Matthew 25:1

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”

Many of Jesus’ parables or stories warned against not being ready for the time of judgement when we are called to account, so to speak.

This parable focuses on the fact that we must always be ready but we do not know the time of reckoning. This is unlike the weddings that I am accustomed to in my culture.  Here, all who attend know the exact time and place when the couple are to be married, no surprises, please!

Evidently the guests knew that the night had come when the couple would be married but they did not know the hour. Five of the ten invitees mentioned here, all virgins, knew that the wedding will happen that night.  I assume they knew that the bride was ready but no one could enter the feast chamber until the groom appears. That was the problem – the groom delayed until midnight!  The ten virgins had snoozed as they waited. At midnight the cry went out, “Here is the bridegroom!”

They quickly trimmed their lamps. Caught by surprise by the lateness of the hour, five of them had no oil left. As they scurried to buy oil, the door to the feast clicked shut. The poor things were locked out while the five who had oil went in to celebrate!

Jesus closed the story with these words, “Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” v 13

We need to be found in Jesus at all times, one with him, made possible because of his own atoning work.  We know without doubt that we are his and he is ours.  We are ready at all times.