In the words we have —
First, The thing compared, the kingdom of heaven.
ftecondly, The comparison itself, shall be likened to ten virgins. "Who are —
1. Described by their quality or state, virgins.
2. By their number, ten.
3. By their rank or distribution, five ivise, and five foolish.
4. By their work or employment, they tuent forth to meet the bride- groom.
5. Their preparation for that work, they took their hand-lamps. Before I explain these circumstances, I must a little acquaint you
with the custom of the Jews to which allusion is here made. The weddings of those times were kept by night, in which the bridegroom and his company were by certain virgins fetched in, and conducted to the bride, with lamps in their hands and songs in their mouths. As for this custom, I shall give you some passages in scripture. That the weddings were in the night-time, we read, Gen. xxix. 23, ' It came to pass in the evening that Laban took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob.' That the bridegroom had his companions, we read, Judges xiii. 11, Sampson had thirty companions brought to him. That both had their companions, we read of ' the children of the bride-
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chamber,' Mat. ix. 15, the special guests invited to the marriage-feast, who were by custom to fetch the bridegroom, and wait upon him : these are called <j>[\<u vvfMJu'ov, ' the friends of the bridegroom,' John iii. 29. That the bride had her companions, it is said in Ps. xlv. 14, the spouse ' shall be brought to the king in a raiment of needlework ; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.' And their fashion was to take hand-lamps, then in use, and fit to carry abroad, for night-lights. The scripture fre- quently alludes to that : Kev. xviii. 23, ' And the light of the candle shall shine no more at all in thee ; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride no more at all shall be heard in thee.' And thus the bridegroom was met by virgins with lamps ; as he drew near the bride's house, he was met by servants with candles returning to the marriage. Therefore it is said, Luke xii. 35, 36, ' Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding.' This was the custom, which I the rather observe, that you may see how fitly our Lord layeth down things. Now those that accompanied the bridegroom and the bride were children of the bride-chamber, and admitted into the marriage-room and supper ; and those that came after that, when once the door was shut, were surely kept out. Now here is a fit representation of the spiritual mystery laid down by Christ ; and therefore let us —
1. See the thing compared, ' The kingdom of heaven ; ' that is, the state of the church wherein God reigneth in the person of the Messiah. Of the kingdom of glory it cannot be meant, for there are no foolish virgins, and in the internal kingdom of grace none ; but in the external kingdom of Christ in this world. And this is not considered simply and restrainedly to that point of time when Christ is coming to judgment, but respects and should affect us all ; for such as we depart out of the world now, such shall we be found to be at the day of judgment. It concerneth all ages, not only those that shall be found alive at that time, but every one in successive ages.
2. The comparison must be explained ; the bridegroom is Christ, and the bride is the church ; the whole church is the spouse of Christ, and each particular believer a virgin attending upon this spouse ; the marriage is mutually promised ; the espousals are in this life : Hosea ii. 19, 20, ' I will betroth thee to me for ever ;' and to be solemnised and completed at the coming of our Lord : Eev. xix. 7, ' Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready/ Here is the betrothing in the covenant of grace. A nobis accepit arrhabonem camis, &c, saith Tertullian ; he took the token of our flesh and carried it to heaven, to prepare heaven for us, and left with us the token of his Spirit, to prepare us for heaven : he is not gone from us in discontent, but will come again with all the angels of heaven with him, to receive the bride unto himself.
[1.] The companions of the bride are here represented under the name of ' virgins,' for so Christians are called for the purity of their faith and worship, and also for their blameless conversations.
(1.) Virgins for the purity of their faith, that keep themselves free vol. ix. x
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and untainted from the corrupt and rotten opinions of the world : 2 Cor. xi. 2, ' I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as chaste virgins to Christ,' He meaneth it here in respect of the purity of their faith, that they might not be corrupted by false teachers.