“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Matthew 25: 1-2

In the passage above, Jesus provides another picture of those who were wise and others were foolish. I do not pretend to know a lot about Jewish wedding celebrations in the first century, but I read that it was common for the bridegroom to leave his home and then arrive at the home of the bride where the ceremony would be completed (often at night) and then they would return to the bridegroom’s home to celebrate. Those details may help us understand the Jewish custom, but the real key here is found in the preparation of those ten virgins.

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:3-13

One Bible commentary makes this point- “He has been warning them that He will arrive with no notice, interrupting the daily activities of all of those who expect life to simply go on as it always has. Those who follow Him must live in a state of readiness for His return. Jesus could come back, at any moment, as King and Judge.

Five were prepared. Five were not. And not being prepared had its consequences. The virgins left on the outside looking in and longing to celebrate represent those who were invited but were not prepared for the return.

I don’t think any of us want to be on the outside looking in. Will we be ready? Are we prepared?