Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13; Jewish wedding customs of Jesus' day called for the bridegroom and his friends, in processional array, to call for the bride and to take her to the wedding feast at the home of the bridegroom. As the procession returned, friends of the bride, in groups, would join the party and go in to the wedding feast. As weddings were celebrated at night, those awaiting the return of the bridegroom and his festal party would carry lamps.

Matthew 25:1-13; In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus himself is the Bridegroom; the marriage feast is to be celebrated when he returns to take the Church as his bride (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17); the ten virgins represent those church members who are looking for the Bridegroom to come; and the oil-filled lamps are symbolic of the Holy Spirit which lights the way before the saints.

Matthew 25:1-13; Taking a slightly different view, as is often appropriate in interpreting parables, "The virgins typify those who profess a belief in Christ, and who, therefore, confidently expect to be included among the blessed participants at the feast. The lighted lamp, which each of the maidens carried, is the outward profession of Christian belief and practice; and in the oil reserves of the wiser ones we may see the spiritual strength and abundance which diligence and devotion in God's service alone can insure." (Talmage, pp. 578-579.)

I. V. Matthew 25:1. This precious parable pertains to the last days; it is now beginning to be fulfilled and will be finally consummated when the Bridegroom comes. Already the invitations have been issued to the marriage feast (meaning, the gospel is being preached), and the cry is going forth inviting men to come and meet the Bridegroom.

Early in this dispensation the Lord said to Joseph Smith: "Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord." (D&C 133:10.) "And at that day, when I shall come in my glory," the Lord said in another revelation, "shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins." (D&C 45:56.)

Matthew 25:1. Kingdom of heaven] The Church and kingdom of God on earth. Ten virgins] Not all church members but rather those who are pure and clean, those who are active and faithful, those who are looking for the coming of the Bridegroom.

Matthew 25:2; 2. Wise . . . foolish] Not good and bad, not righteous and wicked, but wise and foolish. That is, all of them have accepted the invitation to meet the Bridegroom; all are members of the Church; the contrast is not between the wicked and the worthy. Instead, five are zealous and devoted, while five are inactive and lukewarm; ten have the testimony of Jesus, but only five are valiant therein. Hence, five shall enter into the house where Jesus is and five shall remain without—all of which raises the question: What portion of the Church shall be saved? Surely this parable is not intended to divide half the saints into one group and half into another. But it does teach, pointedly and plainly, that there are foolish saints who shall fail to gain the promised rewards.

Matthew 25:5; 5. The bridegroom tarried] He delayed his coming; it was more distant than the early saints supposed; from evening to midnight there was no direct word from the bridal party.

Matthew 25:6; 6. At midnight, the most unlikely of all hours for a joyous celebration to begin, the cry goes forth to a sleeping world: 'Awake and arise; he cometh!'

Matthew 25:10; 10. They that were ready] "For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver." (D&C 45:57-59.)