Being ready
The Ten Virgins
Also called The Ten Bridesmaids, The Wise and Foolish Virgins
Ten wait for a bridegroom. Five brought extra oil. Five did not, and the door closes.
What it turns on
All ten fell asleep. The difference was not staying awake, it was what they packed.
1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
World English Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter →
More on being ready
The Sheep and the GoatsNations are divided by what they did for the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned.The TalentsThree servants are given money to manage. Two invest it. One buries his in the ground.The Ten MinasA nobleman leaves money with ten servants before traveling to be made king.The Watchful ServantsServants keep their lamps burning, waiting for a master who returns at an unknown hour.