Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose 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, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.1
Not watching, house broken into by the thief, taken in judgment.
Master delayed, stops watching, parties with the culture, opposes faithful servants: cut in two and lumped with hypocrites, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Unprepared, shut out from the wedding feast, "I do not know you."
Unprofitable servant cast into outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Endnotes:
1. | NKJV, Mat. 25:1-13 |
2. | A typological hint as to the bride of the Lamb can also be found in a study of the book of Ruth. The story involves Naomi (a Jew), Ruth (a Gentile), and Boaz (the kinsman-redeemer, see commentary on Revelation 5:1). Through the sequence of events recorded in the book, Boaz (who represents the Messiah) takes Ruth as his Gentile bride (representing the Church) and Naomi (representing Israel) is restored to her land. |
3. | Ref-0202, p. 407 |
4. | There is considerable variation among commentators concerning the actual steps in Jewish wedding ceremonies in Biblical times. Some hold that these virgins are waiting to accompany the groom prior to the marriage to fetch the bride from her house and return to the groom's (father's) house. Others hold that the marriage has already been performed and these are waiting to be invited to the subsequent marriage feast. The presentation of the bride to the bridegroom would be made in a private inner chamber. At the conclusion of the presentation ceremony, the assembled guests would eagerly await the appearance of the bridegroom with his bride. In the Lord's parable ten virgins had been invited as guests and were awaiting the appearance of the bridegroom with his bride.3 |
5. | Ref-0220, pp. 162-163 |
6. | Compare with Rev. 7 and 14. |
Sources:
NKJV | Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
Ref-0202 | Dwight J. Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981). |
Ref-0220 | Renald E. Showers, Maranatha: Our Lord, Come! (Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1995). [www.foigm.org]. |