bridesmaids

April 7, 2019

Be ready! (Lk 12:35-12:35)

“Be dressed

For action!

Have your lamps

Lit!”

 

Ἔστωσαν ὑμῶν αἱ ὀσφύες περιεζωσμέναι καὶ οἱ λύχνοι καιόμενοι·

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said to them that they should have their clothes dressed for action (Ἔστωσαν ὑμῶν αἱ ὀσφύες περιεζωσμέναι).  They should have their lamps burning with light (καὶ οἱ λύχνοι καιόμενοι).  There was something similar in Matthew chapter 25:1, about having lamps lit.  There Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven would be like 10 bridesmaids, having lamps with them, waiting to meet the bridegroom.  They were to be an escort in a procession to the bride’s house and then to the wedding banquet with their lit candles.  However, there was nothing in Matthew about being dressed for action.  Are you always dressed and ready for action?

July 2, 2018

They all got up (Mt 25:7-25:7)

“Then all those bridesmaids

Got up.

They trimmed

Their lamps.”

 

τότε ἠγέρθησαν πᾶσαι αἱ παρθένοι ἐκεῖναι καὶ ἐκόσμησαν τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶν.

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus continued with this parable.  All those 10 bridesmaids got up (τότε ἠγέρθησαν πᾶσαι αἱ παρθένοι ἐκεῖναι).  They trimmed or decorated their lamps so that they would be in good order (καὶ ἐκόσμησαν τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶν) for the procession.  All of these 10 bridesmaids tried to get their lamps or lanterns ready.

July 2, 2018

The bridegroom comes (Mt 25:6-25:6)

“But at midnight,

There was a shout.

‘Look!

Here is the bridegroom!

Come out to meet him!’”

 

μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς κραυγὴ γέγονεν Ἰδοὺ ὁ νυμφίος, ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν.

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus continued with his parable about the 10 bridesmaids.  He said that at midnight, the middle of the night (μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς), there was a shout (κραυγὴ γέγονεν).  The bridegroom was coming (Ἰδοὺ ὁ νυμφίος), so that they were to go out to meet or receive him (ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν).  The bridegroom, probably the Son of Man or Jesus, was coming.  They were all to go out to receive him.

July 2, 2018

They all fell asleep (Mt 25:5-25:5)

“As the bridegroom

Was delayed,

All of them

Became drowsy.

They slept.”

 

χρονίζοντος δὲ τοῦ νυμφίου ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι καὶ ἐκάθευδον

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus said that the bridegroom was delayed (χρονίζοντος δὲ τοῦ νυμφίου) in coming to pick up the bride.  Thus, both the foolish and the wise bridesmaids became drowsy (ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι) and fell asleep (καὶ ἐκάθευδον).  All of these bridesmaids were tired of waiting for the bridegroom to come, so that they all fell asleep.

July 2, 2018

Half wise and half foolish (Mt 25:2-25:2)

“Five of them

Were foolish.

Five of them

Were wise.”

 

πέντε δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἦσαν μωραὶ καὶ πέντε φρόνιμοι.

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus said that 5 of these bridesmaids were foolish or stupid (πέντε δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἦσαν μωραὶ), while 5 were wise, intelligent, sensible or prudent (καὶ πέντε φρόνιμοι).  Thus, we have the wise prudent sensible ones and the foolish or stupid ones, equally split among these maidens.  This was like a metaphor for all humans, since half were good and half were bad.