MPV Commentary

The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

This parable is unique to Matthew and serves as a companion to the previous parable, illustrating the vigilant and expectant attitude of faith that believers are called to maintain. In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is likened to ten virgins who take their lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom. The object of the parable is to highlight the preparedness of believers for Christ's return.

The five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins are not distinguished as good or bad, but rather as wise and foolish, indicating that a certain level of goodwill towards the truth is assumed in both cases. The equal number of both classes serves as a warning about how many who appear to love Christ's appearing will be disowned by Him when He comes.

The lamps and oil taken by the virgins represent their Christian profession, which is common to all who bear the Christian name. However, the insufficiency of this without an inward reality of grace shows that the foolish virgins lack the essential preparation for meeting Christ. The wisdom of the wise virgins consists in taking a supply of oil with their lamps, keeping them burning until the bridegroom comes, and being ready to go in with Him to the marriage.

The delay of the bridegroom serves as an opportunity for Christ to try the faith and patience of His people. During this time, both the wise and foolish virgins slumbered and slept, indicating two stages of spiritual declension: half-involuntary lethargy and conscious, deliberate yielding to it.

At midnight, a cry is made, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." All the virgins arise and trim their lamps, but only the wise virgins are prepared. The foolish virgins ask for oil from the wise ones, but they refuse, saying that there may not be enough for both them and the foolish.

The parable then takes a dramatic turn as the foolish virgins go to buy oil while the bridegroom comes and the door is shut. They return, crying out, "Lord, Lord, open to us," but the bridegroom responds, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." This response is not gentler than "I never knew you" in Matthew 7:23, but rather a solemn warning about the consequences of being unprepared for Christ's return.

The parable concludes with a call to watchfulness, as believers are reminded that they do not know the day or hour when the Son of man will come. This moral lesson serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a vigilant and expectant attitude of faith in anticipation of Christ's return.