Wise and Foolish

Matthew doesn’t talk about wisdom and foolishness very often, and only twice does he contrast the wise ( phronimos ) to the foolish ( moros ). The first comes at the end of the sermon on the mount, where Jesus contrasts wise and foolish builders; the other comes in the parable of the virgins in 25:1-13.

Structurally, the two are linked. The parable of wise and foolish builders concludes the sermon on the mount, while the parable of the virgins is one of a series of parables that elaborates Jesus’ exhortation to “watch” in the Olivet Discourse. The sermon on the mount begins with beatitudes and ends with a contrast of the wise and foolish who do or do not do Jesus’ words; the Olive Discourse begins with woes (ch. 23) and includes a parable that contrasts the wise and foolish virgins.

This has some other possible implications: First, it might help us determine what distinguishes the wise and foolish virgins. A number of commentators have suggested that the “oil” is a symbol of good deeds, and that would fit with the parallel with the parable of the builders. The wise virgins let their light shine before men. Second, it might also support the notion that the parable of the virgins is about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. As NT Wright points out, the “house” in Matthew 7 is the house of Israel, the temple, and its standing and falling depends on Israel’s response to Jesus’ words. The wise virgins of Matthew 25 are expecting the midnight arrival of the Bridegroom, who will initiate the wedding feast in a new temple.