“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” — Matthew 25:13 (NKJV)
A significant difference exists between waiting for something and being ready for it. We can know something is coming, even expect it, and still be completely unprepared when it finally arrives. This is the warning Jesus gives in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
The parable of the foolish virgins is closely connected to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24, where He repeatedly warns His disciples to be ready for His return. In Matthew 24:42, He commands, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Again, in verse 44, He declares, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” The parable of the ten virgins illustrates how serious these warnings are.
All ten virgins were waiting for the bridegroom. All ten had lamps. All ten expected him to come. Yet only five were prepared for his arrival. The wise virgins had made the necessary preparations by bringing additional oil in case the bridegroom was delayed. The foolish virgins had not. They apparently assumed that what they had would be sufficient.
When the bridegroom was delayed, both groups fell asleep. Interestingly, Jesus does not condemn them for sleeping. The difference between the wise and foolish was not that one group remained awake while the other slept. The difference was that one group was prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival, and the other was not.
This reveals an important truth: Watching is more than waiting. Watching is a posture of readiness. Waiting simply acknowledges that something is coming, but watching means living in anticipation of its arrival. It is an active, intentional way of life shaped by the expectation that Christ could return at any moment. The wise virgins demonstrated this through their preparation. They did not merely expect the bridegroom to come; they made sure they were ready whenever he arrived.
The foolish virgins were also waiting for the bridegroom, but they were not truly watching because they had failed to prepare for his coming. Their expectation had not produced readiness. When the announcement finally came that the bridegroom had arrived, they discovered their mistake. Unfortunately, it was too late. While they went to purchase oil, the bridegroom came; those who were ready entered the wedding celebration, and the door was shut.
Perhaps the most sobering words in the parable are the bridegroom’s response when the foolish virgins returned: “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” (v. 12). The tragedy was not that they had failed to anticipate his arrival. They had been waiting for him all along. The tragedy was that they had mistaken expectation for preparation. They discovered too late that simply waiting for the bridegroom did not mean they were ready to meet him.
Jesus does not use this parable to explain in detail how a person becomes ready for His return. Rather, He emphasizes the absolute necessity of being ready before He comes. There will be no opportunity to make preparations after His arrival. The time to be ready is now.
This raises an important question for each of us: Are we merely waiting for Christ to return, or are we truly watching for Him? It is possible to believe that Jesus is coming again, attend church, participate in religious activities, and even speak enthusiastically about His return without genuinely belonging to Him. Outward association with Christ and His people is not the same as a saving relationship with Him.
True readiness begins with repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Those who belong to Him are called to live in continual anticipation of His return. This anticipation should shape how we think, how we live, what we value, and how we spend our time. We do not prepare ourselves for His return by earning our salvation through good works. Rather, genuine faith produces a life characterized by watchfulness, obedience, and perseverance.
So, what does practical readiness look like?
First, examine your relationship with Christ. Do not assume you are ready simply because you attend church, know the Scriptures, or have made a profession of faith. Ask yourself whether you genuinely trust Christ for salvation and submit to Him as Lord. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul admonishes believers to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith. The most important preparation for Christ’s return is not knowing when He will come, but knowing the One who is coming.
Second, deal with sin today rather than putting off repentance until tomorrow. If you know of sin in your life, do not excuse it or assume you will address it later. If you need to forgive someone, forgive them. If you need to make right a wrong, take the necessary steps. If you have been resisting God’s Word, surrender to it. Watching for Christ means refusing to grow comfortable with the very things He came to save us from.
Third, be faithful in the responsibilities Christ has given you. Readiness does not mean abandoning ordinary life to sit and wait for His return. It means faithfully serving Him in the life He has entrusted to you. Love your family. Serve your church. Share the gospel. Work with integrity. Use your gifts for His glory. The faithful servant in Matthew 24:45–46 is blessed because his master finds him doing what he was entrusted to do. We should desire to be found doing the same.
Fourth, live with eternity in view. Much of what consumes our attention today will have little significance when Christ returns. Yet we often devote tremendous energy to temporary concerns while neglecting eternal priorities. Ask yourself: Am I investing more in what I will eventually leave behind than in what will matter when I stand before Christ? Watching requires us to regularly examine our priorities and make decisions in light of eternity.
Finally, cultivate a genuine anticipation of Christ’s return. We should not think about His coming only when studying prophecy or discussing world events. His return should be a living hope that encourages holiness, strengthens perseverance, and motivates faithful service. Titus 2:11–13 connects godly living with “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” We are not merely waiting for an event on God’s calendar. We are anticipating the return of our Savior.
The question is not whether Christ will return. He has promised that He will. Nor is the question when He will return, for Jesus has already told us that we do not know the day or the hour. The question is whether we will be ready when He comes.
Jesus concludes with a simple but urgent command: “Watch therefore.” Do not confuse knowing about His return with being prepared for it. Do not allow the apparent delay of His coming to produce spiritual complacency. And do not assume that there will always be more time.
Perhaps the most practical way to apply this parable is to ask yourself a simple question each morning: If Christ returned today, would He find me faithfully living for Him? Would He find me walking in obedience to His Word? Would He find me loving others, resisting sin, and fulfilling the responsibilities He has given me? Would He find me living for His glory or simply pursuing my own interests?
These questions are not intended to make genuine believers live in constant fear of losing their salvation. Rather, they challenge us to examine whether our profession of faith is genuine and whether our lives reflect the hope we claim to possess.
Christ is coming again. Those who are ready will enter into the joy of His presence. Those who are not will tragically discover that the opportunity has passed. Do not simply wait for Christ’s return. Watch for Him. Let your anticipation of His coming transform how you live today.
A Question for Reflection: If Jesus Christ returned today, what would my priorities, habits, and relationships reveal about my readiness to meet Him?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise that Jesus Christ will return. Forgive us for the times we have allowed the concerns and distractions of this world to diminish our anticipation of His coming. Guard us against the false confidence of outward religion without genuine faith. Help us to examine our hearts, repent of sin, faithfully fulfill our responsibilities, and live with eternity in view. May our anticipation of Christ’s return be reflected in the way we live each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
