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THE PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS
Passage:
Matthew 25:1-13
Key verse: 13
NIV
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like(A) ten virgins who took their lamps(B) and went out to meet the bridegroom.(C) 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.(D) 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.(E)
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’(F)
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.(G) And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’(H)
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.(I)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like (A)ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet (B)the bridegroom.[b] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were (C)wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom (D)was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But (E)at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and (F)trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and (G)those who were ready went in with him to (H)the marriage feast, and (I)the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (J)‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 (K)But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, (L)I do not know you.’ 13 (M)Watch therefore, for you (N)know neither the day nor the hour.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 25:1 Or torches
- Matthew 25:1 Some manuscripts add and the bride
Cross references
- Matthew 25:1 : Luke 19:13
- Matthew 25:1 : ch. 9:15; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9
- Matthew 25:2 : [See ch. 24:45 above]; ch. 7:24; 10:16; 25:2
- Matthew 25:5 : ch. 24:48; [ver. 19; Heb. 10:37; 2 Pet. 3:4, 9]
- Matthew 25:6 : Mark 13:35
- Matthew 25:7 : [Luke 12:35]
- Matthew 25:10 : ch. 24:44
- Matthew 25:10 : ch. 22:2
- Matthew 25:10 : For ver. 10-12, [Luke 13:25-27]
- Matthew 25:11 : [ch. 7:22, 23]
- Matthew 25:12 : [See ver. 11 above]; [ch. 7:22, 23]
- Matthew 25:12 : ch. 10:33; [2 Tim. 2:19]
- Matthew 25:13 : ch. 24:42
- Matthew 25:13 : [ch. 24:50]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Jesus told a parable to teach them to always be ready for the coming of the Son of Man. In the parable, there were ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. Five were foolish because they didn’t bring oil for their lanterns, thinking the bridegroom would arrive soon. The other five were wise. They brought oil for their lamps because they didn’t know when the bridegroom would arrive. In fact, the bridegroom was a long time in coming. When he arrived, it was dark, and all ten virgins were sleeping.
Finally, someone called out, “Here is the bridegroom!” The ten virgins went to trim the wicks of their lanterns, but the five foolish women couldn’t because they didn’t have enough oil. The five wise virgins didn’t share theirs because they wanted to make sure they had enough. While the foolish virgins were buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. The five foolish virgins came late, and were told they couldn’t come in because, “I don’t know you.” Jesus teaches in this parable that his people need to be wise. They should watch and wait, because he could come at any time. We may think his coming is a long way away, and maybe it will be. But it might not. Whenever he comes, he wants to find us watching and waiting for his return.
Prayer: Father, Jesus is coming again! Help me to keep watch and prepare my heart to welcome you.
One Word: Keep watch!
