10 Virgins

A few things about the parable of the ten virgins has always felt a little enigmatic to me. I understand the correlation between oil and spiritual preparedness, but the parable itself seemed to have some incongruities.

While it is clear that faith, testimony and obedience are not things that can be divvied out hap-hazardly, I wondered why in the context of the story the five wise virgins were unable to share their oil with the foolish five. Since the wedding feasts were typically celebrated at night, the guest’s lamps would have provided the lighting for the occasion, and it would be prudent to bring enough oil to last the whole night long. That would then demonstrate the foolish five’s short sightedness. Not only were they unprepared to wait for the bridegroom, but they were entirely unprepared for the wedding itself.

It also seemed harsh that the bridegroom would not open the door for his tardy friends. As I tried to picture myself there, I imagined a dark and empty street contrasted with the light and noise of the marriage. After the guests are in and the door is shut, a group arrives obscured in the shadows and barely audible over the din crying “Lord, open to us” _{–Matthew 25:11} When the groom replies “I know you not” _{–verse 12} He is not denouncing their friendship, but saying, “I don’t know that you are who you say you are. I can’t recognize you in the dark against the noise of the party. I can’t let you in lest you be an enemy” When the Joseph Smith translation uses the phrase, “Ye know me not,” that takes it a step further. “I can’t trust you. If you knew me you would have known to watch for me and been told of my coming, you would have been ready to join the procession and have entered with me.”

If we are to know Christ, to join His entourage and celebrate with Him, we must be prepared. If we are to pass through the gate where He “employeth no servant” _{– 2 Nephi 9:41} we must be able to hold up our light so that He can look into our faces and welcome us with a smile.