Watchful Slaves

³⁵ “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;^(A)

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore prepare your minds for action;^[a] discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.^(A)

⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.^{(A) 6} But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those young women^[a] got up and trimmed their lamps.^{(B) 8} The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.^(C)

¹⁴ Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness^(A)

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women^[a] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.^[b](A)

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.^(A)

¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world,^(A)