1 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 ivere foolish.
3 They that were foolisb 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 eom- eth ; go ye out to meet him,
wise. Give us of your oil ; for oiir lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Kot 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 mar- riage : 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.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and j 13 Watch therefore, for ye know trimmed their larnps. I neither the day nor the hour wherein
8 And the foolish said unto the . the Son of man cometh.
The chapter we have now begun is a continuation of our Lord's prophetical discourse on the Mount of Olives. The time to which it all refers is plain and unmistake- able. From first to last, there is a continual reference to the second advent of Christ, and the end of the world. The whole chaj)ter contains three great divisions. In the first, our Lord uses his own second coming as an argument for watchfulness and heart-religion. This He does by the parable of the ten virgins. — In the second, He uses His own second coming as an argument for diligCDce and faithfulness. This He does by the parable of the talents. — In the third, He winds up all by a de- scription of the great day of judgment, a passage which for majesty and beauty stands unequalled in the New Testament.
The j)arable of the ten virgins, which we have now read, contains lessons peculiarly solemn and awakening. Let us see what they are.
We see for one thing, that the second coming of Christ