Parable of the Ten Virgins

thumb|The parable in a painting of Earnest Lipgart, 1886 The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins or the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, is one of the parables of Jesus. Quotes about Bible At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’“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.’“‘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.’“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.“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Gospel of Matthew 25:1-13 NIV. Others Whether a soul is among the wise virgins or among the foolish ones is determined by whether its faith remains purely theoretical or becomes something real in life. It is not enough to say yes and leave everything else to the Lord. Nor is it enough to make a gesture of good will, carry the lamp and leave its flame to the Lord. The outcome of the experience is also required, so that we know that lamps need oil to burn; we cannot count on a miracle instead of the normal situation, nor on some emotion on the part of the Lord, so that even the most foolish have come and expect to be treated like the wise ones. We are very far from the workers of the last hour. In fact, the virgins are asked to do what they can certainly do. Adrienne von Speyr, Le parabole del Signore (Gleichnisse des Herrn, 1966), translation into Italian by Giuseppe Reguzzoni, Jaca Book, Milano, 2008, p. 108. ISBN 978-88-16-30459-8 “'Watch therefore”', so that you may not miss “'the day or the hour”'. It would be too easy to wake up at a specific moment that was already known in advance. The moment can be anytime, and that is why we must always be vigilant. Everyday life is grey and boring, monotonous and flat; it makes people believe that they are somehow sunk in a timeless dimension. But the Lord does not tone down his demands. He does not adapt to the length of the wait. When the moment comes, he demands of us, without compromise, that we hear the whole truth and fulfil it in every way. Christ allowed the Father to veil the hour. He wanted to remain fully vigilant and ready. He was able to do so, and he wants his own to be able to do so too. The Father must recognise this characteristic trait of the Son in Christians. Adrienne von Speyr, Le parabole del Signore (Gleichnisse des Herrn, 1966), translation into Italian by Giuseppe Reguzzoni, Jaca Book, Milano, 2008, p. 110. ISBN 978-88-16-30459-8 External links Category:Parables of Jesus