Bible Memory Verse
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42
At the time when Jesus lived in Israel, it was customary for a bridegroom to come for his bride in the middle of the night. No one knew exactly when he was coming. The young unmarried women (bridesmaids) who were staying at the bride’s house had to be ready at all times in case the bridegroom came. In this parable Jesus compares Himself to a bridegroom who is coming at an unexpected time.
Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. (3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
(4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. (5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
(6 At midnight the cry rang out, ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
(7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. (8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
(9 ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
(10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
(11 Later the others also came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ the said, ‘Open the door for us!’
(12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
(13 Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour.”
1. How many virgins went out to meet the bridegroom? How many were wise and how many were foolish?
2. What was the difference between the wise and the foolish virgins?
3. What did the foolish virgins want the wise virgins to do?
4. Why wouldn’t the wise virgin give them any oil?
5. What happened when the foolish virgins were out buying oil?
6. Why wouldn’t the bridegroom let the foolish virgins in when they came later?
7. Jesus is comparing this parable of the ten virgins to the time when He comes back. What does the oil symbolize? Who has the Holy Spirit living in them? Who will be ready when He comes back?