Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

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Matthew 25:1-13 is the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which is part of Jesus' teachings in the Olivet Discourse. In this parable, ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom (symbolizing Jesus) to arrive for a wedding banquet. Five of them are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and bring only what is in their lamps. When the bridegroom is delayed, all the virgins fall asleep. At midnight, there is a cry announcing the bridegroom's arrival. The foolish virgins realize their lamps are going out and ask the wise ones for oil, but are refused and told to buy their own. While they are gone, the bridegroom arrives, and those who are ready go into the banquet with him, and the door is shut. When the foolish virgins return, they find themselves locked out and the bridegroom states that he does not know them.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins conveys several key theological messages about readiness, personal responsibility, the unpredictability of Christ’s return, and the finality of God’s judgment. This passage illustrates the importance of being prepared for the Second Coming of Christ, with the wise virgins symbolizing those who are ready and the foolish ones representing the unprepared. It highlights the individual responsibility each person holds in their faith journey; one cannot depend on others for spiritual readiness. The unexpected arrival of the bridegroom in the parable serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of the timing of Christ's return, suggesting that believers should constantly be vigilant and prepared. Finally, the closing of the door by the bridegroom symbolizes the irrevocable nature of God's judgment at the end times. This parable is a cautionary tale for the followers of Jesus, emphasizing the need for sustained and genuine faith in anticipation of His return.

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Biblical text

25:1Τότε ὁμοιωθήσεται βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν δέκα παρθένοις, αἵτινες λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶν ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν τοῦ νυμφίου.2πέντε δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἦσαν μωραὶ καὶ πέντε φρόνιμοι.3αἱ γὰρ μωραὶ λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον·4αἱ δὲ φρόνιμοι ἔλαβον ἔλαιον ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις μετὰ τῶν λαμπάδων ἑαυτῶν.5χρονίζοντος δὲ τοῦ νυμφίου ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι καὶ ἐκάθευδον.6μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς κραυγὴ γέγονεν Ἰδοὺ νυμφίος, ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν.7τότε ἠγέρθησαν πᾶσαι αἱ παρθένοι ἐκεῖναι καὶ ἐκόσμησαν τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶν.8αἱ δὲ μωραὶ ταῖς φρονίμοις εἶπαν Δότε ἡμῖν ἐκ τοῦ ἐλαίου ὑμῶν, ὅτι αἱ λαμπάδες ἡμῶν σβέννυνται.9ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αἱ φρόνιμοι λέγουσαι Μή ποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν· πορεύεσθε μᾶλλον πρὸς τοὺς πωλοῦντας καὶ ἀγοράσατε ἑαυταῖς.10ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι ἦλθεν νυμφίος, καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ ἐκλείσθη θύρα.11ὕστερον δὲ ἔρχονται καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ παρθένοι λέγουσαι Κύριε κύριε, ἄνοιξον ἡμῖν.12 δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς.13Γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε τὴν ἡμέραν οὐδὲ τὴν ὥραν.