Matthew 25:5-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 25:1-13

Here, I. That in general which is to be illustrated is, the kingdom of heaven, the state of things under the gospel, the external kingdom of Christ, and the administration and success of it. Some of Christ's parables had shown us what it is like now in the present reception of it, as Matt. 13:1-52 This tells us what it shall be like, when the mystery of God shall be finished, and that kingdom delivered up to the Father. The administration of Christ's government, towards the ready and the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 25:1-13

25:1-13 "What will happen in the Kingdom of Heaven is like the situation which arose when ten virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps, but did not take oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels together with their lamps. When the bridegroom was long in coming, all of them settled down to rest and slept. In the middle of the night the cry went up, 'Look you, the bridegroom! Go out to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:5

While the bridegroom tarried ,.... The space of time here referred to, is either from the ascension of Christ, to his coming to take vengeance on the Jews; or from thence to his second coming; or rather from the time of some general expectation by the saints, of the near approach of Christ, till such time he does come: for as there was a general expectation of the coming of Christ before he came in the flesh, so there will be a general expectation of Christ being near at hand some time... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:6

And at midnight there was a cry made ;.... Which is no other than the following notice of the bridegroom's coming, expressed in these words: behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him : which supposes that then all things will be ready for his coming: all things respecting this world; all the strange and surprising events that were to come to pass, before the coming of Christ, will now be accomplished; an end put to all the monarchies of the earth; and all the preparations in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:7

Then all these virgins arose ,.... Not out of their graves; for the righteous and wicked will not rise together; the dead in Christ will rise first, and this first resurrection will not be till Christ is come; nor will grace be to be had, or be thought to be had after the resurrection; nor will there be any trimming of lamps then, in order to meet the bridegroom, for he will be come: nor out of the graves of sin; for the wise virgins were not in such a state, and the foolish virgins were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:8

And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil ,.... A graceless person may be able to see the grace of God in others, be convinced of it, and acknowledge it, as these foolish virgins did: they saw that the wise virgins had oil, that is, grace; this they knew by the bright burning of their lamps, by their readiness in trimming them, and that in a different way from them; by their sedate composure of mind, and confidence of soul, notwithstanding the midnight cry; and by their ardent... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:5

The bridegroom tarried - 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, ενυϚαξαν και εκαθευδον , 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:6

At midnight there was a cry - The Jewish weddings were generally celebrated in the night; yet they usually began at the rising of the evening star; but in this case there was a more than ordinary delay. Behold, the bridegroom cometh - What an awful thing to be summoned to appear before the Judge of quick and dead! The following is an affecting relation, and fas est ab hoste doceri . "When Rabbi Jochanan ben Zachai was sick, his disciples came to visit him; and when he saw them he began... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:7

Trimmed their lamps - Εκοσμησαν , adorned them. I have seen some of the eastern lamps or lanthorns, the body of which was a skeleton of wood and threads, covered with a very thin transparent membrane, or very fine gauze, and decorated with flowers painted on it. It is probable that the nuptial lamps were highly decorated in this way; though the act mentioned here may mean no more than preparing the lamps for burning. The following account of the celebration of a wedding in Persia, taken... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:8

Our lamps are gone out - Σβεννυνται , are going out. So then it is evident that they were once lighted. They had once hearts illuminated and warmed by faith and love; but they had backslidden from the salvation of God, and now they are excluded from heaven, because, through their carelessness, they have let the light that was in them become darkness, and have not applied in time for a fresh supply of the salvation of God. A Jewish rabbin supposes God addressing man thus: - I give thee my... read more

Group of Brands