TEN VIRGINS … TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM

As the Lord did in a previous meditation, so too here He uses the circumstances of a marriage to make a point. The bride once again goes unmentioned and neither is the bridegroom the main player in the parable. The focus is placed upon the attendees as it was in the parable of the marriage supper.

The virgins are not to be confused with the church in this instance. Paul does employ the simile of a chaste virgin when referring to the church, see 2 Cor. 11. 12. However, there it is in the context of its presentation to Christ as His bride. The virgins here are not viewed as being potential brides for the bride­groom, but those that wait His appearing to the earth so as to share the celebration of His union with His bride.

As in previous passages considered, they are a divided com­pany. Though ostensibly they share the same anticipation, it becomes apparent that to five of them His coming was a life- affecting expectation, whilst the remainder of the group had made no preparation. When the cry goes forth, ‘Behold the bridegroom cometh’ the opportunity for making oneself ready will have passed. A lesson for us all!

Dr. J. Alexander Findlay observes concerning a Palestinian wedding that ‘no one is allowed on to the streets after dark with­out a lighted lamp’. It should be the case that whenever we go on to the streets of this dark world in which we live we should ‘shine as lights in the world’, Phil. 2. 15.

The word translated here ‘trimmed’ is more commonly rendered ‘adorned’ or ‘garnished’ elsewhere in our New Tes­tament. The emphasis here is not upon the quality of their garments, as in the previous parable, but that they are bearing light. We are exhorted to be careful that we do not place undue importance upon our material adornment to the neglect of that which displays the character of our God, cf. 1 Tim. 2. 9, 10; Titus 2. 10.

How sad it will be for those who will be refused entry to the celebration of the union. The foolish virgins had kept good company but they did not have the light that cannot be bor­rowed nor bought.