Question: Does the foolish virgin parable imply that half the members of a church congregation are not ready spiritually and will be shut out by Christ at his second coming? Is this carrying the implied information too far? What does the oil symbolize?

Don

Answer: Dear Don,

A parable is a story that is given to illustrate a central point – or perhaps two. It is not intended to be a blueprint, giving exact details. To ask a parable to be a blueprint would be like consulting a tabloid for information on the stock market. One would need the Wall Street Journal, or some other source dedicated to providing that information.

This parable simply tells us that there are certain things that cannot be obtained at the last minute. You are either on time for a wedding or you are not. You either show up for the exam on the day it is scheduled or you do not.

Spiritual lesson – We can procrastinate and put off our most important relationship – our relationship with God. We would be "wise" not to do so – waiting for a death-bed repentance is foolish. No ratios or fractions are implied by five wise and foolish – any interpretation would be a stretch. It may or may not be true – and is certainly not the point of the parable. Humans often major in the minors, and minor in the majors.

It could also be inferred that the parable teaches that there are certain things that cannot be borrowed – that is, the oil used in lighting the lamps.

We cannot borrow a relationship with God from someone else – we either know God or we don’t. God, the Holy Spirit lives within us (oil can be said to be a type of the Spirit – although once again, this application maybe beyond the point of the parable) or he does not.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht