Matthew 25-Ten Young
Women and Their Lamps
Matthew 25:1-13
Based on NLT
Transition
Jesus taught the people about what it
would be like when God comes to rule.
Matthew 25:1-5
“When God comes to rule, it will be like
ten young women at a wedding who took
their lamps and went to meet the
bridegroom for the bridal procession, as
was their custom. Five of them were
foolish, and five were wise. The five
who were foolish didn’t take
enough…oil for their lamps, but the
other five were wise enough to take
along extra oil. When the bridegroom
was delayed, they all became drowsy
and fell asleep.
Matthew 25:6-9
“At midnight they were roused by the
shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming!
Come out and meet him!’
“All the young women got up and
prepared their lamps. Then the five
foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please
give us some of your oil because our
lamps are going out.’
“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have
enough for all of us. Go to a shop and
buy some for yourselves.’
Matthew 25:10-13
“But while they were gone to buy oil,
the bridegroom came. Then those who
were ready went in with him to the
marriage feast, and the door was locked.
Later, when the other five young women
returned, they stood outside, calling,
‘Sir! Sir! Open the door for us!’
“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t
know you!’
“So you, too, must keep watch! Because
you do not know the day or hour of my
return.”
Sample Crafted Story
Jesus taught the people about what it
would be like when God comes to rule.
When God comes to rule, it will be like
ten young women at a wedding who took
their lamps and went to meet the
bridegroom for the bridal procession, as
was their custom. Five of them were
foolish, and five were wise. The five who
were foolish didn’t take enough oil for
their lamps, but the other five were wise
enough to take along extra oil.
The bridegroom was delayed, and the
young women were tired and fell asleep.
At midnight they heard a loud shout,
“Look, the bridegroom is coming!
Come out and meet him!” All the young
women got up and prepared their lamps.
Then the five foolish ones asked the
others, “Please give us some of your oil
because our lamps are going out.” But
the others said, “We don’t have enough
for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some
for yourselves.”
While they were gone to buy oil, the
bridegroom came. The young women
who had oil went in with him to the
marriage feast, and the door was locked.
Later, when the other five young women
returned, the stood outside calling, “Sir!
Sir! Let us in!” But the bridegroom
called out, “I don’t know you!”
Then Jesus said, “So keep watch,
because you don’t know when I’m
coming back!”
Why This Story?
late coming to claim the bride. This is
This story is part of a henna discipleship
story set, and is called “Be Ready for
His Return” in that set. This particular
story is meant to encourage believers to
be ready for Jesus’ return and the
establishment of God’s Kingdom.
the setting of this story. You may
include whatever parts of the setting are
necessary for your audience to
understand the full impact of the story.
Story Crafting
The original term “Kingdom of
God/Heaven” refers to the time when
God comes to rule his people. You may
state that in the story, as we did, if your
audience does not know what the
Kingdom of God/Heaven is.
The original term "bridesmaids” refers
to young women who have never been
married (i.e. “virgins”) who are guests in
the wedding. You should use whatever
word or phrase best conveys this idea.
In this story we have used a generic term
young women.
Oil lamps were used in this culture as
lights. You may describe these as
“lamps that burn oil” if necessary.
The original title “Lord, Lord!” was
changed to “Sir! Sir!” in this story to
clarify that the young women are
addressing the bridegroom with a term
of respect. You may use whatever title
is used as a term of respect in your
culture.
Worldview
In biblical culture, wedding guests
would wait in the bride’s house for the
groom to come claim her and take her
back to his home. When he arrived the
guests would carry bright lights and
accompany the bride and groom back to
the groom’s house for the rest of the
festivities. The groom was traditionally
Intra-Story Cohesion
If the others stories in your story set
include the concept of God’s Kingdom,
you should describe this in the same way
as you did in the other stories.
Story Set Themes
Kingdom of God
Marriage
Return/Second Coming
Parables
Wisdom