What does Matthew 25:11 mean?

The wedding feast has begun. The groom the young women had been waiting for has arrived, collected his bride, and entered the home with all who are present. The door has been shut with only half of those young women waiting inside (Matthew 25:1–10).

Jesus described the other five young women as foolish, thanks to their lack of preparation. They did not bring enough oil for their lamps in case the groom was delayed, and he was. Those who did bring enough oil did not have enough to share. So, the other five have gone off to buy oil, trying to meet the requirements of the wedding procession at the last moment.

After finding what they should have had in the first place, those five finally arrive at the wedding feast. This is an event to which they were invited, but not one for which they were prepared. They call through the closed door, saying "Open to us." Understandably, the doors will not be opened. In the context of the wedding, itself, it would be unsafe to allow others in well after the procession has ended and the doors have been locked. Those who properly prepared to be there are inside, already.

The unprepared, foolish ones have missed the feast because they did not prepare for the groom's arrival ahead of time.