CHRIS ROSEBROUGH'S CURIOUS UNDERSTANDING OF THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS (MATTHEW 25:1-13)

(34) F4F | Do You Have Enough Oil? - YouTube

Chris Rosebrough (Fighting for the Faith) is usually a pretty good expositor of the scriptures and is worth listening to, with the proviso that he is a Lutheran and apparently endorses the false Lutheran doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Furthermore, the Lutheran Confessions are amillenial which is a huge concern.

In the above video, Chris Rosebrough critiques a recent episode of the Jim Bakker Show (yuk) featuring Colonel James Durham: (34) Do You Have Enough Oil? | Colonel James Durham - YouTube  It is all well and good critiquing false teachers like Jim Bakker and his associates, but we need to offer a credible alternative. In this instance, I do have issues with Rosebrough's interpretation of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.     

I was pleased to hear Rosebrough state unapologetically that he is at odds with Calvinism (specifically Limited Atonement) based on 1 John 2:2, despite the fact that he has friends in the Calvinist camp. (12:00 mark)  

Without going into detail, the parables of Jesus are generally considered to be metaphorical stories or allegories. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 is a continuation of the Olivet discourse in the previous chapter when Jesus answers the disciples' question: ..when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3). 

At that time (τότε) the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1). At that time (τότε = then, at that time). The parable of the virgins therefore continues the discussion in Matthew 24 i.e. the Parousia (τότε is repeated four times in Matthew 24: Matthew 24:10,21,23,30). 

As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy (ἐνύσταξαν) and slept (ἐκάθευδον). (Matthew 25:5).

According to Rosebrough, "they all became drowsy and slept" refers to the "sleep" of physical death. Although "sleep" does refer to physical death a number of times in the New Testament, in this parable the two Greek verbs for "sleep" surely refer to apathy or indifference. Benson's definition is: "unwatchful, remiss and careless, lukewarm and indolent." {1}  

ἐνύσταξαν (enustaxan) 3573: to nod in sleep, to fall asleep: From a presumed derivative of neuo; to nod, i.e. (by implication) to fall asleep; figuratively, to delay -- slumber. {2}

ἐκάθευδον (ekatheudon) 2518: to sleep: From kata and heudo (to sleep); to lie down to rest, i.e. (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively) -- (be a-)sleep. {3} 

Another word for "sleep" in the New Testament is κοιμάομαι: sleep, fall asleep, die {4} κοιμάομαι is commonly used in the New Testament when referring to physical death (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:18; John 11:11; Acts 13:36; Matthew 27:52).

According to the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31, after they die, unbelievers go to a place of torment and Christians are with Christ. (Philippians 1:22-23). In other words, once people physically die, they will know their ultimate fate. As such, neither group will be waiting for the bridegroom to return or asking questions about purchasing oil - it will be too late! It seems pretty clear that Jesus is speaking about those who are alive on the earth at the time of His Parousia.  

Cambridge Bible: "They that were foolish took their lamps] All watch for their Lord, but some only—'the wise'—with true intensity and with due provision for the watch. The foolish virgins have sufficient oil if the Lord come quickly; not sufficient for long and patient expectation. It is a rebuke to shallow religion that dies away when the excitement passes." {5}

   

The difficulty with Rosebrough's definition of foolish virgins as "everyone in the world". 

Can unbelievers (i.e. the wicked) be referred to as "virgins"? Is everyone in the world a "virgin", or are the foolish virgins backsliders?  I do question whether the parable of the ten virgins should be taken in isolation since all three parables in Matthew 25 are associated with the Olivet Discourse and appear to give us a fuller picture. 

For instance, the parable of the talents refers to "servants".

Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’
‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:24:30).

The parable of the sheep and the goats.

Vincent's Word Studies: "Goats (ἐρίφια)Diminutive. Lit., kidlings. The sheep and goats are represented as having previously pastured together. Compare the parables of the Tares and the Net." {6}

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41-46).

According to Rosebrough, the oil in the parable of the ten virgins is an allegory for faith based on Romans 3:24-30 and Romans 4:4-12. Some commentators say that oil represents faith, and others say that it represents the Holy Spirit. I do not take issue with Rosebrough on this point since no true believer can function without either faith or the Holy Spirit. Undoubtedly, faithful believers who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation will be saved. (Ephesians 2:8). Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Faith is not static. (2 Corinthians 10:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3). According to Paul our faith can be shipwrecked. (1 Timothy 1:19). There are definite warnings about falling away in the New Testament. (Matthew 24:10-11; 2 Peter 3:17). It appears that once saved always saved is refuted by this parable.

 

Bengel's Gnomen: "Matthew 25:3. Ἔλαιον, oil) i.e. except that with which the lamps were then burning: see latter part of Matthew 25:8. The lamp burning is faith; the lamp with oil beside is abundant faith.[1080]

[1080] Elsewhere he suggests another interpretation, viz.: “In a Burning Lamp there is Fire and Oil. By the Fire is here signified the supernatural, heavenly, fiery Spirit-power (Geisteskraft) which is bestowed upon the soul without its co-operation (ohne ihr Zuthun): see 2 Peter 1:3-4; and by the Oil, holy Assiduity (Fleiss) on the part of man: see 2 Peter 1:5. And of this, man should have not only enough for the exigencies of the present time, but also an abundant supply, see 2 Peter 1:8 [sc. “if these things be in you and abound”], for all future circumstances: so does the entrance to the Wedding-House become sure to him, and abundant besides, see 2 Peter 1:11 [sc. “an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly”]. The foolish virgins did not even remain resting only on their own unassisted nature: they too had something of grace and of the Spirit. Nowhere is it more clearly (deutlicher) written than here how far a soul can advance in good, and yet fall through (durchfallen): see Matthew 25:8—B. G. V. in loc." {7}

Ellicott: "..and the 'oil' is the divine grace, or more definitely, the gift of the Holy Spirit, without which the torch first burns dimly and then expires." {8}  

Cambridge Bible: "The oil seems to mean generally the perfection of the Christian life or preparedness for the Lord’s coming." {9}

1. Matthew 25 Benson Commentary (biblehub.com)
2. Strong's Greek: 3573. νυστάζω (nustazó) -- to nod in sleep, to fall asleep (biblehub.com)
3. Strong's Greek: 2518. καθεύδω (katheudó) -- to sleep (biblehub.com)
4. Strong's Greek: 2837. κοιμάω (koimaó from NG2749) -- sleep, fall asleep, die (biblehub.com)
5. Matthew 25 Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (biblehub.com)
6. Matthew 25 Vincent's Word Studies (biblehub.com)
7. Matthew 25 Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament (biblehub.com)
8. Matthew 25 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (biblehub.com)
9. Matthew 25 Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (biblehub.com)