Lesson II Wise and Foolish Virgins
BIBLE STUDY
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22: 2–5, 14
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I [Jesus] will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24–27
Learning Objective: To understand what type of virgin will be ready when our Lord Jesus Christ returns for His church and what each of us needs to do to prepare ourselves (Revelation 19:7).
Key Ideas: Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “And five of them were wise, and five were foolish" (Matthew 25:2). Read Genesis 7:11–17; Matthew 24:36–44; 25:1–13 and answer the following questions.
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. —Jude vs. 3–5 NKJV
1. Will every Christian be ready to leave when Jesus Christ returns? (Ephesians 5:15–17; James 1:22–24; Revelation 3:1).
2. In Matthew 25:3 Jesus states, "They [virgins] that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them." What do the words no oil represent in this verse? (Exodus 25:6; Psalm 119:105, 130; Matthew 25:3–4; John 16:13; 2 Corinthians 4:6–7; Ephesians 5:8–18; 1 John 2:27–28).
3. How did the wise obtain oil for their vessels? What caused the foolish not to have sufficient oil? (Matthew 5:11–12; 7:13–14; Mark 4:24; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 11:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:2–4; 2 Timothy 3:10–12, 15–17; James 1:2–4; 1 John 5:4–5).
4. When the foolish said to the wise, “Give us of your oil,” how did the wise respond and why? (Matthew 25:9; Ephesians 5:15–17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 5:12–14; 6:1–3; 12:1–4; Revelation 19:7).
5. Where do the foolish go to “buy” oil? (Matthew 21:12–13; John 2:16; 1 Timothy 6:3–12; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Hebrews 13:7–15).
6. What takes place when the foolish leave to buy oil? (Genesis 7:16; Matthew 7:13–14, 21–23; 24:38, 44; 25:10; Luke 13:23–28).
7. Does the bridegroom wait for the foolish to buy oil? Explain. (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Matthew 6:24, 33; 22:21; 25:10–13; Luke 16:13; John 2:13–16; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18).
8. What happens to those who know God’s will, but fail to do it? Who are they like? (Matthew 7:26–27; Luke 6:46–49; 12:45–48; John 15:4–7; 1 Corinthians 3:11–13; James 1:22–26; 4:13–17).
9. What valuable information does Jesus relate to His church about His return? What does He tell us to do? (Matthew 7:21; 24:36–47; Mark 13:32–37; Luke 12:35–40; 21:36; Ephesians 5:24–27; Philippians 4:6–7; 2 Timothy 1:6–7; 4:7–8).
10. Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is personal and intimate; He deals with us as individuals. We each have our strengths and weaknesses. Through examination of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, what must we do to overcome? (Revelation 2:1–29; 3:1–22).