Summary of Matthew 25:1-13

10 virgins:

5 were wise

5 were fools

Bridegroom:

Christ

Bridegroom preparation:

• they would light the pathway to the door when he was coming to the house the night of the wedding.
• When the five virgins were not prepared, they asked for oil but they were refused and advised to go to the city and get more oil.
• By the time they came back to the house, the bridegroom had already come and when He answered the door he turned to them and said, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.”
• Having oil in our lamps simply means we are having a prepared life. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” v.13
• We need to be ready for the coming of Christ.

Summary Matthew 25:14-30

Rich man:

God

Talents:

Gifts, abilities, and actual talents God has given us.

Servants:

Us

• The rich man gives his servants talents (a good amount of money). To the first one he gives five talents, to the second one he gives two talents, and to the third one he gives one talent. The first two servants invest in funds and bring more value to their talents whereas the third servant dug his talents up.
• The point of this parable is to state that God gives us gifts and actual talents and what we do with those talents, gifts, and abilities is very important. We can either let those talents go to waste or we can use it and let our gifts mean something to us and the people around us.

In the Matthean Community, I think these parables would be looked at as guidelines to a way of life. Both these parables go hand in hand. In the beginning of the chapter it talks about how we need to have a relationship with God and how we need to make that relationship our own. Then the second half of the chapter talks about how when we have a relationship with God, he gives us gifts and talents and how we should use those talents and not let them go to waste.