“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”
(Matthew 25:1–4)
The Ten Virgins Waiting for the Bridegroom
In this parable, ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom. They are like bridesmaids.
The Bible says that five of them are wise and five of them are foolish.
Scripture also tells us that all ten of them became drowsy and fell asleep. Then, when the bridegroom finally came, they all woke up.
But only the five virgins who had prepared both their lamps and oil in advance were able to go into the wedding feast.
The other five had lamps but no oil. They had not prepared beforehand, and they were not allowed to enter the wedding.
When the Bible talks about the kingdom of heaven, it often uses the image of a wedding. In this parable, the final coming of Jesus is compared to a wedding day.
What Are the Lamp and the Oil?
In this story, what might the lamp and the oil mean?
There are many interpretations, but I want to share the one that really spoke grace to my heart.
In this understanding, the lamp is the life of a Christian, and the oil is the Holy Spirit.
On the outside, all ten virgins look like believers. All of them are holding lamps.
But the five wise virgins have prepared oil. The five foolish virgins have not prepared oil.
I believe the Bible is telling us that we are called to live like the five wise virgins—shining light in a dark world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is the life of a believer who is truly waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus.
A Long Night of Waiting
No one knows when Jesus will come again.
Because of that, the waiting can feel long—so long that we may even fall asleep.
In the parable, whether they are wise or foolish, all ten virgins fall asleep.
That’s what our hearts are like too. Sometimes we grow tired while we wait for the Lord.
But even so, we need to be like the five wise virgins among the ten. We need to have oil with us.
That oil is the Holy Spirit, and it means living a life that shines light into a dark world with His help.
Shining as the Light of the World
Jesus says:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
No one knows when the Lord will come again—only God knows.
But we do know this for certain: Jesus will return.
And we need to be prepared.
How do we prepare?
With the oil of the Holy Spirit, in a dark world, through good deeds, through kindness, by becoming more like Jesus Christ, and by sharing Him with others, we live as people who shine His light.
This is what the life of a believer who is waiting for Jesus should look like.
Living Today as Wise Virgins
The parable of the ten virgins is not just an old story. It is a gentle but serious question about how we live today.
Are we living like those who truly expect Jesus to return?
Are we carrying oil in our lamps—walking with the Holy Spirit, loving others, and shining light through our everyday choices?
I believe this is the heart of what Jesus is showing us.
Like the five wise virgins, I hope that we too will live with hearts that are ready—waiting and preparing for the day our Lord comes.