Matthew 25:1-28

1 The parable of the ten virgins applies only to the kingdom at the time specified. When the

Lord comes in glory to enter into covenant relationship with Israel at the commencement of the day of Jehovah, then the kingdom of the heavens will correspond to a marriage feast. The Lambkin is the Bridegroom (Rev_19:7), redeemed Israel is the Bride. Who are the virgins? The wedding feast figures the millennium. The nations will be blessed through and with Israel according to the Abrahamic covenant. Hence they are represented as virgins, invited to share the blessings provided for the holy nation by the Lambkin. As in the parable of the sheep and the kids at the close of this chapter, the place of the nations in that day will depend on their treatment of Israel. Those that are sufficiently illuminated to await Messiah's coming will participate with the Bride in the feast that follows. They are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lambkin (Rev_19:9; Psa_45:14). The action of this parable is limited to the period immediately preceding the coming of the Messianic kingdom. To “apply” it to individuals or classes at any other crisis is confusing and corrupts the Scriptures.

The blessing which will come to the nations as brides-maids of Israel is in striking contrast to the present era of grace. They will wait until Israel is blessed and share her blessings with her. Now Israel is forsaken and divorced. She has no marriage feast to which we could be invited. She has no blessings to share with us. Our supernal bliss comes while she is thrust aside, and depends on her apostasy. Our felicity far transcends not only that of the virgins who attend the Bride, but that of the Bride herself. We have a nearer and dearer place than that which is figured by the marriage bond. We are members of Christ's body. Men may or may not love their wives, but no one ever hated his own flesh. So, in the very nature of things, we are dear to Christ as His own body, We are not called upon to watch for signs of His coming, but to wait for God's Son from heaven. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing among the celestials (Eph_1:3).

13 See Mat_24:42; Mar_13:33-37.

14 See Mat_20:1-16; Luk_19:11-27.

15 A talent was a large sum of money, variously estimated at from one to two thousand dollars of our present currency. There is doubtless an intended reference to the well-known moneymaking propensity which the Jew has developed since this parable was spoken. Especially at the time of the end, many of the apostate nation will be immensely wealthy, while the faithful remnant will be poor in this world's coin. So the Lord confides to them large sums of spiritual currency, to be used in His service. He to whom God has given one precious truth may double it by communicating it to another. There is nothing in this parable which can be applied to Christ's dealings with us in this present secret administration of God's grace. It fits perfectly when connected with the kingdom of which He was speaking. He was about, to leave them. The nations were not called until long after He had left. There would be no point to His departure if we should seek to apply it now. Nor is it agreeable to the present grace to require service in this manner. And it is most thoroughly out of harmony in the case of the slave who received a single talent. No one who is now called into God's grace could think or act as he did, and no one who has a deposit from God will be condemned for his failure to be faithful. There was a Judas among the twelve apostles but there was no such character among those apostles who were associated with Paul in his later ministries. An administration which is an admixture of faith and works will also have a sprinkling of unbelievers. But an economy of purest grace can lead no one to such an outcome as the slave who hid his talent and hated his lord. For us there is no condemnation (Rom_8:1). We are not only saved by grace but for grace (Eph_2:8). No one who has ever known Him in this day of salvation will be thrust into outer darkness with lamentation and gnashing of teeth. As our salvation is not based on work, the awards for service at the dais of Christ do not affect our destiny (2Co_5:10). Our deeds will be tested by fire, to determine their quality. Yet even if our work burns up, we shall be saved, even though it be through fire (1Co_3:13-15).