The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet _a the bridegroom. ² _b "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ "But while the bridegroom was delayed, _c they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ "And at midnight _d a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom ₁ is coming; go out to meet him!' ⁷ "Then all those virgins arose and _e trimmed their lamps. ⁸ "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' ⁹ "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' ¹⁰ "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and _f the door was shut. ¹¹ "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, _g 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' ¹² "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, _h I do not know you.' ¹³ _i "Watch therefore, for you _j know neither the day nor the hour ₂ in which the Son of Man is coming.

1. Cross References
   Ephesians 5:29
   For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
   Ephesians 5:30
   For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
   Revelation 19:7
   "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
   Revelation 21:2
   Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
   Revelation 21:9
   Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
   
2. Cross References
   Matthew 13:47
   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind.
   Matthew 22:10
   So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
   
3. Cross References
   1 Thessalonians 5:6
   Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
   
4. Cross References
   Matthew 24:31
   And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
   1 Thessalonians 4:16
   For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
   
5. Cross References
   Luke 12:35
   Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
   
6. Cross References
   Matthew 7:21
   Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
   Luke 13:25
   "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
   
7. Cross References
   Matthew 7:21 - 23
   Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
   Luke 13:25 - 30
   "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
   
8. Cross References
   Psalms 5:5
   The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.
   Habakkuk 1:13
   You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
   John 9:31
   Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
   
9. Cross References
   Mark 13:35
   Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -
   Luke 21:36
   "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
   1 Thessalonians 5:6
   Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
   
10. Cross References
    Matthew 24:36
    But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
    Matthew 24:42
    Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.