6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Verses 6 through13 continue the parable of the 10 virgins.
25:6
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
The bridegroom arrived at midnight. This was an unexpected time. The virgins were to be ready to welcome him at any point.
1 Th 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
25:7
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
At the arrival of the bridegroom, the virgins trimmed their lamps. Trimming has to do with cleaning wicks, lightening them, and adjusting the flames.
25:8
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
The five foolish virgins did not bring enough oil for such a late appointment. The foolish bridesmaids realized how unprepared they were for the bridegroom’s coming.
25:9
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
The unprepared virgins had to go to the market to search for oil. This took some time. They missed the arrival of the bridegroom. Israel in the Tribulation will not be prepared for the Second Coming. They will miss out on the Millennial kingdom. The wise bridesmaids could do nothing for the foolish ones.
25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
The prepared virgins were invited into the wedding feast and the door was closed to any further guests. There will be Israelites who will not enter the kingdom, but a remnant of Israelites will be prepared for Christ’s coming. The judgment here is not the Great White Throne judgment but judgment at the end of the Tribulation.
25:11
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
The foolish bridesmaids appealed directly to the Lord. Arriving late for the feast, the foolish virgins were denied entrance to the party.
25:12
But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
People have to live by the consequences of their decisions.
25:13
“Watch therefore [Jesus drew a conclusion from the parable], for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Jesus in the Olivet Discourse called for people to be “alert” or to “watch” for His coming (24:36, 42, 44, 50).
Mt 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
PRINCIPLE:
Readiness for Christ’s coming is of high value to the Lord.
APPLICATION:
There are a number of benefits to anticipation of the Lord’s return. There is a cleansing element (1 Jn 3:1-3). Focus on future personal fellowship with the Lord is another.
