The Parable of the Ten Virgins is set within the Eschatological Discourse. Jesus has just left the

temple at Jerusalem and is sitting on the Mount of Olives when he begins telling about the signs of the end times. There are two parables before this one about being wise and watchful. One is more of a direct warning from Jesus to be ready when the Son comes, as it will be completely unexpected. What Jesus means by being “ready ” isn’t clarified until we read the next parable, which speaks of two servants, a faithful and wise one and an unfaithful, wicked one. The faithful servant is at work when his master returns; the unfaithful servant is getting drunk and beating other slaves. From there Jesus goes into the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Immediately following the Parable of the Ten Virgins is the similar Parable of the Talents. The Parable of the Talents, like the Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Slaves, speaks about working while the master or man is gone. In the Parable of the Talents, hearers are instructed to put to use what the master gives you while he is away. In analyzing this parable, it is necessary to understand the marriage traditions of Jesus ’ day. There were two stages: betrothal and the marriage itself. Betrothal was considered a legal contract; there was no getting out of it (Hultgren, 170; Mounce, 233). The second stage is what this parable centers around, the actual marriage feast. In Jewish tradition, the marriage feas