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
Mere Christianity
Lewis lays out the core beliefs of the Christian faith with clarity, logic, and imagination, rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Holiness
A rich, pastoral treatment of sin, sanctification, and the fight for holiness in the Christian life, deeply rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Holiness of God
Sproul unfolds the blazing holiness of God and why a right fear of the Lord is vital to true worship.
View on Amazon
Chosen by God
A clear, pastoral explanation of biblical election and God's sovereignty in salvation.
View on Amazon
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Walks through Paul's prayers to teach believers how to pray biblically and God-centeredly.
View on Amazon
Knowing Scripture
Teaches how to interpret the Bible rightly, emphasizing its clarity and our responsibility to study it.
View on Amazon
The Gospel for Real Life
Shows how the finished work of Christ applies to everyday struggles and assurance.
View on Amazon
Future Grace
Argues that faith in God's future grace frees believers from the enslaving power of sin.
View on Amazon
Redemption Accomplished and Applied
A concise, biblical study of Christ's atonement and the application of salvation to believers.
View on Amazon
Communion with God
Explores how believers enjoy distinct fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
View on Amazon
The Gospel According to Jesus
Defends a biblical understanding of faith and repentance against easy-believism.
View on Amazon
A Body of Divinity
A warm, devotional exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism's doctrines.
View on Amazon
The Heidelberg Catechism
A beloved Reformation catechism that teaches comfort in Christ through a Q&A format.
View on Amazon
God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment
Argues that God's glory in salvation through judgment is the central theme of Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
A Puritan classic on learning contentment in God in every circumstance.
View on Amazon
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Encourages and equips Christians to share the gospel faithfully and simply.
View on Amazon
Counterfeit Gods
Exposes modern idols of the heart and points to Christ as our true treasure.
View on Amazon