“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” This characterized the early Christians at the very beginning. He who had just died for them had gone away from them into the glory of God. But before going away He left them a promise, that He would return to take them to that same glorious place where He was going Himself. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)). Cheered by this promise and filled with this hope, they went forth to meet Him. The world, which had just cast out and rejected Him whom their hearts loved, presented no attractions to them. They coveted not its glories nor its honors, and they sought not its pleasures. Thoughts of their absent Lord filled their hearts and they longed for the moment when they should see Him and be with Him. They “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)).
“Their lamps” set forth the light of their profession. Their calling was to meet the Bridegroom and to light Him on His way. “And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” Ten speaks of complete human responsibility, while five speaks of weakness. The wise have oil with them for their lamps, and they represent those who are “born again” and have the Spirit of God dwelling in them. They have the Bridegroom’s interests at heart and so are prepared to carry out that for which they are called.
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.” They have only a formal interest in the wedding and so do not think it necessary to have oil for their lamps. They represent those who have professed the name of Christ, but they are not really “born again” and have not the Holy Spirit, which alone can fit them to welcome the Lord or to enjoy His presence.
“While the bridegrom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” The early Christians had expected the coming of the Saviour in their lifetime, and they had taken up their cross to follow Him. But the months and years rolled by, and still there was no sign of His return. No doubt their faith was being tested, but alas, their hearts grew weary of waiting. The world, too, grew weary of persecuting them and began to spread before their eyes its glittering attractions. Worldliness came in like a flood, and the church began to seek her home and portion in the scene from which her Lord had been cast out. “They all slumbered and slept,” as the centuries rolled by.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” Doubtless it was the Spirit of God in grace that brought forth that cry that awakened the slumbering church. We believe this cry went forth over a century ago when the truth of the Lord’s coming, so long lost sight of, began to be preached throughout Christendom.
“Then all those virgins” — the foolish as well as the wise — “arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone [going] out.” One might be baptized, confirmed, a regular churchgoer, a Sunday school teacher, and even a preacher, and yet if still unsaved, all this is like the lamp without oil which before long will go out. Then the lifeless, Christless professor will be plunged into the awful darkness of eternal night. No Christian can impart the Holy Spirit to another; one must obtain it himself from the Saviour whose only terms are “without money and without price” (Isa. 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)).
Further Meditation
1. What did the “slumber” of the virgins represent?
2. How does worldliness keep someone from looking for the Lord’s coming?
3. The Lord’s Coming by C. H. Mackintosh gives fascinating insight into this important time.