Ten Virgins
In the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 25:1-13. This passage is known as the parable of the ten virgins or the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. It is a story told by Jesus to illustrate a spiritual lesson about preparedness and readiness for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the parable, the kingdom of heaven is compared to ten virgins who are waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. They all have lamps with them, which symbolize their faith or their relationship with God. Five of the virgins are described as wise because they took extra oil in their vessels along with their lamps, while the other five are called foolish because they did not bring any additional oil.
As they wait for the bridegroom, all of the virgins fall asleep. At midnight, a cry is made that the bridegroom is coming, and the virgins wake up and prepare their lamps. However, the foolish virgins realize that their lamps are going out because they have run out of oil. They ask the wise virgins to share their oil, but the wise virgins refuse, suggesting that the foolish ones go and buy oil for themselves.
While the foolish virgins go to buy oil, the bridegroom arrives, and those who were prepared and ready go in with him to the marriage feast. The door is then shut. Later, the foolish virgins return and ask to be let in, but the bridegroom says he does not know them.
The parable concludes with a lesson about watchfulness and readiness. Jesus advises his listeners to be watchful and prepared because they do not know when the Son of Man (referring to himself) will come.
The parable teaches the importance of being spiritually prepared and ready for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. The wise virgins, who had extra oil, represent those who are spiritually prepared and have a genuine relationship with God. The foolish virgins, lacking oil, symbolize those who are unprepared and lack a genuine faith.
The lesson emphasizes the need for personal responsibility and individual preparedness. It encourages believers to be vigilant, faithful, and ready for the coming of Christ, as they do not know when it will occur. The parable also highlights the impossibility of borrowing someone else’s faith or spirituality. Each person is responsible for their own spiritual journey and relationship with God.