Parable of the Ten Virgins - Watchfulness

Jesus tells a parable of ten virgins that went out to meet the groom, five being prudent and taking extra oil for their lamps and five being foolish and not taking extra oil along. The groom delayed in arriving and the foolish missed the banquet since they had to go and purchase more oil. He concludes telling us to be alert, since we do not know when He will return.

Arc

editing

Matthew 25:1-13

nasb

“Then a the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to

ten virgins, who took their b lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

comparison

Five of them were foolish,

and five were a prudent.

series

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

but the a prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

concessive

ideaexplanation

Now while the bridegroom was delaying,

they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

temporal

But at midnight

there was a shout,

‘Behold, the bridegroom!

Come out to meet him. ’

Then all those virgins rose

and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish said to the prudent,

‘Give us some of your oil,

for our lamps are going out.’

ground

But the a prudent answered,

‘No,

there will not be enough for us and you too;

go instead to the dealers

and buy some for yourselves.’

inference

situationresponse

And while they were going away to make the purchase,

the bridegroom came,

and those who were a ready went in with him to b the wedding feast;

and c the door was shut.

progression

Later the other virgins also came, saying,

‘ a Lord, lord, open up for us.’

But he answered,

‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

a Be on the alert then,

for you do not know the day nor the hour.

A very interesting study of this parable can be found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey.

discourse

Phrase

Matthew 25:1-13

A. Planning to Meet the Groom

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to

ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

B. Foolish - No Oil, Prudent - Oil

Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

C. All Sleep

Now while the bridegroom was delaying,

they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

D. The Groom Arrives!

But at midnight there was a shout,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

C'. All Awake

Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

B'. Foolish - No Oil, Prudent - Oil

The foolish said to the prudent,

‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the prudent answered,

‘No,

there will not be enough for us and you too;

go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

A'. Meeting the Groom

And while they were going away to make the purchase,

the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

Later the other virgins also came, saying,

‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’

But he answered,

‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

Be on the alert then,

for you do not know the day nor the hour.

This follows the literary structure proposed by Bailey in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes .

phrasing

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