Matthew 25:1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ¹ten virgins who took their lamps^[a] and went to meet ²the bridegroom. ^[b]

2 Five of them were foolish, and five were ³wise.

3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom ⁴was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But ⁵at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. ’

7 Then all those virgins rose and ⁶trimmed 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. ’

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and ⁷those who were ready went in with him to ⁸the marriage feast, and ⁹the door was shut.

11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ¹⁰‘Lord, lord, open to us. ’

12 ¹¹But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, ¹²I do not know you. ’

13 ¹³Watch therefore, for you ¹⁴know neither the day nor the hour.

Cross References

• 1. 25:1 Luke 19:13
• 2. 25:1 ch. 9:15; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9
• 3. 25:2 [See ch. 24:45 above]
• 4. 25:5 ch. 24:48; [ver. 19; Heb. 10:37; 2 Pet. 3:4, 9]
• 5. 25:6 Mark 13:35
• 6. 25:7 [Luke 12:35]
• 7. 25:10 ch. 24:44
• 8. 25:10 ch. 22:2
• 9. 25:10 For ver. 10-12, [Luke 13:25-27]
• 10. 25:11 [ch. 7:22, 23]
• 11. 25:12 [See ver. 11 above]
• 12. 25:12 ch. 10:33; [2 Tim. 2:19]
• 13. 25:13 ch. 24:42
• 14. 25:13 [ch. 24:50]

Footnotes

• [a] 25:1 Or 'torches'
• [b] 25:1 Some manuscripts add 'and the bride'