which is the first mention of oil in Scripture (Genesis 28:18). He then names the place Bethel, meaning the house of God (Genesis 28:19).

From that first use, we begin to see the meaning of oil. The oil appears in connection with the presence of God. Jacob recognizes that God was present in that place, and the oil becomes associated with that encounter.

Oil is mentioned many times in the Scriptures

The Old Testament mentions oil many times, but the first use helps establish its meaning. Oil appears repeatedly in connection with the presence of God. The next example appears in Genesis chapter 35 (Genesis 35:14).

Genesis 35:9–14

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

Oil and the Presence of God

Genesis continues the pattern we saw earlier. God again appears to Jacob and makes His presence known (Genesis 35:9). In that moment God confirms the covenant and declares that Jacob’s name will no longer be Jacob but Israel (Genesis 35:10). The Lord promises fruitfulness, nations, and kings coming from his line (Genesis 35:11). He also confirms the land given to Abraham and Isaac will belong to Jacob and his descendants (Genesis 35:12).

After speaking with Jacob, God departs from that place. Jacob responds by setting up a pillar at the place where God had spoken with him. He pours a drink offering on it and then pours oil upon it (Genesis 35:14). He again calls the place Bethel, the place where God spoke with him (Genesis 35:15).

This continues the same pattern we saw earlier. When God’s presence appears, oil becomes associated with that encounter. The oil points toward the presence and anointing of God. If God is not present, there is no anointing. The presence of God and the anointing belong together, and the oil becomes the symbol of that presence.

Oil in the Tabernacle

Another example appears in Exodus chapter 25, where God gives instructions for the tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 25:1-40). The Lord tells Moses to receive offerings from the people who give willingly (Exodus 25:2). Materials are listed for building the tabernacle, including gold, silver, and brass (Exodus 25:3). Other items include blue, purple, scarlet, linen, and goat hair (Exodus 25:4), along with ram skins, badger skins, and wood (Exodus 25:5).

Among these materials, we also find oil. Scripture specifically calls it oil for the light, along with spices for the anointing oil and incense (Exodus 25:6). Oil again appears connected to light and to the anointing associated with God’s presence.

Exodus 25:6

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

The passage continues by listing more materials, including stones, used in building the tabernacle. Everything described has one purpose. All the elements of the tabernacle, including the oil, serve a single reason. The sanctuary is being built so that God may dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8).

Again, we see that oil is connected with the presence of God. The pattern appears repeatedly in the Scriptures. Oil continues to point toward the presence and anointing of God.

Oil in the New Testament

The same idea carries into the New Testament. Several places show oil being used there as well. One example appears when the disciples were sent out in ministry and anointed people with oil (Mark 6:13).

Mark 6:13

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

We’re sent out by Jesus and they anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. So the Lord’s presence was there to heal. In Luke 746 Jesus’ feet were anointed with ointment by the woman.

Other New Testament examples continue the same idea. The good Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounds to bring healing (Luke 10:34). Scripture also says that Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9). Believers are likewise instructed to anoint the sick with oil when praying for them (James 5:14).

Oil consistently connects with the presence of God. It represents the symbolic anointing and presence of the Lord. In the Old Testament, the word oil appears many times. It is often linked with wine and grain as symbols of blessing and God’s presence. Oil is used in offerings that express God’s acceptance. It is used to anoint people and objects, showing that they are set apart under God and that His presence rests upon them.

With that understanding, the parable becomes clearer. The virgins took their lamps and their vessels, yet some had no oil in them (Matthew 25:3). They looked prepared because they had lamps, but there was no anointing within them. Outwardly, they appeared ready, but inwardly, there was nothing to give light.

The Five Wise Virgins

The other five virgins were different. They had established their lives on the sayings of Christ and were therefore wise (Matthew 25:4). Wisdom is connected with building one’s life on the sayings of Christ (Matthew 7:24). Oil, then, represents the presence of Christ. The wise virgins had both. Their lives were built on the Word of God and filled with His presence.

Those wise virgins had experienced the presence of God much like Jacob had. Oil throughout Scripture points to the presence of the Lord and the sanctifying work of God upon people and objects. Jesus Himself was anointed with oil for His ministry (Luke 4:18). He was also anointed in preparation for His burial (Mark 16:1). Oil, therefore, speaks of the presence of God.

If oil represents His presence, then the foolish virgins had vessels but lacked the presence of the Lord. They possessed a lamp but nothing that would produce light (Matthew 25:3). God has given each of us a life to live. That life should shine with His presence (Matthew 5:14-16). Both the wise and the foolish have lives, but a life without God’s presence produces no light.

The difference becomes clear. Though they believed they would meet the Lord, the foolish remained in darkness because they lacked the anointing and were not established on the word of God (Matthew 25:3). They had not built their lives on the sayings of Jesus and were therefore foolish (Matthew 7:26).

Simple Conclusion

This leads to a simple conclusion. If I am wise, my life will contain the sayings of Christ and the Word of God (Matthew 7:24). If I have the anointing, I will have the presence of God. Both are required to meet the Lord (Matthew 25:1-10). Wisdom from the Word and the anointing of His presence must be present together. Those who lack it do not enter in (Matthew 25:10-12).

The parable also says that all ten virgins slept (Matthew 25:5-6). It is easy to criticize the foolish ones for sleeping, yet the truth is that every one of them slept. This shows that the Lord does allow rest. Believers do not have to be constantly striving in every moment.

All ten slept and rested (Matthew 25:5). Watching does not mean staring into heaven with constant anxiety. The virgins were not watching with binoculars. They were resting. Yet at midnight the cry came that the Lord was coming (Matthew 25:6).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – The Meaning of Midnight

Midnight carries meaning in Scripture. It represents the turning point between one age and another. The first use of midnight appears in Exodus (Exodus 11:4).

Exodus 11:4

4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

And then he used “midnight” again in Exodus 12:29.

Exodus 12:29

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Midnight as the Turning of an Age

Scripture says that at midnight the Lord struck Egypt with the death of the firstborn (Exodus 12:29). Midnight, therefore, marks a transition. It represents the change from one age to another. Israel moved from the age connected with Abraham into the age of the Mosaic covenant at that moment. Midnight marked the close of one day and the beginning of the next.

The parable uses the same idea. The Lord comes at midnight (Matthew 25:6). That moment represents the ending of one age and the beginning of another. The coming of the Lord stands at that turning point.

This connects with what we saw earlier in Matthew chapter 24. Jesus speaks of the last day (John 6:39-40). The last day is truly the last day. There are no additional days after it. Scripture also says He raises His people on the last day (John 6:44).

When the Lord comes, it is the close of the age and the beginning of what follows. The cry goes out that the Lord is coming (Matthew 25:6). That event occurs at midnight, the turning point between ages.

Midnight in the Book of Acts

The word midnight appears again in the New Testament. One example occurs in Acts where Paul and Silas prayed at midnight (Acts 16:25). At midnight in Philippi, an earthquake occurred (Acts 16:26). That moment marked the arrival of the gospel in that city. It represented the end of one condition and the beginning of another. Midnight again shows the turning point between ages. In the same way, the bridegroom comes at midnight (Matthew 25:6).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Meeting the Bridegroom

Another detail appears in the phrase telling the people to go out to meet him (Matthew 25:6). The Greek word translated ‘meet’ is used only a few times in the New Testament Greek. It refers to a meeting or encounter. The same word appears when Scripture speaks about believers meeting the Lord at His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The word used for meeting the Lord is the same word used when believers meet Him at His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:17). That points to resurrection day and the close of this age. It describes the midnight moment of this age when everything reaches its conclusion.

The Lord explains that some will be wise and some will be foolish. Many think they are coming to meet Him, yet only those who are prepared will actually do so. To meet Him, a person must be established on the sayings of Christ (Matthew 7:24). That person must also have the anointing and presence of God in life. If someone waits until the last moment to obtain these things, it will already be too late (Matthew 25:10-12).

Trimming the Lamps

When the cry went out that the Lord was coming, all the virgins trimmed their lamps (Matthew 25:7). The word trim means to put in order or prepare properly. It refers to snuffing a wick so the lamp burns clearly. Aaron did this in the tabernacle when he trimmed the lampstands (Exodus 30:7). The idea is removing what is old so the light burns at its best.

Outward Religion Without the Presence of God

Everyone attempts to present themselves well at that moment. Both the wise and the foolish trim their lamps. People try to appear ready before the Lord. Many look good outwardly. They attend church, pay tithes, teach, preach, and worship. Yet the foolish have a serious problem. They have vessels but no presence of God and no anointing (Matthew 25:3).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Salvation Is Free but His Presence Costs Everything

Because of that lack, they ask the wise for oil (Matthew 25:8). The wise answer that they must go and obtain their own (Matthew 25:9). This answer raises an important truth. Salvation itself cannot be bought because it is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The presence of God, however, costs everything. A person must be willing to surrender all to follow the Lord (Luke 14:33). That surrender may involve family, friends, pride, or possessions. Each person must obtain this personally. No one can borrow it from another.

The same truth appears in the parable of the pearl of great price. The man sold everything he had to obtain it (Matthew 13:46). This leads us to Jesus’ teaching on counting the cost in Luke 14 (Luke 14:25-33).

This is the verse I closed the service with a few weeks ago. The Lord impressed it on me while I was ministering in Griffin. I have not been able to move away from it. Salvation is truly free. It is the free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

At the same time, the Lord expects more than simply receiving salvation. In the parable of the talents, the master gives different amounts and later returns to reckon with the servants (Matthew 25:19-30). When the reckoning comes, the deposited amount should have increased. The Lord expects more to be returned than was first given.

This truth shows that following Him costs everything. I plan to show more of these hard sayings next week. The goal is to see Christ fully as Lord, Savior, and King. We must also see that He is the Lion (Revelation 5:5).

Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Jesus explains this clearly in Luke 14. A great multitude followed Him, and He turned to speak to them (Luke 14:25). He declared that anyone who comes to Him must place Him above father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even life itself, or they cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:26).

He also said that whoever does not bear his cross and follow Him cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27). The cross was the purpose of Christ’s life. He came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He fulfilled that purpose by dying on the cross (John 19:17-18).

Every believer also has a purpose. Each person must take up that purpose and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Nothing can be allowed to interfere with that calling. If something comes before following Christ, then that person is not His disciple (Luke 14:27).

Building the Tower and Counting the Cost

Jesus then illustrates the need to count the cost. A man who plans to build a tower first sits down and calculates whether he has enough to finish it (Luke 14:28). If he begins building and cannot complete the work, others will mock him and say he started but could not finish (Luke 14:29-30).

The foolish servant had a lamp and even trimmed it, but there was no oil in it (Matthew 25:3). Jesus then explains the same principle through another illustration. A king preparing for war first considers whether he has enough strength to face the opposing army (Luke 14:31). If he cannot win, he sends an ambassador to seek terms of peace before the battle arrives (Luke 14:32).

Forsaking Everything to Follow Christ

Jesus then applies the lesson directly. Anyone who does not forsake all that he has cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:33). The call is not to give up half or even most. The call is to surrender everything.

This teaching reveals the seriousness of following Christ. It does not fit the picture of a gentle figure with a bird on His shoulder. The Lord speaks with authority and demands full commitment.

He also compares discipleship to salt. Salt is good, but if it loses its purpose, it becomes useless (Luke 14:34). When that happens, it is no longer fit for the land and is thrown out (Luke 14:35).

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Why the Door Was Shut

The same idea appears in the parable of the virgins. When the door is shut, those outside remain outside (Matthew 25:10). The message is clear. Following Christ requires everything, and this is not a game.

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Questions and Answers

What is the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 about?

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 teaches the importance of being prepared for the coming of the Lord. Ten virgins expected to meet the bridegroom, but only five were ready. The wise virgins had oil in their vessels, while the foolish had lamps without oil. The story shows that readiness cannot be delayed or borrowed from another person.

What does the oil represent in Matthew 25 Verses 1-13?

In Matthew 25 Verses 1-13, the oil represents the presence and anointing of God in a believer’s life. Throughout Scripture, oil is connected with God’s presence and blessing. The wise virgins had oil because their lives were established on the sayings of Christ and filled with His presence.

Why were the foolish virgins shut out of the marriage?

The foolish virgins were shut out because they were unprepared when the bridegroom arrived (Matthew 25:10-12). They had lamps but no oil. When the time came to meet the bridegroom, they tried to obtain oil too late. The closed door shows that preparation for the Lord must happen before His coming.

What is the difference between the wise and foolish virgins?

The difference between the wise and foolish virgins is obedience to the Word and the presence of God. The wise virgins built their lives on the sayings of Christ (Matthew 7:24). The foolish virgins heard the Word but did not live it, leaving them without the oil needed to give light.

What does “watch therefore” mean in Matthew 25:13?

The command to “watch therefore” in Matthew 25:13 means living in readiness for the Lord’s coming. Watching does not mean predicting dates or speculating about times. Watching means living in obedience to the Word of God and walking in the presence of Christ.

Can someone borrow spiritual readiness from another person?

No. The parable shows that spiritual readiness cannot be transferred from one person to another. When the foolish virgins asked for oil, the wise told them to obtain their own (Matthew 25:8-9). Each believer must personally walk in obedience and in the presence of God.

Why does the parable say the bridegroom came at midnight?

Midnight represents a turning point or transition. In Scripture, midnight often marks the change from one condition to another. In Matthew 25 Verses 1-13, the bridegroom arriving at midnight shows the sudden moment when the age changes and the Lord comes.

What lesson should believers learn from Matthew 25 Verses 1-13?

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 teaches that believers must live ready for the Lord. Lamps alone are not enough. The presence of God must be in our lives. Those who hear the Word and do it will be prepared when the bridegroom comes.

Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Key Lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins

The wise virgins represent those who build their lives on the sayings of Christ and walk in His presence (Matthew 7:24).
The foolish virgins represent those who hear the word but fail to live it, leaving their lamps without oil (Matthew 25:3).
Oil throughout Scripture points to the presence and anointing of God, which cannot be borrowed from another person.
Readiness must exist before the bridegroom arrives because when the door is shut, it cannot be opened again (Matthew 25:10-12).
Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 reminds believers that watching means living in obedience to the Word and walking in the presence of God.

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