Matthew 25:1-13
Summary
Be prepared for His return
The Parable
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
The Lord’s explanation
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Lesson
We don’t know the time at which Christ will return; therefore we need to be diligent in our pursuit of our salvation, lest we become caught up in the cares of the world, and be found lacking oil for our lamps. It will be too late to try to fix things when He returns; we have to be ready for when He does.
It isn’t enough to once become a Christian, and then not further grow in Christ; nor can we live an immoral or unworthy life, giving no thought to our salvation while we continue to live as we did before becoming a Christian. We have to diligently seek after our salvation, for sin so easily entangles us, Hebrews 12:1.