he parable of the ten virgins. (1-13) The parable of the
talents. (14-30) The judgment. (31-46)
Verses 1-13: The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were
taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the
great day of Christ's coming. See the nature of Christianity. As
Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to honour him, also
to be waiting for his coming. Sincere Christians are the wise
virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones. Those are the truly
wise or foolish that are so in the affairs of their souls. Many
have a lamp of profession in their hands, but have not, in their
hearts, sound knowledge and settled resolution, which are needed
to carry them through the services and trials of the present
state. Their hearts are not stored with holy dispositions, by
the new-creating Spirit of God. Our light must shine before men
in good works; but this is not likely to be long done, unless
there is a fixed, active principle in the heart, of faith in
Christ, and love to God and our brethren. They all slumbered and
slept. The delay represents the space between the real or
apparent conversion of these professors, and the coming of
Christ, to take them away by death, or to judge the world. But
though Christ tarry past our time, he will not tarry past the
due time. The wise virgins kept their lamps burning, but they
did not keep themselves awake. Too many real Christians grow
remiss, and one degree of carelessness makes way for another.
Those that allow themselves to slumber, will scarcely keep from
sleeping; therefore dread the beginning of spiritual decays. A
startling summons was given. Go ye forth to meet Him, is a call
to those prepared. The notice of Christ's approach, and the call
to meet him, will awaken. Even those best prepared for death
have work to do to get actually ready, (2Pe 3:14). It will be a
day of search and inquiry; and it concerns us to think how we
shall then be found. Some wanted oil to supply their lamps when
going out. Those that take up short of true grace, will
certainly find the want of it one time or other. An outward
profession may light a man along this world, but the damps of
the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light.
Those who care not to live the life, yet would die the death of
the righteous. But those that would be saved, must have grace of
their own; and those that have most grace, have none to spare.
The best need more from Christ. And while the poor alarmed soul
addresses itself, upon a sick-bed, to repentance and prayer, in
awful confusion, death comes, judgment comes, the work is
undone, and the poor sinner is undone for ever. This comes of
having oil to buy when we should burn it, grace to get when we
should use it. Those, and those only, shall go to heaven
hereafter, that are made ready for heaven here. The suddenness
of death and of Christ's coming to us then, will not hinder our
happiness, if we have been prepared. The door was shut. Many
will seek admission into heaven when it is too late. The vain
confidence of hypocrites will carry them far in expectations of
happiness. The unexpected summons of death may alarm the
Christian; but, proceeding without delay to trim his lamp, his
graces often shine more bright; while the mere professor's
conduct shows that his lamp is going out. Watch therefore,
attend to the business of your souls. Be in the fear of the Lord
all the day long.
Verses 14-30: Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received
their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but
sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for
him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to
profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be
reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and
have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is
not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man
to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and
privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting
his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ
constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that
died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to
please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose
in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than
they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot
help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the
character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is
sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to
the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace.
Those who know not the day of their visitation, shall have the
things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom
is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of
expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what
was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the
parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key
to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their
perishing possessions.
Verses 31-46: This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an
explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment to come,
in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting
happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory
of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked and
godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches,
families, and are not always to be known the one from the other;
such are the weaknesses of saints, such the hypocrisies of
sinners; and death takes both: but in that day they will be
parted for ever. Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; he will
shortly distinguish between those that are his, and those that
are not. All other distinctions will be done away; but the great
one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for
ever. The happiness the saints shall possess is very great. It
is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth; yet this is
but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in
heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for
them in the greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased
it for them; and the blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the
kingdom, is preparing it for them. It is prepared for them: it
is in all points adapted to the new nature of a sanctified soul.
It is prepared from the foundation of the world. This happiness
was for the saints, and they for it, from all eternity. They
shall come and inherit it. What we inherit is not got by
ourselves. It is God that makes heirs of heaven. We are not to
suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal happiness.
Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, are here
noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the
Spirit of Christ, and as the effects of grace bestowed on those
who do them. The wicked in this world were often called to come
to Christ for life and rest, but they turned from his calls; and
justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not come
to him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The
punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment;
their state cannot be altered. Thus life and death, good and
evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may
choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.
he parable of the ten virgins. (1-13) The parable of the
talents. (14-30) The judgment. (31-46)