Bible Stories for Adults

The Ten Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-13

Next Week - God Promises a Savior (Genesis 2:4-3:24)
Bible Words to Remember:
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 24:13

What message of hope were we given the instant Jesus left the earth?
Acts 1:9-11
Was this news to the apostles?
John 14:2-3
Would this be news to people other than the apostles?
Matthew 26:63-64
Did the early church understand that Jesus would return?
1 Corinthians 4:5

How will the people of the world react to Jesus' return?
Luke 21:25-27
Will those of us who live in Jesus be afraid when He returns?
Luke 21:28
Have God's people in the Bible typically stood up and lifted their heads before God?
Exodus 3:6

How will we be able to stand before this tremendous return of Jesus?
1 John 2:28
How can we be confident and unashamed before Him knowing our sinful past?
Psalm 130:3-4
How can we escape the dreadfulness of that day?
Luke 21:34-36
How should we live while we are waiting for Jesus to return?
2 Peter 3:11

When will Jesus come back?
1 Timothy 6:14-15a
How is this similar to Jesus' first coming?
Galatians 4:4-5
How should we understand God's fullness of time?
2 Peter 3:8-9

How do we know the date and time when Jesus will return?
Matthew 24:36
Won't God warn us in time for people to prepare themselves?
Matthew 24:37-39
Will we have at least a few hours notice?
Matthew 24:40-41
How much notice will we get?
Matthew 24:27

What does this not knowing when mean for our lives?
Matthew 24:42
What example did Jesus offer that is timely even today?
Matthew 24:43-44

Three apprentice devils were coming to earth to finish their apprenticeship.
They were talking to Satan about their plans to tempt and ruin men.
The first said, "I will tell them there is no God."
Satan answered, "That won't delude many, for they know that there is a God."
The second said, "I will tell men there is no hell."
Satan said, "You'll deceive no one; men know even now that there is a hell for sin."
The third said, "I will tell men there is no hurry."
"Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin them by the thousands."

What example does Jesus give to point out the importance of staying steadfastly faithful?
Matthew 24:45-47
What if we tell ourselves there will be plenty of time to be faithful later?
Matthew 24:48-50
What reward will be given to those who put off faith?
Matthew 24:51
What was understood by the phrase weeping and gnashing of teeth?
Psalm 112:10

What example from His culture did Jesus then give to further show the need to be prepared?
Matthew 25:1

Engagement - A man or his father would select a bride and negotiate with the woman's father
A settlement was formalized by payment of a bride price to the bride's father
Girls usually became engaged when old enough to have children
Betrothal - A ceremony was then held in the house of the bride's parents
A betrothal period would pass before the couple lived together, Usually around a year
Betrothal was legally binding, Could only be broken by divorce
If a man died during the betrothal period, the woman was considered a widow
Marriage - The bridegroom and his friends went to fetch the bride from her father's house
The bride's friends would meet the bridegroom & guide the way with lamps or torches
The bridegroom could come at any time, day or night, on the specified day
A man would first shout through the streets that the bridegroom was coming
Bride in wedding dress & veil joined group in parade thru town to bridegroom's home
Bride was given away with blessing from father or responsible relative
Wedding Feast - Instead of a honeymoon, the couple would hold a huge feast and party
Wedding festival would last days, up to a week
Wedding feast included all relatives, neighbors and friends
Guests were seated by the groom in order of importance
Meals were as elaborate as family could afford, disgraceful not to have enough for all
Doors were locked to keep out party crashers
Only those with invitations or personally known by the groom could get in later

Who would the Jews think of as the bridegroom and bride in this parable?
Isaiah 54:5
Who do we as Christians understand to be the bridegroom and bride?
Ephesians 5:22-29
What is the wedding feast?
Matthew 22:1-2

Who are the ten virgins in this parable?
Revelation 19:9
What do we learn about these ten virgins?
Matthew 25:2-4

What is the oil that some of the virgins had stored up?
Matthew 6:20-21
How does Jesus further explain the foolish virgins in the parable of the sower?
Matthew 13:20-22
Why should Christians store up extra oil by growing in faith and spiritual maturity?
Hebrews 10:36-39

How does Jesus point out in this parable that His return will be a surprise?
Matthew 25:5-6
What happened when the virgins awoke and needed their oil of faith to join the bridegroom?
Matthew 25:7-9
Shouldn't the virgins with extra oil have given some to the others so they could join the feast?
Ezekiel 18:20
Is it a true analogy that someone could run out of oil and not be able to join the feast?
Ezekiel 18:24

What happened while the foolish virgins tried to make last minute preparations?
Matthew 25:10
What happened when the foolish virgins tried to get in?
Matthew 25:11-12
Will people really be shut out of the feast of heaven?
2 Thessalonians 1:8-10
Will weakness of faith really result in being kept out of heaven's feast?
Revelation 3:15-16
Isn't everyone who calls on the name of Jesus going to be saved?
Matthew 7:21-23

How does Jesus summarize the point of this parable?
Matthew 25:13
What other parable does Jesus offer that helps make this point?
Matthew 7:24-27