PARABLE ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 

The Bible says, “Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” (Rev. 19:9)

Jesus often spoke to the public using parables. Parables were used as an easy and interesting way to understand the morals hidden in the message. According to the ages, their traditional customs and common methods of life were indicated in these parables.

Most of His public was the Pharisees, Jews, Priests and disciples.  Since the Greatest Teacher, did not want his listeners to be professors or doctorates, but wished his words and teachings to penetrate into their hearts deeply and shake their attitude. His one and only intention was to give them a contrite heart.

That’s why even today when we read or meditate the parables, it touches and pierces our attitude.

Jesus gives individual message in His teachings, so that we can be conscious about our thoughts and deeds.

"At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be like this. Once there were ten girls who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, while the wise ones took containers full of oils for their lamps. The bridegroom was late in coming, so the girls began to nod and fall asleep. "It was already midnight when the cry rang out. 'Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him! ‘The ten girls woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out."  "No, indeed" the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the shop and buy some for yourselves." So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived! The five girls who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was closed. Later the other girls arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!" they cried out. 'Certainly not! I don't know you.' the bridegroom answered.  And Jesus concluded, "Be on your guard, then, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matt. 25:1-13)

Procession has an important role in Jews’ festival. As per their tradition, the bridegroom and his companions would arrive at the bride’s place with a lit lamp in their hands. No prior information would be given to the bride’s family or home. Since they usually arrive late night, the bride and her group would wait wide awake with their lamps lit. Once the bridegroom arrives to take them, they both return with a procession to the bridegroom’s house.

Everyone who joins the procession must hold a bright lit lamp and those who failed to do so would be considered an insult to the bridegroom.

In this parable, the banquet hall is compared to the Kingdom of God.   The ten girls represent the bride’s family members.The arrival of the bridegroom represents the second coming of our Lord Jesus.

In the Book of Revelation 19:9, we read, “Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

In short, girls who did not have the oil in their lamp were disqualified from the feast and were called foolish. Though they tried borrowing oil from the wise girls, they were not successful lest the wise girls’ lamps too run short of oil.

What does the author convey to us?

The second coming of Jesus would be sudden and unexpected. To enter the specially prepared and adorned Kingdom of God, every faithful mankind need to possess a ever shining lamp prepared by the glow of their life i.e. the careful, virtual life by obeying His commandments.

“Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it:  Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matt: 22:27)

In Luke 14:28, the Bible says, “If one of you is planning to build a tower, he sits down first and works out what it will cost, to see if he has enough money to finish the job.”

“When Judgement Day comes, many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord! In Your Name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people.’ ’’ (Matt. 7:22-23)

Similarly, we read in the parable that after the door was closed, the girls were knocking and pleading to the bridegroom to let them in but the bridegroom answers, “Certainly not! I don’t know you.”

As a virgin oil is extracted from the source and processed, so also a proper devotional life pleasing God produces the oil to keep our lamps (heart) shining brightly and this burning light is the result of various timely corrections, teachings, instructions through the readings of the Holy Bible, even scolding’s from  parents and spiritual teachers. This virgin oil that is processed within each of us cannot be borrowed.

If all these corrections  have been happily accepted and brought changes in your life pattern then you will be invited to enjoy the wedding feast of the Lamb and if you refuse, reject or are careless about the corrections you will be disqualified from entering the banquet hall.

It is certain that our Lord Jesus will come again to judge the people but the year, day or time will not be published. It will be a day of individual judgment too.

So unlike the foolish girls, let us value the invitation, and fulfill our responsibilities with an aim to light and bright the lamp, taking care to fill it with the most pure oil, so that we are ready to accept the bridegroom and join His procession.

May God bless you to be vigilant at all times and give you the courage to fulfill the responsibility of your status. May He make you wise enough to take a good decision till we enter the Feast of the Lamb.