SUMMARY
In the ParableA parable is a brief story with a setting, an action, and a result. A prominent aspect of Jesus' teaching was telling parables to illustrate something about the kingdom, or reign, of God. More of the wise and foolish maidens Jesus’ instructs Matthew’s discipleA disciple is a person who accepts and follows the pronouncements of a teacher. Jesus chose twelve disciples (also called "apostles" in some of the Gospels) to follow him and bear witness to his message Anyone who (like them) follows Jesus is engaged in Christian... More community on the need for watchfulness, since it does not know the time of the return of the Son of Man.
ANALYSIS
This parable uses wedding imagery to describe the kingdom (see 22:1-14). This time it pictures ten maidens who go to meet the bridegroom. Five described as “wise” have prepared by bringing along extra oil for their lamps; five are described as “foolish” because they have not prepared for a time of waiting by bringing along extra oil. When their oil runs out and the wedding banquet finally begins, the foolish maidens are off buying more oil. The point of the parable is simple. It is not meant to instruct Matthew’s community about sharing or not sharing resources with one another. It is meant to repeat and to emphasize the one key point of Jesus’ concluding instruction: a wise disciple community is urged to watchfulness because it does not know the day or the hour of Jesus’ coming.
