THE PARABLE OF THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS
I have struggled with this parable for years. I have heard some interpretations of this parable by Christian teachers, then all of a sudden, it hit me that the basis of this parable is something that Christians cannot see, unless they understood the Torah. This parable is based on a certain Torah perspective, and I want to reveal this to you.
Beginning with the parable which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 25:1-13
Mat 25:1 Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
Eddie Chumney of Hebraic Roots Ministries International revealed that the ten virgins symbolized these:
The Five Wise Virgins and the Five Foolish Virgins: The Torah containing the five books of Moses
The Five Wise Virgins: Those who faithfully followed the five books of the Torah
The Five Foolish Virgins: Those who have the five books of the Torah but are unfaithfully following the Torah
There is more to this will be explained later.
Going through each of the segments of this parable and reveal what each of these segments represent.
VERSES ONE THROUGH FOUR
1 Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
First, the bridegroom symbolized here is Yeshua.
The five wise virgins filled their lamps with oil while the foolish virgins did not have any.
Looking at the following words:
WISE
The Greek word for wise is "fron-ee-mos" (φρονιμος). It is from Strong's Concordance number 5429, and its defintiion
From G5424; thoughtful, that is, sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while G4680 denotes practical skill or acumen; and G4908 indicates rather intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense conceited (also in the comparative): - wise (-r).
from 5424 "frayne" (φρην), and its definition
Probably from an obsolete φράω phraō (to rein in or curb; compare G5420); the midrif (as a partition of the body), that is, (figuratively and by implication of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extension [also in the plural] the mind or cognitive faculties): - understanding.
FOOLISH
The Greek word for "foolish" is "moros" (μωρος). It is from Strong's Concordance number 3474, and its definition
Probably form the base of G3466; dull or stupid (as if shut up), that is, heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd: - fool (-ish, X -ishness).
from 3466 "moos-tayree-ohn" (μυστηριον), and its definition
From a derivative of μύω muō (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites): - mystery.
This is where we get the modern English word "moron".
The lamps could symbolize a couple of things: One possibility that the lamps could symbolize is their bodies, which are the temples of the Ruakh HaKodesh. The oil is also a symbol of the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) which the apostle Paul noted in his letter to the assembly in Corinth
Corinthians 6:19
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of יהוה, and ye are not your own?
Another possibility that the lamps could symbolize was the Word, as King noted in the book of the Psalms
Psalms 119:105
Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.
And as King David said, the light of the lamp is also the Word. This means that the Lamp and the Light is the Word of יהוה to light their path.
It seems that the second possibility provides the better answer of the two, so we'll use this as the symbolism of the lamp.
The five wise virgins' lamps that were full of oil is symbolic of the wise virgins being filled with oil which is being filled the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). This is what the apostle Paul said to the assembly in Ephesus
Ephesians 5:18
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Ont the other hand, the foolish virgins that did not have any oil in their lamps were not symbolically filled with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). The only way one could be filled with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) is to accept Yeshua, the Bridegroom, as their Lord and Savior, which would fill them with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). It is the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) that provides the Word in our lives, symbolized by the light which provides our pathway as noted in Psalms above.
VERSES FIVE AND SIX
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
As we know, the Bridegroom, Yeshua, has been delaying His coming. It has been two thousand years, or two Kingdom days, which is based in the book of the prophet Hosea
Hosea 6:2
Hos 6:2 Shall keep us alive with two days: shall raise us up in the third day, and we shall live to His Face.
A day according to יהוה is a thousand years which is noted in the apostle Peter's epistle
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the יהוה as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
We are still waiting on the third day for Him to come.
What does it mean in verse six of Matthew that a cry was made that the bridegroom cometh? But the question that we should ask is "What would be the most likely time of a cry or "Sound" of a warning that the Bridegroom is coming"? The answer is noted in the book of Leviticus
Levitcus 23:23-25
Lev 23:23 And יהוה spoke to Moses, to say, 24 Speak to the Sons of Israel, to say, In the seventh renewed month on the one of the renewed month shall be to you a Shabbathon (Intermittent Shabbath, Intermittent Rest, Intermittent Repose) of a Memorial (Reminder) of Blowing (Signaling, Sounding) of a Sacred (Holy) Calling (Convocation). 25 You shall not do any work of service: and you shall bring near a Fire Offering to יהוה.
The crying of the Bridegroom is a type and shadow of the Fall High Holy Day of Yom Teruah (also called Rosh HaShannah in Judaism, which isn't really a new year, as I noted in my teaching "Rosh HaShanah, the Biblical New Year?"), which starts at sundown in the evening.
In conclusion of this passage, the ten virgins were involved in the Torah of Yom Teruah with the shouting, or "signaling" of the Bridegroom, Yeshua.
VERSES SEVEN THROUGH NINE
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Starting with verse seven, all of the virgins trimmed their lamps. They would not be trimming the wicks in their lamps unless it was utilized and were burned at the tip of the end of their wicks, which contained carbon that would make it difficult for the light to burn better. The next question would be "What would be the most likely time that the wicks would be trimmed"? The answer is noted in the book of Leviticus
Levitcus 23:27-28
Lev 23:27 Only on the ten of this seventh renewed month shall be the Day of the Atonements: he shall be a Sacred (Holy) Calling (Convocation) to yourselves; and you shall afflict (humble) את-your souls, and you shall bring near a Fire Offering to יהוה. 28 And you shall not do any work on this same day: for he is the Day of Atonements to atone upon yourselves to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim.
Yom Kippur is also noted in the book of the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 58:5
Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?...
The ten virgins trimming their wicks are a type and shadow of the Fall High Holy Day of Yom Kippur to afflict by symbolically "trimming" their souls from their sins, the symbolic "carbon", and repent from their sins which starts at sundown in the evening.
These ten virgins were also involved on Yom Kippur.
Looking at the following words:
SELL
The Greek word for sell is "poh-leh-oh" (πωλεω). It is from Strong's Concordance number 4453, and its defintiion
Probably ultimately from πέλομαι pelomai (to be busy, to trade); to barter (as a pedlar), that is, to sell: - sell, whatever is sold.
BUY
The Greek word for buy is "ah-gohr-ahd-zoh" (αγοραζω). It is from Strong's Concordance number 59, and its defintiion
From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem: - buy, redeem.
from 58 "ah-gohr-ah" (αγορα), and its definition
From ἀγείρω “ageiro” (to gather; probably akin to G1453); properly the town square (as a place of public resort); by implication a market or thoroughfare: - market (-place), street.
In verses eight and nine of this Parable, the foolish virgins asked the wise ones to give them some of their oil, but were told to go buy some at the market place. This Could either be the symbolic intermittent days, between the Fall High Holy Days of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth, or it was during Yom Kippur that this account occurred.
One possible theory could be that the sellers were a type and shadow of "the world". Also this act of the foolish virgins to buy from the sellers occurred at night. The foolish virgins, if they carried oil with them in the first place, would have been able to stay at the residence. But now they had to go out at night without a male escort, to a market place and buy. The act of buying from the seller could also be a type and shadow of those to the sell their "souls" to gain from the "world", which Yeshua noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 16:26
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
If this is correct, because of this, the foolish virgins left their place of protection before the Bridegroom came, who symbolically is Yeshua, and have now sold their souls to the world to get filled with their oil. This oil from the sellers would be a type and shadow of a "false spirit", which would be "the spirit of the world". When they received the spirit of the world, the foolish virgins have become doomed. A basis of this example is noted in the epistle of John
John 2:15
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
This is an act the foolish virgins did by symbolically selling their souls to the world, and as a result, they became part of the world.
Another theory is that the sellers were "the religious people" to give them the written Word in the congregations to give them light. I would apply, but the problem is that it reveals they don't have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) in them.
VERSE TEN
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
I hope that it can figure out the pathe where I am going. The next question would be "What would be the most likely time that this account of the coming of the bridegroom occurred"? It is also noted in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus 23:34-36, 39-42
Lev 23:34 Speak to the Sons of Israel, to say, On the five ten (fiveteen, fifteen) day of this seventh renewed month shall be the Feast of the Booths (Tabernacles, Sukkoth) of seven days to יהוה.
35 On the first day shall be a Sacred (Holy) Calling (Convocation): you shall not do any work of service. 36 Seven days you shall bring near a Fire Offering to יהוה: on the eighth day shall be a Sacred (Holy) Calling (Convocation) to yourselves; and you shall bring near a Fire Offering to יהוה: she is a Solemn Refrain (an Inclosure, a Restrain); you shall not do any work of service.... 39 Only on the five ten (fiveteen, fifteen) day of the seventh renewed month in your gathering (fetching) את-the produce of the land, you shall celebrate (feast) את-the Feast of יהוה seven days: on the first day shall be a Shabbathon (Intermittent Shabbath, Intermittent Rest, Intermittent Repose), and on the eighth day shall be a Shabbathon (Intermittent Shabbath, Intermittent Rest, Intermittent Repose). 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, majestic (beautiful, comely, excellent, glorious) fruit trees, erected (curving, bowing, cup leaf, paw-like) palms, and thick foliage (bough) trees, and willows of the torrent (brook, stream); and you shall rejoice to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, seven days. 41 And you shall celebrate (feast) him of a feast to יהוה seven days in the year: a Statute of Ages for your generations: in the seventh renewed month, you shall celebrate (feast) him. 42 You shall dwell in booths (sukkahs) seven days; all of the natives in Israel, they shall dwell in the booths (sukkahs):
This event represents a type of "marriage". This wedding is a type and shadow of the Fall High Holy Day of Sukkoth, and it starts at sundown in the evening.
Looking at the word CALLING
The Hebrew word for calling is "mee-krah"- Mem, Kuph, Resh, Aleph (מקרא). It is from Strong's Concordance number 4744, and its definition
From H7121; something called out, that is, a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the palce); also a rehearsal: - assembly, calling, convocation, reading.
from 7121 "kah-rah" (קרא), and its definiton
A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
Notice that another definition says "rehearsal". As we observe the Biblical Feast of Sukkoth, according to various Hebraic Roots/Messianic teachers, we are partaking "the dress rehearsal".
The five wise virgins, symbolically those who have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) were led by the bridegroom, which is symbolically Yeshua, and going in unto the place where the Bridegroom resided. This was a type and shadow of Yeshua, the Bridgroom, will come for the believers who have a relationship with Him by following the Torah and who are filled with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), which is the true oil. This can be also called "the Wedding Feast of Sukkoth".
This could be a possible account of Yeshua coming for those who are observing the Torah and have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), which the apostle Paul noted in this letter to the assembly in Thessalonica
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Yeshua will hwhy bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from the heavens with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Shofar (Trumpet) of יהוה: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Yeshua, the Bridegroom, will come to those who follow the Torah and have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and take us to be with Him at His place in the clouds for the Sukkoth Wedding Feast.
VERSES ELEVEN AND TWELVE
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
The foolish virgins received the spirit from the sellers, which is the spirit of the world, or from the written Word by the religious Jews in the synagogues with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), or in the spirit filled assemblies that have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), but unfortunately, they missed the time of the arrival of the bridegroom, because they were occupied with "the world", or "the religious Jews", or even the spirit filled assemblies, which is during the Fall High Holy Day of the Biblical Feast of Sukkoth. The foolish virgins missed the opportunity to be a part of "the Sukkoth Wedding Feast" with the Bridegroom, Yeshua, to become His brides.
VERSE THIRTEEN
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
Based on this scripture, we know for certain that we will be with Yeshua on Sukkoth for the Seven Year Sukkoth Wedding Feast. The question is, "When about the time of Fall High Holy Day of Sukkoth will He take us"? Yeshua said that we cannot know the day or the hour, "but" He did not say that we would not know the week, the month, or the year. In other words, we can get a good timing of the year, the month, and the week that it could happen, but not on the day or the hour.
A REALIZATION
Notice that the Bridegroom does not take in the virgins until "after" the wicks are trimmed, which the timeline is symbolized by "after Yom HaKippurim". Is this telling us that the possiblitiy of being snatched away is between Yom HaKippurim and Sukkoth? We will see.
AN OPINION
It really saddens me that there would be those who would miss this opportunity. It is up to us to warn those who have the Torah but don't have Yeshua that they need to receive Him and be filled with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). That way they will become Yeshua's Bride. We can also warn those who have the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) that do not observe the Torah to observe and keep the Torah including the Shabbath and the Seven High Holy Days, especially the Fall High Holy Days. Show this teaching to them, and say how the High Holy Days are important to Yeshua.
SUMMARY
In summary, the wise virgins followed and observed the Torah, which in this parable was the Fall High Holy Days each beginning at sundown in the evening. The foolish virgins had the Torah too, but they were not fully observing it. The parable of these Fall High Holy Days were revealed through the symbols and types and shadows by these virgins' events. The difference is that the five wise virgins had the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), but the foolish virgins did not and had to go the sellers, the symbolic world or religious Jews with the written Word to get their oil. Based on the world option, the foolish virgins could sold their souls to the world, but whatever these two options, the foolish virgins lost their opportunity to become brides for the Bridegroom, Yeshua, on the wedding feast of Fall High Holy Day of Sukkoth.
I'll end this by saying to be filled with the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and rehearse יהוה's High Holy Days, especially these Fall High Holy Days, and lastly, be a wise virgin, because as Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries noted in the book of Proverbs
Proverbs 31:18b
Pro 31:18 ...her lamp shall not go out in the night.
I pray this teaching was an inspiration and an eye opener to you.
Any questions or comments can be written to
thealeph-tavproject@outlook.com
SHALOM
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