10 virgins - again

[Garry]

I would still appreciate hearing from others who visit this forum on what differentiates the wise from the unwise virgins. Do you agree or disagree that all ten are believers.

:thankyou:

[Matt]

To me the story is simply "Are you prepared to meet Jesus when either A) you die, or B) Jesus returns to Earth. The wise virgins with oil in their lamps being prepared peoples and the unwise who used theirs all up being unprepared peoples. Because when the bridgroom (Jesus) calls, whether in the 2nd comming or death, you'll have to be ready. Nobody knows the hour of the 2nd comming or the hour of our own deaths. It's better to keep oil in your lamp.

[Esquire]

Here follows a most excellent cut and paste from Matthew Henry's complete commentary which I think is very helpful. The full text can be found here: http://www.ccel.org/h/henry/mhc2/MHC40025.HTM

I have edited the text for brevity by omitting certain phrases and keeping certain others. Therefore I encourage resorting to the original text. (my ommissions are signaled by sentences ending with "...")


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2. The virgins are the professors of religion, members of the church; but here represented as her companions (Ps. xlv. 14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:14)), as elsewhere her children (Isa. liv. 1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:1)), her ornaments, Isa. xlix. 18 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:18). They that follow the Lamb, are said to be virgins (Rev. xiv. 4 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:4)); this denotes their beauty and purity; they are to be presented as chaste virgins to Christ, 2 Cor. xi. 2 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:2). The bridegroom is a king; so these virgins are maids of honour, virgins without number (Cant. vi. 8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+6:8)), yet here said to be ten.

3. The office of these virgins is to meet the bridegroom, which is as much their happiness as their duty. They come to wait upon the bridegroom when he appears, and in the mean time to wait for him. See here the nature of Christianity...

...As Christians, we profess, not only to believe and look for, but to love and long for, the appearing of Christ, and to act in our whole conversation with a regard to it. The second coming of Christ is the centre in which all the lines of our religion meet, and to which the whole of the divine life hath a constant reference and tendency.

4. Their chief concern is to have lights in their hands, when they attend the bridegroom, thus to do him honour and do him service. Note, Christians are children of light. The gospel is light, and they who receive it must not only be enlightened by it themselves, but must shine as lights, must hold it forth, Phil. ii. 15, 16 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:15,16). This in general.

Now concerning these ten virgins, we may observe,

(1.) Their different character, with the proof and evidence of it.

[1.] Their character was that five were wise, and five foolish (v. 2 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+25:2)); and wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness; so saith Solomon, a competent judge, Eccl. ii. 13 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+2:13)...

...Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones, as in another parable they are represented by wise and foolish builders. Note...

...True religion is true wisdom; sin is folly, but especially the sin of hypocrisy, for those are the greatest fools, that are wise in their own conceit, and those the worst of sinners, that feign themselves just men...

[2.] The evidence of this character was in the very thing which they were to attend to; by that they are judged of.

First, It was the folly of the foolish virgins, that they took their lamps, and took no oil with them, v. 3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+25:3). They had just the oil enough to make their lamps burn for the present, to make a show with, as if they intended to meet the bridegroom...

...thus hypocrites,

1. They have no principle within. They have a lamp of profession in their hands, but have not in their hearts that stock of sound knowledge, rooted dispositions, and settled resolutions, which is necessary to carry them through the services and trials of the present state. They...

...are void of spiritual life; like a tradesman, that sets up without a stock, or the seed on the stony ground, that wanted root.

2. They have no prospect of, nor make provision for, what is to come. They took lamps for a present show, but not oil for after use...

...all their care is to recommend themselves to their neighbours, whom they now converse with, not to approve themselves to Christ, whom they must hereafter appear before...

Secondly, It was the wisdom of the wise virgins, that they took oil in their vessels with their lamps, v. 4 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+25:4). They had a good principle within, which would maintain and keep up their profession. 1. The heart is the vessel...

...2. Grace is the oil which we must have in this vessel; in the tabernacle there was constant provision made of oil for the light, Exod. xxxv. 14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+35:14). Our light must shine before men in good works, but this cannot be, or not long, unless there be a fixed active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ, and love to God and our brethren...

...remember that this oil which keeps the lamps burning, is derived to the candlestick from Jesus Christ, the great and good Olive, by the golden pipes of the ordinances, as it is represented in that vision (Zech. iv. 2, 3, 12 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:2,3,12)), which is explained John i. 16 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:16), Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

(2.) Their common fault, during the bridegroom's delay; They all slumbered and slept, v. 5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+25:5). Observe here,

[1.] The bridegroom tarried, that is, he did not come out so soon as they expected. What we look for as certain, we are apt to think is very near; many in the apostles' times imagined that the day of the Lord was at hand, but it is not so. Christ, as to us, seems to tarry, and yet really does not, Hab. ii. 3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:3)...

...though Christ tarry past our time, he will not tarry past the due time.

[2.] While he tarried, those that waited for him, grew careless, and forgot what they were attending; They all slumbered and slept; as if they had given over looking for him; for when the Son of man cometh, he will not find faith, Luke xviii. 8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:8)....

...The wise virgins kept their lamps burning, but did not keep themselves awake. Note, Too many good Christians, when they have been long in profession, grow remiss in their preparations for Christ's second coming; they intermit their care, abate their zeal, their graces are not lively, nor their works found perfect before God; and though all love be not lost, yet the first love is left...

...Note, One degree of carelessness and remissness makes way for another. Those that allow themselves in slumbering, will scarcely keep themselves from sleeping; therefore dread the beginning of spiritual decays...

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