be likened unto ten virgins; to "virgins" for quality; being betrothed ones to Christ, at least in profession; and because of the singleness of their love, and chaste adherence to him, however, as they will declare, and which, in some of them, will be fact; and for their beauty, comeliness, and gay attire, being, as they will profess, clothed with the righteousness of Christ; with that fine linen, clean and white, with cloth of gold, and raiment of needlework, and so perfectly comely through his comeliness: and for their purity and uncorruptness of doctrine, worship, and conversation, at least in appearance, and which will be true of many of them; and all, from their profession, will bear the same character: these for their quantity and number, are compared to "ten" virgins; which may, perhaps, denote the small number of professors at this time; see Ge 18:32 that there will be but few, that will then name the name of Christ, and fewer still who will not have defiled their garments, and be virgins indeed. The number "ten" was greatly taken notice of, and used among the Jews: a congregation, with them, consisted of ten persons, and less than that number did not make one {f}: and wherever there were ten persons in a place, they were obliged to build a synagogue {g}. Ten elders of the city were witnesses of Boaz's taking Ruth to be his wife:
WOW ! What insight. I only wish I were able to express myself in such a manner. I use commentators because of this. I particularly like Thomas Coke, Adam Clarke and Charles Ellicott.
Matt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
There's no rocket science here. Some of us have displayed our brilliance while others our stupidity. What's at stake is our seat at the wedding banquet. Will we have one ? We can, but you have to fight for your seat, your position, at the banquet. You can be the janitor standing at the door or you can sit at the head of the table next to our Creator.
Matt25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Now Charles J. Ellicott writes
Matt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
There's no rocket science here. Some of us have displayed our brilliance while others our stupidity. What's at stake is our seat at the wedding banquet. Will we have one ? We can, but you have to fight for your seat, your position, at the banquet. You can be the janitor standing at the door or you can sit at the head of the table next to our Creator.
Matt25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Now Charles J. Ellicott writes
Took no oil with them.—In the interpretation of the parable, the lamp or torch is obviously the outward life of holiness by which the disciple of Christ lets his light shine before men (Mat. 5:16), and the “oil” is the divine grace, or more definitely, the gift of the Holy Spirit, without which the torch first burns dimly and then expires. The foolish virgins neglected to seek that supply, either from the Great Giver, or through the human agencies by which He graciously imparts it.]
So five of the virgins didn't display much wisdom. They went to meet Him but didn't prepare themselves for what was needed.
Matt 15:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Ah but five were wise and readied themselves for the Bride. They had prepared and done that which was required of them.
Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
In Adam Clarke's commentary he writes;
Matt 15:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Ah but five were wise and readied themselves for the Bride. They had prepared and done that which was required of them.
Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
In Adam Clarke's commentary he writes;
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
The coming of the bridegroom to an individual may imply his death: his coming to the world-the final judgment. The delay-the time from a man's birth till his death, in the first case; in the second, the time from the beginning to the end of the world. - Slumbered and slept.] Or, ενυσταξανκαιεκαθευδον, they became drowsy and fell asleep. As sleep is frequently used in the sacred writings for death, so drowsiness, which precedes sleep, may be considered as pointing out the decays of the constitution, and the sicknesses which precede death. The other explanations which are given of this place must be unsatisfactory to every man who is not warped by some point in his creed, which must be supported at every expense. Carelessness disposed them to drowsiness, drowsiness to sleep, deep sleep, which rendered them as unconscious of their danger as they were before inattentive to their duty. The Anglo-Saxon has hit the meaning of the original well-[Anglo-Saxon] of which my old MS. Bible gives a literal version, in the English of the 14th century: forsothe-alle nappeden and sleptyn.
The coming of the bridegroom to an individual may imply his death: his coming to the world-the final judgment. The delay-the time from a man's birth till his death, in the first case; in the second, the time from the beginning to the end of the world. - Slumbered and slept.] Or, ενυσταξανκαιεκαθευδον, they became drowsy and fell asleep. As sleep is frequently used in the sacred writings for death, so drowsiness, which precedes sleep, may be considered as pointing out the decays of the constitution, and the sicknesses which precede death. The other explanations which are given of this place must be unsatisfactory to every man who is not warped by some point in his creed, which must be supported at every expense. Carelessness disposed them to drowsiness, drowsiness to sleep, deep sleep, which rendered them as unconscious of their danger as they were before inattentive to their duty. The Anglo-Saxon has hit the meaning of the original well-[Anglo-Saxon] of which my old MS. Bible gives a literal version, in the English of the 14th century: forsothe-alle nappeden and sleptyn.
We don't know when the banquet will be held. So there is a chance you could miss it. What will you do to be in attendance ? There was another time the disciples were rebuked for not being prepared'
Luke 22:39-46 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. :40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation :41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, :42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. :43) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. :44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. :45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, :46) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Mark 13:32-37 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. :33) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. :34) For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. :35) Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: :36) Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. :37) And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
This is what it means to prepare. To be ever watchful. So that when He arrives you' be prepared for the wedding.
Matt 25:6-7 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. :7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
As it was customary to announce weddings at this time. As Clarke in his commentary records the ritual involved.
.
Luke 22:39-46 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. :40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation :41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, :42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. :43) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. :44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. :45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, :46) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Mark 13:32-37 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. :33) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. :34) For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. :35) Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: :36) Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. :37) And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
This is what it means to prepare. To be ever watchful. So that when He arrives you' be prepared for the wedding.
Matt 25:6-7 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. :7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
As it was customary to announce weddings at this time. As Clarke in his commentary records the ritual involved.
.
"The day appointed for the marriage, about five o'clock in the evening, the bridegroom comes to the house of the bride, where the mobed, or priest, pronounces for the first time the nuptial benediction. He then brings her to his own house, gives her some refreshment, and afterwards the assembly of her relatives and friends reconduct her to her father's house. When she arrives, the mobed repeats the nuptial benediction, which is generally done about MIDNIGHT immediately after, the bride, accompanied with a part of her attending troop, (the rest having returned to their own homes,) is reconducted to the house of her husband, where she generally arrives about three o'clock in the morning.
Matt 25:8-9 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. :9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Ellicott records...
Ellicott records...
Go ye rather to them that sell.—This feature in the parable is too remarkable to be passed over lightly, especially as the “exchangers” in the parable that follows are clearly more or less analogous. We have to ask, then, who they are that, in the interpretation of the parable, according to the data already ascertained, answer to “them that sell.” And the answer is, that they are the pastors and teachers of the Church—the stewards of the mysteries of God. Through them, whether as preachers of the divine Word of Wisdom, or as administering the sacraments which are signs and means of grace, men may, by God’s appointment, obtain the gift and grace they need. The “buying” and “selling” belong, of course, in their literal sense, to the parable only. No gift of God can be purchased with money
Matt 25:10-11 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. :11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Now John Gill points our what should have bee obvious. had they inquired of YahShua He would have, perhaps, supplied the oil !
Now John Gill points our what should have bee obvious. had they inquired of YahShua He would have, perhaps, supplied the oil !
Gill - Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy,.... The foolish virgins so far took the advice of the wise, as to go forth to buy oil for themselves: they not only had some thoughts about it, and resolutions to do it, but they really did go out to buy; which may design their attendance on the word and ordinances, where they stopped: they did not go to Christ for grace, for if they had gone directly to him, they had met him; but they went another way, and missed him; they took buying in a proper sense, and thought to have obtained grace by their own works: wherefore, though they went to buy, they did not, nor could they, their attempts were vain and fruitless; and while they were employing themselves in this way, to no purpose,
And while they went to buy,.... The foolish virgins so far took the advice of the wise, as to go forth to buy oil for themselves: they not only had some thoughts about it, and resolutions to do it, but they really did go out to buy; which may design their attendance on the word and ordinances, where they stopped: they did not go to Christ for grace, for if they had gone directly to him, they had met him; but they went another way, and missed him; they took buying in a proper sense, and thought to have obtained grace by their own works: wherefore, though they went to buy, they did not, nor could they, their attempts were vain and fruitless; and while they were employing themselves in this way, to no purpose,
Matt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
John Gill will have the final reply. Read it. For it is beautifully and eloquently written from someone who knows !
John Gill will have the final reply. Read it. For it is beautifully and eloquently written from someone who knows !
But he answered and said,.... The Lord and bridegroom from within, thought fit to give them an answer, but an unexpected and awful one to them:
verily I say unto you, I know you not; which must be understood in consistence with the omniscience of Christ: he knew their persons, conduct, and state; he knew they were foolish virgins, graceless professors, who had made no account of him and his righteousness; but had trusted to, and depended upon, their external profession of religion: they were none of the people whom he foreknew, or knew as his own, and loved with an everlasting love; he never knew them as his father's choice in him, or as this father's gift to him; he never knew them in the everlasting covenant, or as his sheep, for whom he died; he never knew them to believe in him, or love him; nor ever exalt his person, blood and sacrifice, at his table, nor do any good work with a single eye to his glory; he never approved of them, liked their persons, or their conduct; or ever owned them as the true companions, either of his bride, or of himself: which answer implies, that as the door was shut, so it should remain; there was no admittance for them, nor any to be hoped for; and it is all one as if he had said, begone, and depart hence. The Persic version adds such a clause, "begone from my door".
verily I say unto you, I know you not; which must be understood in consistence with the omniscience of Christ: he knew their persons, conduct, and state; he knew they were foolish virgins, graceless professors, who had made no account of him and his righteousness; but had trusted to, and depended upon, their external profession of religion: they were none of the people whom he foreknew, or knew as his own, and loved with an everlasting love; he never knew them as his father's choice in him, or as this father's gift to him; he never knew them in the everlasting covenant, or as his sheep, for whom he died; he never knew them to believe in him, or love him; nor ever exalt his person, blood and sacrifice, at his table, nor do any good work with a single eye to his glory; he never approved of them, liked their persons, or their conduct; or ever owned them as the true companions, either of his bride, or of himself: which answer implies, that as the door was shut, so it should remain; there was no admittance for them, nor any to be hoped for; and it is all one as if he had said, begone, and depart hence. The Persic version adds such a clause, "begone from my door".
Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Amen !
Amen !
P.S. If you like this sermon you can find more like it @ The Remnant of Israel Ministry
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