The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

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Matthew 25:1-13

1 Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 At midnight they were roused by the shout, "Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!"

7 All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, "Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out."

9 But the others replied, "We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves."

10 But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, "Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!"

12 But he called back, "Believe me, I don’t know you!"

13 So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

S - Scripture

8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, "Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out."

O - Observation

1. Christianity does not happen because we are born in a certain place or because we know a certain person or because we keep a certain set of rules or even because we attend a certain church. Christianity happens because we live a life of being connected to God. It is about a relationship (verses 1 to 4)
2. Faith cannot be borrowed (verses 6 to 9).
3. Christianity is not just knowing about God. Christianity is knowing God (verse 12).
4. Faith shouldn’t be accepted and developed at the last minute because we don’t know when the last minute will be. Faith is best accepted and developed over a lifetime (verse 13).

A - Application

We often pay great attention to certain areas of our lives: Our finances, our careers, our bodies, our houses, etc... Jesus challenges us to pay close attention to our relationship with God. The application is to make our relationship with God primary and have every other area of our lives be influenced by our relationship with God.

P - Prayer

Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Give me more faith. Keep my lamp full of oil. Help me to grow in my relationship with you. Amen.