Deborah Chan
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids is a story told by Jesus to emphasise the importance of being prepared for his second coming. In the story, ten bridesmaids are helping a bride get ready for her wedding. Five of the bridesmaids are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and do not. When the bridegroom arrives, the five foolish bridesmaids are off buying oil and miss the beginning of the wedding feast. Jesus concludes the parable by explaining that none of us knows when he will return, and we should always be ready for that time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of bridesmaids | 10 |
| Type of girls | 5 wise, 5 foolish |
| Lamps | Small, hand-sized, made from clay |
| Oil | Olive oil |
| Wicks | Cotton cloth |
What You'll Learn
The parable of the ten bridesmaids
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, is a parable of Jesus. According to the Gospel of Matthew, ten virgins await a bridegroom; five have brought enough oil for their lamps, while the other five have not. The five virgins who are prepared for the bridegroom's arrival are rewarded, while the five who went to buy more oil miss the arrival and are turned away.
In the parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a traditional Jewish wedding custom. In the story, the ten virgins are bridesmaids in a wedding party. Five are wise, and five are foolish. It is dark when they leave for the procession, and the wise bridesmaids bring their lamps and some oil for the lamps, but the foolish ones bring no oil. The groom takes a while to arrive, and when he nears, the wise bridesmaids go towards the procession with their lamps shining brightly, thanks to the oil they remembered to bring.
The wise bridesmaids cannot share their oil with the foolish ones without risking their own place in the procession, so the foolish bridesmaids are forced to go and find some oil, missing the arrival of the bridegroom. As Scripture tells us:
> "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. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:10-13)
The parable has a clear message: be prepared for the Day of Judgement. It is also a "watching parable", reinforcing the call for readiness in the face of the uncertain time of the Second Coming.
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The foolish bridesmaids
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins or the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, is a parable of Jesus. In the parable, ten virgins await a bridegroom; five are wise and have brought enough oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and have no extra oil.
The foolish virgins represent those who are unprepared for the Day of Judgement. They are satisfied with their spiritual condition and do not seek to deepen their faith or perform good deeds. On the other hand, the wise virgins are those who actively seek a deeper relationship with God and strive to live a righteous life. They are aware of their shortcomings and work to crush their sinful nature, filling their vessels with oil.
At midnight, all the virgins are called to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins realise their lamps are going out and ask the wise ones for oil, but they refuse, knowing there will not be enough to share. While the foolish virgins try to buy more oil, the bridegroom arrives, and the wise virgins accompany him to the celebration. The foolish virgins arrive too late and are excluded from the event.
The parable serves as a warning to be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ and emphasises the importance of good works and a humble attitude. It has been a popular subject for art, music, and literature, with various interpretations and depictions throughout history.
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The wise bridesmaids
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids is a story told by Jesus to emphasise the importance of being prepared for his second coming. In the parable, ten bridesmaids are helping the bride get ready for her wedding. The custom at the time was for the wedding feast to begin when the bridegroom arrived. The bridesmaids were to hold up their oil lamps so the bride and groom could see each other when he came to the bride's house.
Five of the bridesmaids were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, knowing that the groom might be late. The other five were foolish and did not bring extra oil. After the bride and bridesmaids fell asleep, someone announced the arrival of the bridegroom. The foolish bridesmaids' lamps had gone out, so they had to go and find more oil. While they were gone, the rest of the wedding party, including the wise bridesmaids, went into the feast. When the foolish bridesmaids returned, they were not allowed in.
The parable teaches that we should always be ready for Jesus' return, as we do not know when it will be.
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The bridegroom's arrival
In the parable, the bridegroom's arrival is a joyous occasion, with the groom expressing happiness at seeing the bride. The bridegroom's arrival signals the start of the wedding procession, with the bridesmaids accompanying the couple through the streets to the groom's house. The lamps held by the bridesmaids illuminate the way for the couple, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The parable emphasizes the importance of being ready for the bridegroom's arrival, which symbolizes Jesus' second coming. The wise bridesmaids represent those who are spiritually prepared, while the foolish bridesmaids symbolize those who are caught unawares. The parable serves as a reminder to always be prepared and to keep our spiritual lamps burning bright.
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The wedding feast
The ten bridesmaids in the parable played an important role in the wedding preparations, helping the bride get ready for her big day. They were also responsible for holding up oil lamps to illuminate the bride and groom as they met and then accompanied them on their procession through the streets to the groom's house.
The custom of that time dictated that the feast would begin when the bridegroom arrived. The bridesmaids needed to be ready with their lamps lit to welcome him. Five of the bridesmaids were wise and came prepared with extra oil for their lamps, ensuring they could stay lit for an extended period. However, the other five were foolish and did not bring extra oil. As the bride and bridesmaids waited for the groom, they all fell asleep, and their lamps burned out.
When the groom finally arrived, the five wise bridesmaids were ready to greet him and escort him and the bride to the feast. The foolish bridesmaids, meanwhile, had to scramble to find more oil, missing the initial part of the feast. By the time they arrived, the groom's family had locked the gate, and they were not allowed to enter.
The parable of the ten bridesmaids serves as a lesson in preparedness and a reminder to always be ready for the return of Jesus. It highlights the importance of foresight and planning, just as the wise bridesmaids ensured they had enough oil to keep their lamps lit.
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Frequently asked questions
The parable of the ten bridesmaids is a story told by Jesus to emphasise the importance of being prepared for his second coming. In the story, five of the ten bridesmaids are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and do not. When the bridegroom arrives, the wise bridesmaids are ready to greet him, but the foolish bridesmaids miss his arrival as they are off buying more oil.
The main message of the parable is that we should always be ready for Jesus' second coming, as we do not know when it will happen.
The lamps represent being prepared for Jesus' return. The wise bridesmaids, who have enough oil for their lamps, represent those who are ready to go with Jesus to heaven, while the foolish bridesmaids, who do not have enough oil, represent those who are not ready.
