The Stupid Good People | Matthew 25:1-13

Mat 25:1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Mat 25:3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,
Mat 25:4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.
Mat 25:5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Mat 25:6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
Mat 25:7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
Mat 25:8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
Mat 25:9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
Mat 25:10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.
Mat 25:11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
Mat 25:12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
Mat 25:13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of My return.

Who are the ten bridesmaids?

The bridesmaids represent two groups of believers. We know they are all believers because they are all bridesmaids, aware of the wedding feast that is coming and they are all going to meet the bridegroom. They are all “virgins” or “good people” and they all have oil in their lamps to start out the “long night”. But, they are separated from the beginning of the parable into two groups; the smart good people and the stupid good people. Let’s take a closer look at each group.

The Smart Good People

The five wise virgins, or the smart good people, are ready for the wedding. They have brought their lamps and they have even brought extra oil to help them through the long night and the procession to the wedding feast. The five smart good people are made drowsy and fall asleep during the delay from the bridegroom. Then the “midnight cry” is given and they are all roused from their sleep and are prepared for the coming of the bridegroom.

The Stupid Good People

The five foolish virgins, or the stupid good people, are also ready for the wedding feast. They are dressed for the occasion, in the proper procession, and they have their lamps as required. However, they are stupid and forget to bring the extra oil needed for a long procession and delay. They also fall asleep during the delay of the bridegroom, but when they are all aroused by the midnight cry, their lamps are out and they have no extra oil to use. They ask the smart good people to provide them with oil, but the SGP know that they cannot give them any of their extra oil or they will all run out before the bridegroom comes.

So, what do all these things represent?

The Five Smart Good People represent the group of believers, or Christians, in the last days who are:

• Waiting for the soon return of Jesus
• Are prepared for that return
• “Fall asleep” during the time of Jesus’ delay.
• Have enough Holy Spirit, which produces light, to get them through the delay and into the feast.

The Five Stupid People represent the group of believers, or Christians, in the last days who are:

• Waiting for the return of Jesus
• Are NOT prepared for that return, though they are “dressed” for the occasion.
• “Fall asleep” during the time of Jesus’ delay.
• Do NOT have enough light producing Holy Spirit to get them through the delay and into the feast.

Virgins represents the fact that they are all good, but separated into two groups: Smart and Stupid or Wise and Foolish. I think we can surmise a couple of things from this:

1. There will be two groups of people in the last days. Smart believers and Stupid believers, but they will all be believers. Can we surmise that this means the 3rd angels message is a success from the standpoint of “sharing the gospel to all the world”? At this point everyone has had an opportunity to believe.
2. Both groups have the Holy Spirit but the light from one group runs out while the other continues to shine on.

The Oil in the Lamps represents the Holy Spirit.

Light from the Lamps represent the truth about Jesus shining out through the Holy Spirit, which is the purpose of having the Holy Spirit – to show the path to the bridegroom.

The Bridegroom represents Jesus, Our Savior.

The Procession represents the path to salvation or to Jesus our Savior. This also represents the need to have the light from the Holy Spirit to help keep us on that path.

The Sleeping Time represents that both parties will have a period of time during the delay of Jesus’ return that they will be asleep, not even seeing the light from their lamps or being aware of the soon return of Jesus. They will have forgotten their purpose. They will have become “religious” (still dressed for the occasion) but unusable. Pew warmers.

The Midnight Cry represents a sudden awakening of both groups of people. They suddenly become aware of the fact that Jesus is coming soon, but unfortunately one group is unprepared.

The Inability to Give the Oil represents the fact that you cannot give the Holy Spirit to anyone else, they must find it for themselves.

The Directions from the Wise Virgins represents the fact that they know where to get the oil and they are able to point the foolish virgins to the place to get it.

While They Were Gone to Buy the Oil represents the stupid good people will be caught unprepared when Jesus comes again.

The Wedding Feast represents the gathering together in a safe place with the bridegroom. It represents being fully with Jesus.

The Locked Door represents the close of probation. There is no longer the opportunity to be with Jesus and the fate of the foolish virgins is sealed. This also represents the dire importance of being ready and prepared during the sleeping time. I think of the lie of the rapture and how it has lulled many to sleep with a lack of extra oil.

The Calling Out of ‘Lord Lord’ represents the fact that the foolish virgins will know Jesus, the one that could have saved them, but they were unwilling to prepare themselves properly for him. They know who He is, but they aren’t ready for Him. Knowing Jesus is not enough…

‘Believe me, I don’t know you’ represents the fact that the foolish virgins didn’t have the Holy Spirit anymore. They had not allowed Jesus to come into them through the Holy Spirit. They had a head knowledge of Jesus but did not allow Him to come into them and change them and prepare them… and “know” them.

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

Keeping Watch represents being ready at all times. Even while the group you are in is sleeping, maintain your hold on the light and the Holy Spirit.

Not Knowing the Day or the Hour represents a need to be less about understanding the “signs of the times” and more about being prepared for the coming of Jesus by having the lamp in your hand and a good supply of the Holy Spirit. Balance in all things.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I praise Your Name today from the bottom of my heart. You have done everything You can to prepare Your people for the end of this world. I thank You for loving me that much. I confess that Jesus is the Son of the Living God and I ask that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit today.

Please be with my family and friends and keep them safe. Thank You for all that You provide. Guide me so that I may be a good steward with what You have entrusted me with. I love You. Amen.

 

 

 

Related articles

• The ten virgins as the church today (radiqx.com)
• Prepared? (genesisone.wordpress.com)
• Be Smart Like A Virgin (dianasymons.com)