In this parable, ten virgins — five prudent and five foolish — took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. While waiting for him, all ten virgins fell asleep. However, when the bridegroom finally arrived, only the prudent virgins had brought oil to trim their lamps and enter the wedding feast with the groom. To keep their lamps from going out, the foolish virgins had to go buy more oil, but consequently missed their opportunity to enter. Even when they returned later, the door was already shut and they were denied entry.
Parable of the Talents
In this parable, a master calls his servants and entrusts them each with talents (five, two, and one) according to their ability. Then, the master goes away on a journey. When he returns, he settles accounts with his servants.
The servants who had received two and five talents both used what they had been given to earn more. Regardless of whether they earned two more or five more, both were praised by the master in the same way. However, the servant who hid his one talent in the ground and did nothing with it was rebuked. In the end, not only was his talent taken away and given to another, but he himself was cast into outer darkness.
Parable of the Sheep & Goats
This parable details the judgment that will take place in the end. When the Son of Man comes, He will judge all mankind, separating the nations as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Each group of people is rewarded or punished according to their deeds. The main distinction between the two highlights the importance of humbly showing love to one another, especially because Jesus warned that the love of many will grow cold in the end times (Mt 24:12).