"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." Matthew 25:1
Let's shed a little more light on the parable of the ten virgins: who are the foolish and who are the wise virgins?
We shall start by noting the biblical symbolism of oil, it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:9 we are told that anyone who has not the Holy Spirit is not of Christ. The five foolish virgins represent those who do good works, but have not the Spirit. Of importance to note is what the bridegroom says to them when he comes: "I know you not". The truth is that no matter how unspiritual a believer in Christ Jesus may be, Christ will never deny knowledge of him. So we must conclude that the five foolish virgins do not in any scriptural sense represent the church.
They were unsaved people who felt justified by their own good works, and association with true believers, but saw no need for a Saviour. And you know that there are many moralists in the world who subject themselves to very strict moral laws, and on the outside they have all showing of righteousness and piety, but on the inside, are ravenous wolves. Such were the pharisees.
Someone will say, but their oil ran out, is that not an indication that they had oil, and if so, how can they be categorized as unsaved people? This question only arises because the one asking the question did not read the text properly. So, let's read it as written: "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:" Matthew 25:3. So, you see that they took no oil with them?
"And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out." Matthew 25:8. Also note that the foolish virgins did not say to the wise ones, give us of your oil for our oil has run out, but rather, for our lamps are gone out. Their lamps were burning in the energy of the wick, not on the energy of the oil. In other words, their good deeds were done in the energy of the flesh. All who do good works in the energy of the flesh soon burn out because only the Spirit can produce a lasting work.
This parable of the kingdom of heaven is not addressing two different kinds of believers, it is addressing what can best be compared to the tares and wheat professors of faith. Finally, let's note that this is not a parable of the kingdom of God, but one of the kingdom of heaven. Failure to make this distinction is the reason for many misinterpretations of scripture.
Toni
