
Jesus used short stories, known as parables, to teach spiritual truths and about the Kingdom of God.
This one is about the ten bridesmaids and their lamps.
In this parable five of the bridesmaids were wise, but five were foolish. The wise ones set aside sufficient extra oil to last until the belated bridegroom arrived, but the foolish ones did not. The bridegroom delayed his coming and the foolish bridesmaids ran out of oil and were unable to be part of the welcoming party.
Jesus was saying we need to prepare ourselves here on earth so that we will not miss out on the Heavenly Wedding Feast.
The Ten bridesmaids represent ourselves who need to get ready for the second coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. Oil is used in scripture to represent the Holy Spirit and we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in abundance in our lives so that we will remain in tune with God.
Jesus taught numerous parables, sayings, and warnings spread over four to six days before His crucifixion. See Matthew 21:23-25:46.
Background Reading:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins or the Ten Bridesmaids
25:1 “At that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, 3 because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn’t take any oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down. 6 But at midnight there came a shout: ‘The groom is here! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
8 “But the foolish ones told the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!’
9 “But the wise ones replied, ‘No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You’d better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, I don’t know you!’ 13 So keep on watching, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:1-13
read about the other parables Jesus taught at this time Mathew 24-25, Luke 19:11-27
More Information:
These lamps, which were used for lighting, burnt a mixture of oils.
For special occasions, perfumes could be added to the oil mixture.
The Eastern lamps looked much different from our western lamps that we have today.
Other modules in this unit:
- Zacchaeus, the tax collector, waited for Jesus up a tree, Luke 19:1-10
- Mary – First of two anointings by two different women, John 12:1-11
- Donkey – The Triumphal Entry, Luke 19:28-44
- Palm tree leaves and cloaks, John 12:12-19
- Jesus taught in parables – The Lamps of the Ten Bridesmaids. Matthew 25:1-13
- Jesus predicts his crucifixion, Luke 22:1-6
- Jesus anointed at Bethany by an unknown woman, Mark 14:3-9
- Sandal, Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet, John 13:1-20
- Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus, Luke 22:1-6
- The upper room discourse, Jesus comforts His Disciples, John 14:1-31
- Jesus prays for Himself, Luke 22:39-46
- Jesus spoke three prayers of intercession: one for Himself; one for his disciples; and one for all believers, John 17:1-26
- Soldiers came at night to arrest Jesus, Luke 22:47-48
- Peter cuts off an ear, Luke 22:49-51
- Jesus Arrested, Luke 22:52-53
- Jesus was on trial six times
- First trial – Annas the Father-in-law of Caiaphas the High Priest, John 18:12-14
- 2nd Trial – Jesus arrested and taken to the High Priest Caiaphas, Luke 22:54-65
- Friday?: day of Jesus’ death?
- The Cock Crow – Peter Disowned Jesus, Luke 22:54-62
- Third Trial of Jesus before The Sanhedrin, Luke 22:66-71
- 4th Trial – Jesus before Pontius Pilate for the first time – Luke 23:1-7
- 5th Trial, Jesus before Herod Antipas the Governor of Galilee and Perea, Luke 23:8-12
- 6th trial – Jesus in front of Pontius Pilate for the second Time, Luke 23:13-25
- Jesus, the Crucifixion walk, Luke 23:26-46
- The Cross or the Crucifixion, Luke 23:26-49
- The Roman Centurion, Luke 23:47-49
- Jesus is Buried, Luke 23:50-56
- Roman Soldiers guard the Tomb, Matthew 27:62-66
- They made sure by sealing the tomb, Matthew 27:62-66
- Passover, Numbers 28:16-31
- Feast Unleavened Bread
- Firstfruits, Leviticus 23:9-14
- Jesus stays in the tomb three days and three nights, Matthew 28:1
- Fristfuits or Resurrection Sunday, Luke 24:1-12
- The open empty tomb or the Resurrection, Luke 24:1-8
- He is not Here He has risen – The Resurrection, Luke 24:5-8
- Jesus Has Risen Indeed – The Resurrection, Luke 24:1-12
- Come See Where He Lay, Matthew 28:1-10
- Peter Looks – He has Risen Indeed, Luke 24:12
- On the Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35
- The end of the first week
- Jesus makes a special appearance for Thomas, John 20:24-31
- The First Sunday or 7 days after the Fristfuits or Resurrection of Jesus, Numbers 28:16-31
- Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish, John 21:1-25
- The end of the second week
- The Second Sunday after Fristfuits or Resurrection Sunday, John 20:24-29
- The end of the third week
- The Third Sunday after Fristfuits or Resurrection Sunday
- The end of the fourth week
- The Fourth Sunday after Fristfuits or Resurrection Sunday
- The end of the 5th week
- The Fifth Sunday or 35 days after feast of Fristfuits or the resurrection of Jesus
- Ascension Day-Back to Heaven for Jesus, Luke 24:50-53
- Jesus was seen by over 500 people, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
- The end of the 6th week
- The Sixth Sunday or 42 days from Fristfuits or Resurrection Sunday, Numbers 28:16-31
- The end of the 7th week
- Pentecost Fire, Acts 2:1-13
- Easter-Timeline
- Background Information – Easter
- Resources: Easter or Palm Sunday To Pentecost
- Next Module – Acts of the Apostles » »