The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1–13
In Matthew 25:1 – 13, we learn of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. In this story, the bridegroom in the Parable of the Ten Virgins represents the Master, the Savior of mankind. The virgins represent the professed believers in Christ, President Harold B. Lee says “The virgins were those who were professed believers in Christ, because they were expectantly waiting for the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage feast, or they were connected with the Church and the events which were to transpire with reference to it”. The Wedding represents the second coming of the Savior.
In the parable, the bridegroom came at “midnight” while all the virgins “slumbered and slept”, this would be a time when the virgins are at their most vulnerable state and whether they are prepared or not will affect how they act in this situation. The virgins that were prepared and arose, while the foolish virgins were not prepared and I can imagine, slightly frantic as they tried to figure out what they could do.
I think that this applies to our waiting for the Savior’s Second Coming because we do not know when the Savior will come again, but we need to be prepared by living righteously so that we will not fear that day. When that day comes, we will not be frantic about whether or not if we are living righteously.
The five virgins were foolish as it says in Matthew 25:3 “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:” The foolish virgins were not prepared to go when the bridegroom arrived, we can relate this to our lives if we are not living righteously, we will not be prepared when the Savior comes. In consequence to their being unprepared, they were not allowed into the marriage feast because they were not there when the bridegroom came.
The actions of the five wise virgins can teach us a very important lesson. “The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:4). The wise virgins were prepared to follow the bridegroom when he arrived. If we follow the examples of the wise virgins and prepare in all the ways that we can for the second coming of the Savior, then we will be prepared when he comes and we will have no need to fear.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:57 says “For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived – verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.”
Through this verse, we can learn of ways that we can add “oil” to our “lamps” so that we will be prepared for their Savior’s second coming. We learn that we must take the Holy Spirit for our guide, it is so important to have the Holy Ghost as a companion to us through our life. We can receive comfort, peace, and guidance as we nurture our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
There are other things we can do to add oil to our lamps such as following the commandments, reading scriptures, going to church, going to the temple. I think that there are extra things that we can do that show the Lord that we are faithful and willing to make sacrifices and follow him such as paying tithing, visiting teaching, taking time to study the scriptures and serving others.
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
In the Parable of the Talents, the Lord gives three men different amount of talents, they each choose how to use the talents they were given.
The man that received the five talents had been faithful and was thus, blessed as follows “I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord”. The first man received his reward because he used the five talents he had and gained an additional five talents, he was good and faithful.
The man that received two talents had also been a good and faithful servant and thus, was blessed as follows “I will make thee a ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord”. The second man received his reward because he was also good and faithful and gained an two more talents in addition to his original two talents.
The man that had received only one talent and had hid his talent was “wicked and slothful” did not receive anything and the Lord was disappointed in him.
The third man was afraid and therefore hid his talent where it was not able to grow.
Fear is something that can debilitate us and keep us at a standstill where we are not progressing, growing, or learning in any way like the third man in the Parable of the Talents. We can learn in the following scriptures ways that we can overcome our fears and develop and use the talents given to us from the Lord. The scriptures found in 2 Timothy 1:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, D&C 3:7-8, and D&C 6:33-37 all address the issue of faith. Even though fear is indeed something that can paralyze one, if we take the hand of the Lord in ours, we can overcome any fear that we have and we will be blessed.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a strong mind.”
The spirit of fear does not come from the Lord, He gives us the spirit of power, love, and of a strong mind. When we have the spirit of fear with us, it is not coming from a good place; it is coming from the Adversary.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”.
As we put our trust in the Lord, then we will have no reason to fear. We know that faith cannot reside with fear, so it is our duty to move forward trusting in the Lord and His will.
D&C 3:7-8
“For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words – Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.”
With men, nothing is possible, but with God, we know that anything is possible. If we fear man more than we fear God, then we will not have his support. He has the power to sustain us through the tumultuous times that comes with trials as we put our trust in him believing that all is possible with the Lord.
D&C 6:33-37
“Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.”
We have all been blessed with gifts and talents; they sometimes get hidden out of fear. It is important for all of us to recognize those talents that we have and use them to benefit others and to help us come closer to Christ.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goat
Matthew 25:31–46
In Matthew 25:31 – 46, we learn that the way we treat others affects the Lord. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25: 40, 46)
Mosiah 2:17 says “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of our God.”
We are all children of our Heavenly Father and he doesn’t want to see any of his children mistreated, he is happy when he sees us serving our brothers and sisters and when we neglect to serve his children in need, he is sad.
“The sheep” talked about in Matthew 25:35-36 receive their reward at the King’s right hand for doing the following actions
“I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat”
“I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink”
“I was a stranger, and ye took me in”
“Naked, and ye clothed me”
“I was sick, and ye visited me”
“I was in prison, and ye came unto me”
I think that one of the biggest needs that I see among myself and those around me is loneliness. When one feels like this, the impact that one person has on them to make them feel a little better that day is huge and it is not forgotten. I think that Satan has more power over a person when they are alone and it is so easy to have doubt, discouragement and fear at these times, but the safety and comfort that a caring friend brings is a great blessing.
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