Reflective Bible Study

In one of the last parables Jesus shared before facing the cross, He describes a set of ten bridesmaids and how only half of these bridesmaids gain entrance into the wedding reception. While this is one of Jesus’ more well known parables, what I find fascinating about it is that most of the time I hear it discussed, it seems as though it is only looked at on a shallow, surface level. After drawing the conclusion that the oil in this parable represents the Holy Spirit, most people seem to discard the rest of the parable with the belief that it simply describes how we must always keep a reserve of Holy Spirit with us.

Or at least that is what the implication is when we too quickly jump to the oil in this parable being associated with the Holy Spirit. When we jump to the conclusion prematurely, we miss some profound truths I believe Jesus wanted us to learn from this sobering illustration.

Let’s read this parable, and as we do so, let me challenge you to ignore the thought that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, at least temporarily, and instead, let’s look for ways the two groups of bridesmaids are similar as well as different. When I challenged myself to read this parable looking for similarities and differences, an amazing set of truths appeared that I had never seen before.

This parable is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25, and let’s read it using the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 1, Jesus tells those present:

¹ “Here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like at that time. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish. Five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t take any olive oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The groom did not come for a long time. So the bridesmaids all grew tired and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight someone cried out, ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “ ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil. Buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “So they went to buy the oil. But while they were on their way, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner. Then the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later, the other bridesmaids also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. I don’t know you.’

¹³ “So keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour that the groom will come.

This is one of Jesus’ more challenging and harsh parables. Not only was half of the intended wedding party shut out, it seems as though the groom was entirely too quick to simply forget who they were. Well, actually it wasn’t the groom Himself who forgot, but the servant tasked with watching the door who did not know these other bridesmaids.

However, let’s take a moment and look in this parable for similarities and differences between the two groups of bridesmaids. One of these groups is identified as being wise, while the other group is identified as being foolish.

As I read through this parable, in the first section, it appears as though there is no visible difference between the two groups. All ten bridesmaids have lamps that are burning and shining brightly. The only difference is we can note is that those in the wise group had a backup plan in place, just in case the groom did not arrive on time. This key difference tells me that in order to be wise according to this parable, we must hope for the best but plan for the worst – to use a tired cliché. The wise bridesmaids would be happy if the extra oil they packed with them was not needed, but they knew that having oil saved at home would not benefit them as they were posted to light the entrance into the wedding reception.

In contrast, the foolish group did not anticipate a delay, and because of this, they only brought exactly the amount of oil they believed necessary for the evening.

During the second phase of the parable, all ten bridesmaids fall asleep, and all ten lamps go out. When I read this part of the parable, I am surprised because there are no differences between the wise bridesmaids and the foolish ones. They all became tired and fell asleep.

When hearing this parable talked about by others, most people miss this similarity. While everyone would love to say they were the one bridesmaid who stayed awake, this parable does not leave room for this case. When hearing this parable talked about, too often the theme that gets concluded is that we are to stay awake and not fall asleep – but this conclusion misses the truth that all five wise bridesmaids did fall asleep. Instead, there must be something more that we should pay attention to, and it comes after the bridesmaids are woken up.

The third portion of this parable happens after the bridesmaids are woken up. This is where we see the clearest differences between the wise and foolish groups. The wise bridesmaids quickly begin trimming their lamps and get them lit in preparation for the groom’s arrival, but the foolish bridesmaids run into the realization that they don’t have any oil.

Probably the biggest difference between the wise and the foolish happens in this last portion of the parable. The wise bridesmaids tell the foolish that they don’t have enough oil to share, and the foolish bridesmaids leave their post in the middle of the night to go and try to find someone selling oil. This was not the era of the 24 hour supermarket, so purchasing oil in the middle of the night would likely involve knowing a merchant and waking them up.

Regardless of the amount of time that it took the foolish bridesmaids to acquire their oil, when they return they find that it is too late.

Looking at this parable, I see the powerful truth that we should plan in advance for a time (or times) when we will fall asleep. Sleeping is inevitable, but it can be prepared for. Also in this parable is the truth that what we do after we have woken up is just as important. While not having oil would have been a disgrace for a bridesmaid in that time, leaving and being absent from one’s post would have been even worse.

If I analyze what happened in this parable, I think that the wisest thing for one of the foolish bridesmaids would have been to stay nearby and simply asked to enter the reception with the guests.

But what if the oil that was missing does represent the Holy Spirit? If this is the case, and the groom represents Jesus, then the only true source for receiving more Holy Spirit would be coming with the groom. By leaving and going to a merchant to find oil, the foolish virgins doubly miss out because they miss the true source of oil in favor of leaving and looking for something inferior.

Running with the thought that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, if one of the foolish bridesmaids was wise enough to have stayed, it is likely that Jesus, the groom, would have been happy to give some Holy Spirit oil to a bridesmaid in need. Giving is a part of Jesus’ nature, and helping those who need help is a part of who He is.

So as I learned while studying this parable, it is wise for us to plan for a time when we will fall spiritually asleep. Falling asleep is inevitable. But what matters is our planning on the front end, and the choices we make after we have been woken up. Never leave your post, because only when you are living for Jesus will He give you the Holy Spirit and let your life shine for others to see.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I want to leave you with:

Continually seek God first in your life and choose to stay with Him regardless of the temptations you face that try to trick you into leaving your post. Whether you began your walk with Jesus as a wise person or as a fool, your decision to stay or go after being woken up matters more than your preparation beforehand. Choose to stay, even if you don’t have the oil you feel you need, because the best source of oil is coming your way.

Also, continue studying the Bible for yourself to learn more about God, about Jesus, and about the Holy Spirit. When we prayerfully read and study the Bible, we grow our relationship with God and He will help us become spiritually wiser and able to discern truth from error. It is a mistake to solely trust a pastor or a podcaster for truth. While we may be sharing as much truth as we know, eternity is too important to leave the details to someone else – that is, someone other than Jesus.

And as I always end each set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

After Pilate’s conversation with Jesus, and after Herod has sent Jesus back without finding anything worthy of death, Luke’s gospel describes the shift that took place that transitions from Jesus simply being released to Jesus being crucified. In Luke’s gospel, we discover two fascinating ideas present in this transition.

Our passage for this episode is found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 23, and we will be reading from the New International Reader’s Version. Starting in verse 13, Luke tells us that after Herod had sent Jesus back:

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. ¹⁴ He said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵ Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. ^16-17 So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill this man! But let Barabbas go!” ¹⁹ Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.

²⁰ Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² Pilate spoke to them for the third time. “Why?” he asked. “What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

²³ But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. ²⁵ He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate handed Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.

In this passage, Luke tells us that Barabbas had taken part in an uprising against the authorities and that Barabbas had committed murder. In an interesting, though disturbing twist, the religious leaders are guilty of both of these things. The religious leaders are set on murdering Jesus who has done nothing that would legally warrant death, at least in the eyes of both governors in the area, and the religious leaders and their crowd of supporters are getting so worked up over this one issue that they probably would have started a riot-rebellion in the city, just like Barabbas.

Also, in an odd sort of way, the religious leaders, while claiming to support Rome, are really allying with one of Rome’s enemies. By requesting Barabbas’ release, these leaders say with their actions that they would rather be led by a rebellious murderer than by a loving, miracle-worker who happened to push them spiritually.

Another thing that I find fascinating in this passage is that Jesus willingly takes the place of a commandment-breaker. Not only is Barabbas guilty of murder, which is breaking one of the least contested laws in the Ten Commandments, Barabbas is also guilty of rebelling against the rulers of the land. While there is little that we can redeem from Roman culture that is worth mentioning here, God clearly saw the Roman Empire rise into power, and through Daniel’s prophecies, we discover that God may have even directed some of the events to take place.

While governments are not always positive, and while many things in governments around the world are not redeemable in any way, shape, or form, it is worth noting that these negative governments are only in place because God has let them be in place. While sometimes rebellion makes sense, I think that the attitude David has in the Old Testament may be a better approach to facing human governments.

In the Old Testament, David knows he will ultimately replace Saul as king of Israel. The prophet Samuel has anointed him, and he has the respect of many of the people after defeating Goliath. However, David is unwilling to press forward into the position everyone knows He is destined to be. Multiple times, David has the upper hand against Saul, and every time, David restrains himself and his men from lifting a hand against Saul, the ruler of the people. Saul repeatedly sets out to kill David, and while every time fails, many of these times result in Saul calling off the pursuit after David has clearly shown that he does not wish to harm Saul.

Barabbas is the complete opposite of David. Barabbas would likely have killed the emperor of Rome if he were given the chance. And Barabbas was the sinner Jesus chose to replace that weekend. Since Jesus was part of writing history, He could have picked any time and anyone to replace. Jesus chose to take the place of one of the worst people in society to show us God’s love towards us, and to give us a picture of God’s loving us while we were still rebellious sinners.

There were always going to be three crosses that weekend, and the center cross would have had Barabbas on it if it weren’t for Jesus. Jesus died that weekend not just for Barabbas, but for every rebellious person, every sinner, and everyone who has broken God’s law at any point in their past and at any point in history. With Jesus’ death, He is able to promise us a new life with Him and a future eternal life with God forever.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As always, be sure to seek God first in your life. Thank Jesus today for what He did for you and I on the cross that weekend, and thank Jesus for the gift He offers to you and me when we place our faith, belief, and trust in Him.

Also, be sure to always pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn, grow, and discover the truth that God has for your life. While pastors, speakers, authors, or even bloggers or podcasters can give you ideas to think about, always filter what you hear, see, and read through the lens of the Bible. The Bible has stood the test of time as a reliable guide for our lives, and when something in our lives doesn’t make sense, the Bible should be the first place we look to for an answer.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, or rebel away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!