Matthew 25:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

NIV: At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

NASB: But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’

CSB: "In the middle of the night there was a shout: 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.'

NLT: At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

KJV: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

NKJV: “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

Jesus' story now reaches the crucial moment. Ten young, unmarried women have been waiting for the groom to arrive. They have gathered to meet him. He may have been coming to collect his bride and meet the wedding party before all of them walked back to his home for the wedding feast after dark. However, the groom has been delayed (Mathew 25:1–5).

Weddings in the ancient era did not necessarily run on a precise schedule. They were multi-day events. The groom, expected earlier in the evening, has finally arrived at midnight. The young women have fallen asleep and now hear the call to come out and meet the bridegroom. Of the ten women, five of them have not been wise: they did not bring extra oil for their lights, in case their wait was longer than expected. That lack of preparation is about to cost them their evening at the feast.

Matthew 25:1–13 presents Jesus' parable of the ten virgins. These unmarried young women gather to wait for the groom to arrive during a wedding celebration. They plan to join in a procession to a great feast when he comes after dark. Five of the young women foolishly forgot to bring sufficient oil for their lights. When the groom arrives, they scramble to get more oil but are not admitted to the feast when arriving late. Jesus urges His followers to be prepared and watch for His return.

Jesus uses two additional parables to illustrate a state of constant readiness for His return after He has gone. His followers should be working for Him while they wait. They must not be like the foolish young women who missed a wedding feast because they forgot oil for their lamps. They must be like the servants who doubled their harsh master's investments while He was away. Jesus concludes with a third descriptive passage, showing how He will judge between the righteous and evil when He returns as King.

Matthew 25 concludes the "Olivet Discourse:" Jesus' teaching to the disciples about future things as they sit on the Mount of Olives. This follows His dire predictions about the Temple and Jerusalem in chapter 24. He gives two more parables to emphasize that they must be prepared for His return. Finally, Jesus describes the moment of His return, after a time of tribulation, when He will judge all who live on earth at the beginning of His kingdom. This leads into Matthew's account of Jesus' Last Supper, betrayal, and arrest in chapter 26.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/7/2024 11:00:13 PM