Matthew 25:5

τοῦ νυμφίου. The thought of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church is hardly appropriate here, for in the parable the maidens, and not the bride, are the expectant Church. The thought of the ‘children of the bridechamber,’ ch. Matthew 9:15, is a nearer parallel.

ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι κ.τ.λ. ‘Nodded from drowsiness, and fell asleep.’ The two stages of sleep are noted in Plato, Apol. Socr., p. 31, ὑμεῖς δʼ ἴσως τάχʼ ἂν� … εἶτα τὸν λοιπὸν βίον καθεύδοντες διατελοῖτʼ ἄν. Sleep represents the ignorance as to the time of Christ’s coming; it is not to be interpreted of unwatchfulness, it is not a guilty or imprudent sleep, as in the parable of the thief coming by night (ch. Matthew 24:43).