How do You Understand the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

The Gospels

How do You Understand the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

24 min

The Gospels

How do You Understand the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

24 min

Episode 261 Show Notes

How do You Understand the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

From the Show

The parables exploded like bombs in front of the religious leader who heard them. So, here in the parable of the 10 virgins, the foolish virgins are again the religious leaders who miss the bridegroom when he comes. Here he is and they’ve missed him. So they miss the bridegroom and thus the wedding while the wise virgins are dressed ready and wide awake for him. This really important here—he’s not talking about the Second Coming. He’s not talking about “be ready for my return.” There are other passages that can tell you that. But that’s not what he’s talking about here. He’s talking about his First Coming. He’s talking about right now. All the parables are about right now. “I’m here, and in this parable, here is what the religious leaders are doing.” And so, the religious leaders are the foolish virgins who have missed the bridegroom and therefore the wedding while the wise virgins are those who even, you know, the sinners and the outcasts are coming to Jesus and they recognize the bridegroom when he comes.

— Michael Horton

Questions in this Episode

1. If Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God, why did he allow himself to be crucified? Why didn’t Jesus just bring the kingdom?

2. Am I always called to submit to my pastor’s decision?

3. Do you think a church that sings mostly Hymns in worship can still reach out to the younger generation?

4. How do you understand the parable of the 10 virgins?

Resources

Michael Horton, A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of God-Centered Worship

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Michael Horton (Ph.D., Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Coventry University) is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California and Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Sola Media.

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