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Author: Stephen Weller
607 words, 3 minutes read time

The Door to the Marriage Feast was Shut

Scripture: Matthew 25:5-11

In our previous lesson we left the ten virgins at the bride’s house waiting for the bridegroom and his friends to show up. The ten virgins had their lamps but only five were prepared by bringing a flask of oil for their lamp. In this lesson the five virgins without the flask of oil will soon find themselves in trouble.

^{Mt 25:5} As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

For some reason the bridegroom and his friends were delayed and those waiting at the bride’s house became drowsy and fell asleep. Then at midnight, like an alarm clock going off, there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” With a flurry of activity, everyone gets ready for the marriage ceremony.

⁷ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

As mentioned in the previous lesson, the lamps were dome-shaped torches that were fueled by rags soaked in oil. At this point the marriage ceremony was probably complete and preparations were being made to travel to the bridegroom’s house for the marriage feast. It was probably at that point that the unwise virgins realized they needed more oil for their lamps to see to travel.

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.’

When the foolish virgins ask the wise ones for some of their oil the response was no because they knew if they shared they would all be in the dark before they arrived at the bridegroom’s house, so they instructed the foolish virgins to go to the dealers and buy for themselves.

¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

This parable does not include the two events of a typical Jewish wedding. Usually, the invited guest assemble at the bride’s house and wait for the bridegroom and his friends to arrive, and when they do the marriage ceremony takes place. After that event, everyone travels to the bridegroom’s home to enjoy the marriage feast.

The point that is unknown is when did the foolish virgins realize they were going to need more oil for their lamps. Was it before or after the marriage ceremony? As mentioned above, it was probably after the marriage ceremony. If so, they would have been trying to secure more oil as the party traveled to the bridegroom’s house. Once the party arrived there and everything was ready and all the invited guest were inside at the table, the door was shut. It was then the foolish virgins finally arrived. Finding the door closed they cry out for the Lord to open the door for them.

Conclusion

The marriage ceremony has taken place at the bride’s house and then the party, minus the foolish virgins who were trying to secure oil for their lamps, arrived at the bridegroom’s house for the marriage feast. The invited guest assembled inside, and the door was closed. Sometime later the foolish virgins arrived and find the door closed to them. What will happen next?