Bible Reading
Matthew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
[22:59]Luke 10:25-37 “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
[24:23]Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 “Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.”
[22:23]Observation questions
- In Wisdom of Solomon 6:12–16, how does wisdom make herself available to those who seek her? What details suggest that she also seeks them? [22:23]
- In Matthew 25:1–13, what do all ten bridesmaids experience, and what difference becomes clear when the bridegroom arrives? [23:13]
- In Luke 10:25–37, what practical actions turn the Samaritan’s compassion into care for the wounded stranger? How does his use of oil connect with mercy? [24:23]
- Who benefits from the bridesmaids’ lamps during the procession, and how does that help explain the outward direction of mercy? [26:32]
Interpretation questions
- Since all ten bridesmaids fall asleep, what might readiness for Christ involve beyond staying constantly alert or never growing tired? [23:13]
- When the oil is understood as a picture of practiced mercy, how does that help explain why it cannot be borrowed at the last minute? How is this different from treating the refusal to share as permission to be selfish? [25:39]
- How does the Samaritan’s response show that compassion can begin before someone fully understands another person? What does his example suggest about the difference between loving everyone and remaining neutral when someone is being harmed? [30:44]
- How can the closed door in Matthew 25 be taken seriously without concluding that God’s mercy has run out? What warning does it offer about repeatedly putting off acts of compassion? [32:08]
Application questions
- Think of a recent moment when someone caught you off guard or hurt your feelings. What shaped your first response, and what might a merciful response look like if something similar happens again? [22:03]
- Mercy grows through practice rather than being borrowed from someone else. Is there a relationship in which you tend to leave the patient, compassionate work to another person? What small part of that work could you take on yourself? [25:39]
- Whose language, grief, or choices do you find difficult to understand? What could it look like to offer that person compassion without first needing every question answered? [30:14]
- Is there a situation in your family, workplace, or community where staying out of a conflict leaves someone without support? What might standing alongside the person being hurt look like, while still refusing hatred toward the person causing harm? [29:22]
- When you notice yourself becoming less patient or compassionate, what usually lies underneath that change? How might remembering God as the source of mercy help you respond, and what support could you ask this group for? [32:27]
- Who is easy to overlook at the edges of your daily life? What small, specific act of mercy could you offer that person this week, and what might help you follow through? [33:47]
