Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus Speaks in Parables: Story of the Ten Virgins

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day or the hour.

When Jesus spoke, He spent most of His time explaining the Kingdom of Heaven. He spoke in parables and gave many comparisons of what His Father’s Kingdom is like along with a message for the hearer to be ready. It is a matter of wisdom versus foolishness. Wisdom is the ability to live life skillfully, where foolishness by contrast is folly. Foolishness is not overlooked in the Kingdom. Jesus time and time again exhorts wisdom among His followers. In this parable, it contrasts the readiness of 5 brides and contrasts them to unpreparedness of the foolish. Jesus does not say that the wise should share with the unwise, but instead he tells that the door will be shut on the foolish, they will lose reward, and will be dishonored and excluded from the Kingdom.

Daily Prayer: Father, open my heart to instruction and let me not rebuke it or ignore it. Instead, let me learn from You, and imitate you in this life and in the life to come. In Jesus name I pray Amen.