This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Matthew 25:1-13, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Jesus told His disciples a story to teach them about the kingdom of heaven. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like ten girls who were waiting for a bridegroom. They all had lamps with them. Five of the girls were wise, and five were not so wise. The wise girls brought extra oil for their lamps, but the others did not.
The bridegroom was taking a long time to come, so all the girls fell asleep. But suddenly, in the middle of the night, they heard a shout, ‘Here comes the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’ So, all the girls got up and started to get ready.
The foolish girls realized they didn’t have enough oil to keep their lamps burning, so they asked the wise girls if they could have some of their oil. But the wise girls said, ‘No, we only have enough for ourselves. You should go and buy some more oil for yourselves.’
So, the foolish girls went to buy more oil, and while they were away, the bridegroom arrived. The wise girls went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
Later, the other girls also came and said, “Lord, please let us in.” But the bridegroom said, “I don’t know you.”
So, Jesus said to always be ready, because we don’t know when He will come.
Biblical Lessons
- Be prepared and ready for Jesus’ return.
- We need to take our faith seriously and not be careless about it.
- We should not assume that we have plenty of time to get ready for Jesus’ return.
- We cannot borrow someone else’s faith or spiritual preparedness.
- It’s important to be discerning and wise in our spiritual lives.
Related Stories
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Must-Read Christian Books
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Practical, biblical guidance on disciplines like prayer, Bible intake, worship, and fasting to grow in godliness.
View on Amazon
Pilgrim Theology
An accessible summary of Reformed theology that connects doctrine to the Christian life.
View on Amazon
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
A robust, Scripture-saturated theology of prayer with practical guidance for deepening communion with God.
View on Amazon
Faith Alone
Defends justification by faith alone as the heart of the biblical gospel and Reformation.
View on Amazon
Finally Alive
A biblical exploration of the new birth and why regeneration is at the heart of the Christian life.
View on Amazon
Respectable Sins
Exposes the "ordinary" sins Christians often tolerate and calls us to gospel-driven holiness.
View on Amazon
Future Grace
Argues that faith in God's future grace frees believers from the enslaving power of sin.
View on Amazon
Let the Nations Be Glad!
Missions-focused theology showing that worship is the goal of evangelism to the nations.
View on Amazon
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
Outlines nine biblical priorities for congregations that want to be faithful and healthy.
View on Amazon
The Mortification of Sin
A Puritan classic urging believers to put sin to death by the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
Just Do Something
A wise, biblical approach to knowing God's will without paralysis or mysticism.
View on Amazon
The Sovereignty of God
A strong, Scripture-based defense of God's absolute rule over all things.
View on Amazon
All of Grace
A simple, powerful explanation of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.
View on Amazon
Christian Beliefs
A shorter, accessible overview of 20 basic Christian doctrines for everyday believers.
View on Amazon
Expository Listening
Teaches Christians how to listen to expository preaching in a way that bears fruit.
View on Amazon
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
Shows how the gospel frees us from self-obsession to live in joy and service.
View on Amazon
Christian Mission in the Modern World
Clarifies key biblical concepts like evangelism, mission, and social action.
View on Amazon
Family Worship
A short, practical guide to leading your home in daily worship of God.
View on Amazon