A Tragedy Matthew 25:1-13a

This post is about a tragedy described by Jesus in a parable about ten virgins.

A Tragedy concerns five of the virgins or bridesmaids waiting for a bridegroom.

Jesus used a wedding feast to relate a parable about a tragedy involving prepared and unprepared guests. Matthew 25:1-4, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”

So, ten virgins await the bridegroom to go into the wedding feast. When he delayed his coming, they all slept. Then, at midnight, he came. The wise virgins had prepared by bringing along extra oil for their lamps. Then, they lit their lamps and went in. Lacking oil, the foolish could not. Thus, this barring of the foolish from the feast made it a tragedy for them.

Note: The wise could not share oil with the foolish because the wise needed it for their lamps.

Initially, Jesus said that this parable is like the kingdom of heaven. That refers to the church. For example, the sleep of the virgins is like death that occurs for all church members unless the bridegroom, Jesus, returns.

So, like in the parable, the wise prepare for Jesus to return at any time. The unwise do not.

Also, note that the delay of the bridegroom coming is a fact, not a question. Thus, it is not unusual for Jesus to delay His second coming in judgment.

Correspondingly, the lamp and its light compared to faith and works. Both are needed, James 2:17, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Note that all the virgins had lamps or faith. But only the wise had works. However, on judgment day, the wise cannot share their good deeds with the unprepared. Condemnation awaits the foolish.

At the end of the parable, Jesus explained the meaning. Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In summary, Jesus says that we must prepare now for Jesus’ return at any time.

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