Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Alternative: Then the kingdom of heaven can be compared to ten maidens, who to their lamps and went out to escort the bridegroom.

We have moved to a new chapter, but Christ's lesson continues from the previous chapter, where he was asked what his presence signifies regarding what he took to mean the purpose of things. The themes of this chapter continue many of the themes, symbols, and ideas from the previous chapter.

As developed in the last chapter, light is Christ's metaphor for knowledge. In choosing to make this parable about "maidens," Christ is saying something very specific about the knowledge we give the next generation as they go off to search for their goals in life. Here, that goal is symbolized by the bridegroom, which also is a symbol for Christ.

Since so much of Christ's teaching is about the cycle of development, it might be worthwhile to use this opportunity to think about how Christ portrays the human life cycle.

In Mat 18:3 and Mat 18:4, he says we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. In Mat 19:14, he describes little children as like the kingdom of heaven. Interestingly, this previous verse is right after Mat 19:12, which Christ describes how the various ways men become eunuchs, incapable of fathering children.

Adults are usually described in relationships to the kingdom of heaven based upon their success in life. In Mat 20:1, the kingdom of heaven is comparied to a landowner. In Mat 13:45, it is compared to a merchant. And in Mat 13:44, to a treasure a man finds. However, in Mat 19:12, Christ says that being wealthy makes it harder to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Continuing this theme of success, the kingdom of heaven is often describe in terms of a king. Specifically in Mat 22:2 as a king arranging a marriage for his son. (However, in Mat 22:31, Christ says that in the afterlife, which may be different from the kingdom of heaven, there is no marriage.) In Mat 18:23 the kingdom is compared to a king taking account of his servants.

Finally, of course, in Mat 23:13, Christ says that religious leaders try to close off the kingdom of heaven to regular people. And as early as Mat 5:20, Christ says that we have to be better than these religious leaders if we are to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

"Like" is from homoioô (homoioo), which means "to make like," "to become like," "to liken," and "to compare.

"Virgins" is from parthenos, which means a "maiden," "girl," "virgin," "unmarried woman who isn't a virgin", "unmarried man," and as a adjective, meaning "maiden," and "chaste."

"Took" is from lambanô (lambano) which means "to take," "to receive," "to apprehend with the senses," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean seized with emotion.

"Lamp" is from lampas, which means "torch," "beacon light," "light," and any type of "lamp."

"Went forth" is from exerchomai, which means "to come or go out of " or "to come out."

"To meet" is from apantêsis (apantesis), which means "escort," "reply," "conversation," and "steadfastness in opposition."

"Bridegroom" is from numphios, which means "bridgegroom," "son-in-law," and "bridal."