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.
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.
