Today's gospel text is taken from the fifth and final of Matthew's teaching discourses. In chapters 23-25, the writer focuses on issues of eschatology, offering both admonitions and advice.

There is some debate about the basic nature of the "parable of the 10 bridesmaids" we read today. Some have traditionally viewed it as an allegory, while others have read it as pure parable. Certainly Matthew's text introduces this story in the traditional parable style the kingdom of heaven will be like this....

Yet it is also evident that the images invoked in the story have specific symbolic meanings. Although elements of both parable and allegory are present in the story of the 10 virgins, the scale may be tipped slightly in favor of an allegorical image, due to the author's presumption that certain…