A Story Jesus Told

The Ten Bridesmaids

From the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25

Scroll to begin
One — Setting Out
Wise — with oil Foolish — no oil

Ten young women went out with their lamps. Five brought extra oil. Five did not think they would need it.

Two — Prepared and Unprepared
OIL Ready Not ready

The wise ones held jars full of oil. The foolish ones had nothing extra — just their lamps, and nothing more.

Three — The Long Wait
z z z zz z z z zz z

The bridegroom was long in coming. It grew very late. All ten women fell asleep, their heads drooping against the wall.

Four — Midnight!
He's here!

"He's here!" someone shouted at midnight. Five lamps blazed bright. But five were sputtering — the oil was gone.

Five — The Procession

The ready bridesmaids followed the bridegroom toward the feast. The others hurried away, looking for more oil.

Six — The Closed Door

The five with oil went in, and the door was shut. The five who had run for oil arrived too late. The door would not open.

A Small Question

What does it mean
to be ready?

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew, Chapter 25
A Flower Blooms

A flower bloomed.

Well done for finishing this story.