"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) 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. (8) 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. (10) 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. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
By the kingdom of heaven is not meant heaven itself, for there are no foolish virgins there, such as this Parable describes; but it is by way of comparison, to which the kingdom of grace in this life is said to resemble. The Lord describes ten virgins; five of whom were wise and five foolish. Not that the number ten hath any particular allusion; neither because they are divided into equal parts is it meant to say, that the number of the happy and of the miserable will be equal. But that the Parable our Lord hath judged proper to set forth under these images, maybe the better understood. By the wise, are meant the wise unto salvation. And by the foolish those among the unawakened, careless, and christless professors, who are so foolish as to seek the gain of the world, rather than their own souls.
Now those virgins are alike described as going forth to meet the bridegroom. Christ is the bridegroom of his spouse the Church. By their going forth with their lamps, means going forth under a profession of Christ's religion. They that were foolish, took their lamps, that is, they had a mere profession, but no oil with them; they had none of the unction of God the Holy Ghost upon them; were ignorant of their own lost estate before God, and though professing Christ, knew nothing of his saving power in their hearts. Whereas the wise, having been made wise unto salvation, had learnt their need of Christ and were earnest to seek him.
While the bridegroom tarried, that is, while waiting in ordinances they all slumbered and slept. The Church describes herself in this frame; I sleep, but my heart waketh. Song of Solomon 5:2. The slumbering of the Lord's people is not the sleep of death, but a deadness, of which God's people find but too much cause to complain. But the foolish virgins were never awakened, from being dead in trespasses and sins. The consequence of Christ's coming, must be supposed, as the Parable goes on to describe, as different as their different states unavoidably could not but produce.
The foolish virgins, destitute of all vital godliness, unawakened, unregenerated, unacquainted with the plague of their own heart, and ignorant of the person, work, and glory of Christ; in all his saving offices, characters, and relations; and having nothing but a lamp of profession, were found in utter darkness, at the Lord's approach. While on the contrary, the wise virgins being furnished with the oil of grace, under the teaching of God the Holy Ghost, and brought into an union with Christ, and communion in all that belonged to Christ, in regenerating, converting, justifying, and sanctifying mercy; thus prepared by the Lord, for the knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord; arise with holy joy, at the bridegroom's coming, and enter with him into the marriage and the door is shut.
The cry of the foolish virgins for admission, represents the state of all those who have no part nor lot in the matter. The Lord hath elsewhere described them, as well as in this parable, as those he knows not, that is, he knows them not, in any way of union or communion with him. And therefore he closeth the Parable with a recommendation to his redeemed, to be always on the watch-tower, unconscious at what day or hour, the Lord will come to take his redeemed home, that they may be found distinguished from those foolish virgins, void of all vital godliness.