THE OLIVET DISCOURSE. Matt. 24, 25.

June 3, 2020

WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF THY COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD? Matt. 24:3-13, Mk. 13:3-13, Lk. 21:7-19, 20-24…4

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINGS.….1 Matt.25:1-13

“It is not found elsewhere. This beautiful Parable is a further illustration of the variously illustrated injunction to ‘watch’ Matt. 24:42, 44; 25:13; 26:36…” “It was the custom to hold weddings after nightfall. The bridegroom and some friends went to the house of the bride, and after religious ceremonies there he set forth towards his own abode in a grand procession, which is illuminated by torches or lamps in the hands of the participants, and often preceded by musicians. In the utterly dark street of an Asiatic city, everyone who goes forth at night is expected, and is strictly required by authorities to carry a light.” Broadus John A

  1. Matt. 25:1 “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom”
  2. ‘The kingdom of heaven’ The state of things under the gospel, as in the parables of Matt. 13:1-52-These seven parables, called “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (v. 11), taken together, describes the result of the presence of the Gospel in the world during the present age, that is, the time of seed-sowing which began with our Lord’s personal ministry, and ends with the “harvest” (v. 40-43)” C. I. Scofield. The friends of Christ or ‘the professors of Christianity shall then be likened to those ten virgins.’ M. Henry
  3. ‘Ten’ is regarded as a round number. “‘10’ is the number of world perfection, and represents the total responsibility of men before God. A person has ten fingers and ten toes for work and for walking…There are ten commandments given to Israel as their responsibility to God” Watchman Nee. “We learn that the Jews “delighted mightily in the number ten. A synagogue must have at least ten present; an order or ring of men consisted not but ten at the least” Wun adds that ten men must be present at a wedding, in order to utter the requisite blessings. Ruth 4:2. Josephus says (“War,” 6, 9, 3) that not less than ten men must assemble to partake of a paschal lamb.” Broadus John A.
  4. According to custom, in order to join the procession to the bridegroom’s house, “Persons must assemble beforehand at different points along the proposed route, and wait for the bridegroom’s approach.” Broadus John A.
  5. The bridegroom here is Christ at His coming. Ps. 45:1-12
  6.  The virgins are the friends Jn. 15:15-16, or professors of the gospel represented as companions Ps. 45:14, Rev. 14:4, Songs 6:8, 2Cor. 11:2. It continues