Flashback Episode — When Fools Can Become Wise: Matthew 25:1-13

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 this 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 these two groups. All ten bridesmaids have lamps that are burning and shining brightly. The only difference we see described 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 if they happened to need it while 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 and relighting their lamps in preparation for the groom’s arrival, but the foolish bridesmaids run into the realization that they don’t have any oil left to relight their lamps.

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 been woken up is just as important. While not having oil would have been a disgrace for a bridesmaid in that time period, 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 ask to enter the reception with the guests. At the very least, this bridesmaid would have been present before the door to the wedding celebration was shut.

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. In case you are wondering, God the Father is the only true Source for the Holy Spirit, and I would be very surprised if God the Father was not traveling with His Son the groom during the events in this parable. By leaving and going to a merchant to find oil, the foolish bridesmaids 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 ultimately 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 will leave you with:

Continue seeking 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 praying and 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 end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or simply walk away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!