The second coming of Jesus will be like ten young ladies who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and did not bring oil with them, but five were wise and took oil with them. When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come meet him.’
The ten young ladies got up. The five foolish ones said to the five wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
The wise ones answered, ‘No, there is not enough. Go buy some for yourselves.’
When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and the five wise ladies went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the five foolish ones also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’
He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’
Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Meaning: Jesus, our Messiah and our Savior, will come back again. In the meantime we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. The thrust of this story is preparedness for his eventual return. Five of the young ladies were prepared for the groom’s arrival and five were not. The main question after hearing this story is, “Am I prepared for Jesus’s return – am I alert?” The text does not indicate what exactly it means to be prepared but surely it must include repentance, faith, and obedience. Therefore, have we repented of our sins? Do we believe that Jesus is the Divine-Messiah-Savior? And are we obediently and faithfully submitting to him as king? We must be prepared, ready for the return of our Messiah.
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