Drowsy

Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of Ten Bridesmaids

Jesus was a great storyteller and used stories (parables) as sermon illustrations when he was preaching and teaching. Sometimes Jesus’ parables are difficult to understand because we are far removed from the culture in which it was written.
 
You may find it helpful to know some details about first-century Jewish wedding culture, which is this story’s context. Before the wedding feast, the groom goes to the bride’s home. The bridesmaids keep watch, and when they see him coming, they light their lamps to welcome him. The wedding takes place at the bride’s house, then the whole wedding party processes by lamplight to the groom’s house for the banquet.
 
However, in this story, the bridegroom is delayed. Like all weddings, there are snafus that don’t go according to plan. While the bridesmaids are waiting for him, they fall asleep. When the groom arrives in the middle of the night, half of them weren’t prepared for the longer waiting time. In the previous chapters of Matthew, Jesus preaches about his return, and the original audience was deeply concerned about how to “keep awake” (v.13) for Christ. When read within the bigger context, this story might teach what we should do to prepare ourselves for the return of Christ.
 
Many have interpreted this parable to mean that heaven will be a place where only a few get in -- those who urgently prepare for Christ’s return to avoid Christ’s rejection. An interesting point to keep in mind is that the phrase “kingdom of heaven” means the same as “kingdom of God.” With that understanding, the kingdom of God is not only limited to heaven in the afterlife, but also is in the here and now.
 
The very first verse of this passage: “The kingdom of heaven will be like this” suggests a deeper meaning to this story. This story is a snapshot of what God’s kingdom looks like. However, one detail really bothers me that seems contrary to the kingdom of God. The five who came with extra oil were unwilling to share. They even sent the others away to purchase oil when the sellers were certainly closed for the night. Did they send them away knowing they couldn’t get more at midnight? Remember, it wasn’t the oil that gained them access to the banquet. The extra oil was to keep their lamps burning to welcome Christ. Their unwillingness to share made it impossible for the others to welcome Christ.
 
The five “foolish” bridesmaids were not the only ones who became drowsy and slept. The “wise” ones did too. They were only considered wise because they brought extra oil for the longer waiting time. Maybe they were considered wise because they brought enough to share. Were they still considered wise when they refused to share? Were they still welcoming Christ when they were not welcoming to others? Who truly are the wise ones?
 
Perhaps the story has many more layers and goes deeper than the context, which is notorious for many of Jesus’ stories. That’s what makes them timeless. If this story is really about what the kingdom of God is like, then I see the unifying trait as all of them became drowsy and slept. Despite the division of two groups, the labeling, and the rejecting, they all did the same thing while waiting for Christ. They got tired and fell asleep. And, when they were all awakened at the same time, they were all invited to “Come out to meet him” (v.6).
 
Their drowsiness is our drowsiness, humanity’s tendency to dose off when we have to wait. We are impatient. Our attention and interest wanes until we are awakened by the next loud voice. The kingdom of God/heaven is represented in this story when “all … got up and trimmed their lamps” (v.7) to welcome Christ. The kingdom of God is all people coming together in their shared humanity and welcoming Christ when he comes.     
 
Reflection questions:
Is there a detail in this story that bothers you? Which one?
Where do you see the kingdom of God in this story?
Where do you not see the kingdom of God?
 
Action: Explore in a journal or engage in a conversation with someone about what bothers you in this story in an attempt to work it out. Strive to come to a place to see it in a new way.