Albert N. Martin

Now the Parable of the Ten Virgins is obviously set in the customs and practice connected with first-century Palestinian life and culture. And while it is fascinating to investigate the cultural particularities of weddings of that time and place, the great end for which the parable was given to us would be lost if we paused to engage in what would otherwise be innocent antiquarian pursuits.

So I want us to come directly to the passage, pausing to explain certain contemporary first century Palestinian customs only so far as such explanations are absolutely necessary to make plain the meaning of the text. We plunge first of all into the parable by considering, as we must always do with any portion of the Word of God but particularly with parables, the setting or the circumstances in which this parable was given.

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