Ladies-in-Waiting, Wise or Foolish

So, there were these ten girls, (ladies-in-waiting,) waiting for the bridegroom to come and get his bride. Five were wise and five were foolish. Let me explain.

Five of the girls go on their merry way living life burning the midnight oil and taking no thought about anything other than doing what they love to do. Have fun. Shop. Sleep-in. Eat. Watch movies. Relax and enjoy life. They don’t think they’re hurting anyone. They aren’t evil. They just don’t take anything serious. After all, the bridegroom will come, but they don’t know when and there’s no telling how long he will take, so, why not just do their own thing. They go about their lives in a que sera-sera, attitude. And besides they can always rely on their friends to help them out. There’s no reason to worry. I mean, really, why shouldn’t they have fun; they’ve got all the time in the world. Right? Or, do they?

There are five other young maidens who are more conscientious. They keep watch for the bridegroom, he could return at any time. They have trimmed their lamps; they even keep extra oil so they don’t run out. There’s no telling when he will arrive but they want to be ready when he does. They go about doing their work. Their hearts are constantly expecting his return. They don’t want to be caught unaware. They live their lives with compassion and gratitude making sure their thoughts and actions line up with what would please the bridegroom even though he takes a long time coming.

But even in their best efforts they all fall asleep and at midnight a cry wakes them. “The bridegroom is coming come out to meet him.” The five who are wise, wake up, their lamps are trimmed and they have extra oil. The five who are foolish trim their lamps but realize they are running low on oil. “Hey, wise girls, can you help us out our oil is low and we won’t have enough to make it to meet the bridegroom?”

“We’re sorry, but we don’t have any extra oil to give to you, if we do, we won’t have enough. Go to the store and buy some.”

They look at each other, mouths a gap, exasperation on their faces. “What! We thought we could rely on you for our oil supply; now we must hurry to buy oil because our lamps are going out.” They rush to the store to shop for more oil.

While they are gone the bridegroom returns. He welcomes the five wise girls into the wedding feast and the door is shut and locked. No one else can enter. The five foolish girls come knocking on the door. “Lord, open the door, it’s us. Our lamps are full we’re here for the party. Let us in!”

“I’m sorry girls I don’t know you. The party is going on and I you cannot come in!”

Remember, if you are wise you will keep watch, your lamps will be trimmed and you will keep extra oil for your lamp so you won’t run out. The bridegroom is coming! We just don’t know when he will appear. So, be prepared at all times. Even if you fall asleep, if you’re prepared when you hear the call, “Come out to meet the bridegroom!” You will be welcomed into the wedding feast and not be locked out.

Matthew 25:1-13

The Passion Translation

A Parable about Ten Virgins

25 “At the time my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride.^[a] 2–4 Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil^[b] for their lamps. Five of them were wise and sensible, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. ⁵ When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’^[c] 7 So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said to the five wise ones, ‘Share your oil with us, because our lamps are going out!’

⁹ “‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’

¹⁰ “While the five girls were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked. ¹¹ Later, the five foolish girls came running up to the door and pleaded, ‘Lord, Lord, let us come in!’

¹² “But he called back, ‘Go away! Do I know you? I can assure you, I don’t even know you!’

¹³ “That is the reason you should always stay awake and be alert, because you don’t know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will appear.”^[d]

Footnotes

1. Matthew 25:1 As translated from the Hebrew Matthew and a few Greek manuscripts. Most Greek manuscripts have only “bridegroom.” This would mean the ten virgins were going to marry one man, a doubtful teaching from Jesus. The ten virgins were bridesmaids, ladies-in-waiting. This was not Jesus condoning polygamy. It is possible that the parable hints of Zech. 8:23.

2. Matthew 25:2 See v. 8. Oil in the Scriptures is a metaphor of the Holy Spirit, who brings us revelation of the Word of God and power for ministry.

3. Matthew 25:6 This is not simply “meet him,” for it is a rare Greek noun that means to “have a meeting” or “an encounter.” See also 1 Thess. 4:17.

4. Matthew 25:13 As translated from the Hebrew Matthew.