The Greatest Disappointment: Are You Ready for the Return of Jesus?

Jesus told a story about ten bridesmaids waiting for a groom. Five were ready. Five were not. When the groom finally arrived, the door was shut on those who were unprepared, and the words spoken to them were devastating: "I do not know you." This parable, found in Matthew 25, carries one of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture.

What Is the Parable of the Ten Virgins About?

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and brought extra oil. Five were foolish and did not. When the bridegroom was delayed and finally arrived at midnight, the foolish ones had run out of oil and were not ready to join the procession.

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'" - Matthew 25:10-12

Those are some of the most frightening words in the Bible. And Jesus ends the parable with a direct command: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." - Matthew 25:13

Why Did Jesus Tell This Parable?

This parable is part of what is known as the Olivet Discourse, a teaching Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives when His disciples asked about the signs of His coming and the end of the age. It is recorded in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

Jesus made it clear that no one knows the exact day or hour of His return, not even the angels. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." - Matthew 24:36

Life will be going on as normal when He returns. People will be eating, drinking, and going about their daily routines, just as they were in the days of Noah before the flood came. The point is not that things will be chaotic and obvious. The point is that many will be caught completely off guard.

What Does the Oil Represent?

In the context of this parable, the oil represents the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit. The question Jesus is really asking is: Are you staying full of the Holy Spirit? Are you maintaining your relationship with God, or have you let it run dry?

The wise bridesmaids did not just show up. They prepared. They brought an ample supply of oil so their torches would burn brightly throughout the entire procession. The foolish ones may have looked the part on the outside, but they were not truly ready when it mattered most.

What Does It Mean to Be the Bride of Christ?

The church is the bride of Christ. This is not just a poetic idea. It carries real weight and responsibility. The book of Ezekiel paints a powerful picture of God finding a helpless, abandoned child, breathing life into her, washing her clean, clothing her in fine garments, and raising her to become His bride.

That is what God has done for every believer. He found us in our sin and shame, washed us clean, and called us His own. And now, as His bride, we are in a season of preparation. We are in the engagement period, waiting for the wedding day when Christ returns.

The question is: Are we preparing ourselves like a bride who is eagerly waiting for her groom? Or have we grown careless and distracted?

What Did a Jewish Wedding Procession Look Like?

Understanding the cultural background of this parable brings it to life. In Jewish wedding customs, the groom would leave his home with his entourage and travel to the bride's home. After the ceremony, the wedding procession would return to the groom's home for the wedding feast, often at night, with torches lighting the way.

The torches were typically rags soaked in oil attached to a stick. If properly soaked, they would burn for a long time. If not, they would burn out quickly, which would be an embarrassment to the entire procession and an insult to the bride and groom.

The bridesmaids had one job: bring a torch and enough oil. Their failure to do so was not a small oversight. It was a sign that they were not truly committed to honoring the groom.

Were the Wise Bridesmaids Being Selfish?

Some have questioned whether the wise bridesmaids were being selfish by refusing to share their oil. But that misses the point entirely. They could not share their oil because there simply was not enough for everyone, and dimming all the torches would have ruined the entire procession.

The selfishness was on the part of the foolish bridesmaids. They had the same opportunity to prepare. They had the same amount of time. They simply chose not to take it seriously. Their negligence was the problem, not the generosity of the wise.

What Happens When the Door Is Shut?

When the foolish bridesmaids finally returned with oil, it was too late. The door was shut. And when they cried out, "Lord, Lord, open to us," the groom responded with words that should shake every one of us: "I do not know you."

This connects directly to Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus says: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" - Matthew 7:21-23

There will be people who called Jesus Lord. People who did good works. People who thought they were just as good as anyone else. And yet they will hear those devastating words: I never knew you.

Is Going to Church Enough to Get Into Heaven?

Going to church is important. The Bible is clear: "Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25

But church attendance alone does not save anyone. Reading a Bible does not save anyone. Doing good works does not save anyone. What matters is a genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ. One that lines up with what Scripture actually teaches. One where He is truly Lord, not just a label we wear when it is convenient.

The Bible is also clear that every person will stand before God in judgment. "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." - Hebrews 9:27

The question is not whether you are a good person by the world's standards. The question is whether your name is written in the Book of Life. The only righteousness that counts before God is the righteousness of Christ placed on those who have truly surrendered to Him.

What Does It Mean to Stay Full of the Holy Spirit?

Staying full of the Holy Spirit is not about outward religious performance. It is about the daily, consistent pursuit of God. It looks like:

• Starting each day in prayer and time with God
• Reading and meditating on Scripture regularly
• Making Jesus the first priority, not an afterthought
• Being committed to gathering with other believers
• Examining your heart honestly and asking whether you are truly ready

The delay of the bridegroom in the parable was not an accident. It was an opportunity. An opportunity for everyone to get ready. The foolish bridesmaids had time. They simply did not use it wisely.

The same is true today. Every day that passes before Christ returns is an opportunity to get right, stay ready, and keep your lamp burning.

Life Application

This week, take an honest inventory of your spiritual life. Not compared to other people, but compared to what God's Word calls you to. The challenge is simple but serious: do one concrete thing this week to refill your oil. Set aside intentional time each morning to pray before anything else. Open your Bible and read it with the expectation that God will speak. Come to church not out of habit but out of hunger.

The bridesmaids had one task. Bring a torch and enough oil. Your task is not complicated either. Stay close to Jesus. Stay full of His Spirit. Stay ready.

Ask yourself these questions honestly:

• If Jesus returned today, would I be ready to join the procession, or would I be scrambling to find oil at the last minute?
• Is Jesus truly first in my daily life, or do I fit Him in when it is convenient?
• Do I have a genuine relationship with Christ that lines up with Scripture, or am I relying on good behavior and church attendance to carry me through?
• When was the last time I spent real, unhurried time with God in prayer and in His Word?

The door will not always be open. The procession will not wait forever. Now is the time to make sure your lamp is full and burning bright.