from The Authorized Version 1611

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Five young women cared enough about a man’s wedding-day to make the smallest of sacrifices, and received the best of rewards.

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Introduction

The Parable of the Ten Virgins was told as a caution to those who think that conscientious preparation for the Hereafter is unnecessary. Five young women hired as lamp-bearers for a Jewish wedding assumed they could beg, borrow or buy oil when the time came.

from The Authorized Version 1611

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.* While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.*

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* Oil was precious commodity. The foolish virgins hoped to save on domestic expenses and beg oil from the bridegroom or from the other virgins.

* To make the lamps burn bright and clean for the ceremony, their wicks had to be cut down.

Précis

A bridegroom engaged ten young women to carry lamps at his wedding. Five cared enough to bring their own oil from home, but the others did not. As it happened, the bridegroom was delayed, and all ten virgins fell asleep waiting for him. When at last he came, they jumped to their feet and starting preparing their lamps.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

A man was to be married. He invited ten young women. He asked each one to carry a lamp.

Clay Lane The Copybook