Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted November 14, 2005 (edited) Can someone with an understanding of Hebrew tradition help me? We've all read the parable of the Ten Virgins.. I've always just "accepted" this parable without really 'getting' it. Does anyone know why Jesus refers to these females as "virgins"? I assume they are women who were invited to the wedding of a friend. The bride's friends are apparently unmarried, since unmarried females in Hebrew society were virgin. Why are these bridesmaids (for lack of a better term) virgins and not married females as well as unmarried? Why are they waiting for a groom to come in the middle of the night? Why doesn't the groom send an invitation and say, "Today at 2 o'clock, we'll have a wedding party"? This Hebrew/Jewish tradition is baffling to me... Any takers? Edited November 14, 2005 by catsmeow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 This clearly is a tough question. My hope is someone has some understanding of this Hebrew/Jewish tradition...I know we've all read this parable....but maybe I'm not the only person perplexed by it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 Hey, now! Wait a minute...these were Jewish females, 2000 years ago...Today's society might have a hard time finding unmarried ladies who are chaste...but back then....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 827 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 12,101 Content Per Day: 1.50 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 04/01/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted November 14, 2005 Why are they waiting for a groom to come in the middle of the night? Why doesn't the groom send an invitation and say, "Today at 2 o'clock, we'll have a wedding party"? Cats, in the traditional wedding back then, they did not know when the groom would be coming. The groom's father gave the ok after all the preparitory work was completed, and he was pleased with it. So, after the groom got the room ready, which was an addition to the father's home, and the father gave his approval, then the groom was given permission to go claim his bride. The bride was to remain ready. It is a parable for the church today. When our heavenly Father says the time is right, then our Bridgroom is coming. That is why we are told that though we know the season, we do not know the hour..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 Hey, now! Wait a minute...these were Jewish females, 2000 years ago...Today's society might have a hard time finding unmarried ladies who are chaste...but back then....... What makes you say that? Israel was at least as wicked, at times, as any nation today. Just read the Old Testament. Do you really think pre-marital sex and teen pregnancy is a new issue? I was joking, Whysoblind. Lighten up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 Why are they waiting for a groom to come in the middle of the night? Why doesn't the groom send an invitation and say, "Today at 2 o'clock, we'll have a wedding party"? It is a parable for the church today. When our heavenly Father says the time is right, then our Bridgroom is coming. That is why we are told that though we know the season, we do not know the hour..... Yes, I understand that part. But why "Ten Virgins"? Couldn't these bridesmaids also be married ladies who knew the bride? Why didn't Jesus just say there were "Ten Women" waiting for their friend, the bride? Why did He specify "virgins"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 Does anyone know a good "Messianic" site that might have the answers? I think those with a Jewish background might understand this better than those of us who are gentile... I admit, many things that are culturally Jewish confound me. I'm in a "learning mode" and longing to understand the things of our Savior but I don't really understand many things... I usually just accepted them at face value without trying to truly understand the deeper meanings. Now, I'd really like to have a deeper understanding... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amybeth Posted November 14, 2005 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 0 Topics Per Day: 0 Content Count: 4 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/14/2005 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/11/1967 Share Posted November 14, 2005 Cat, I am a very very new member here. But do have a pretty good understanding of the Messianic/Hebrew traditions. The reason for the Virgins is a sign of Purity. The Bride in Jewish tradition had to be surrounded and attended to by Purity. Her attendands had to be pure as well. Which would exclude women married. This parable has a number of symbolic references to it from the Hebrew traditions. It is very amazing. There is a good website to go to for Messianic information. It is Inthebeginning.org On the side there is a menu. You can find a number of different studies regarding the kingdom! Good studying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amybeth Posted November 15, 2005 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 0 Topics Per Day: 0 Content Count: 4 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/14/2005 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/11/1967 Share Posted November 15, 2005 Hey Mark! Nice to meet ya! Now, take all those parables and read them BUT read them with fresh eyes. Because they are written to believers. ALL believers. All the virgins are believers. Some are unfaithful believers. Some were not WAITING for the bridegroom. Some of their oil went out. WHY were they at the party if they were UNBELIEVERS!!!!!! They shouldn't even be there! In the case of the wheat and the tares. Think about it. You know some pretty scary christians don't you??? Some pretty unfaithful ones. Their are some christians growing up among us that are very much like the tares. But Jesus said do not yet harvest the tares for fear of pulling out the wheat. Still let it grow among them. Much like unfaithful disobedient christians of our day who live by cheap grace! The two women at the well. One is taken one is left. I believe that is a type of the rapture. I don't think the WHOLE church will be taken. I think that only faithful, obedient christians LOOKING WAITING WATCHING for Christ will be taken. So, with that said. I believe the women left at the well is a type of the remaining unfaithful christians who lived for themselves selfishly disobediently never giving their lives over to Christ. They are left to be refined through the trib. The types are all over the place in the old testament. ANd in revelation with the Harvesting. And look at the 10 Lepers. ONly 1 turns back to thank Jesus. REad the book of Ruth!!! Its a good picture of the Bride being pulled from the church. Also in Genesis with Adam. Ask God to give you a fresh eyes. Its really cool. I believe the WHOLE entire word of God is a exhortation/love letter to Believers and believers only, warnings and all! Radical I know. I also believe I am SAVED BY THE BLOOD!!!! Thank you Jesus! I just don't think there won't be any consequences for unfaithful christians at the judgement seat... I think we will all see an age of reward during the 1,000 year reign of Christ. And that is what I don't want to miss out on!!! Oh gosh I am sorry for going on and on. Was this confusing??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsmeow Posted November 17, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 439 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 7,315 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 356 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/21/2002 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 17, 2005 Thank you, Amybeth...that really helps! I will go to the link you gave. I need that extra help. There are so many cultural contexts of the Jewish tradition that are foreign to me. I've always accepted things at "face value" but desire a deeper understanding. I'm definitely not one who thinks they know all but actually realize, the longer I live and breathe, how very LITTLE I actually know. I'm aware of my ignorance each day...so count me a "learner" with much more to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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