The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 467

enables the aonl to meet the bridegroom not torobe11) were, as Dr. Edereheim notes, joyfully, withont dismay. The usual mar- hollow cups or 1111uoers, with e. round re- ringe customs of the Jewa a.re well known. cepte.olo for the wiok, whfoh waa fed with On the appointed day, the bridegroom, ao- pitoh or oil. They were on these oocasione l:'e.stened to a long wooden pole, a.nd borne oompttnied by his friends, proceeded to the aloft in the procession. Went forth. This bride's honse, and thenoe escorted her, with does not refer t.o the fine.I going forth to her attendsnt me.idens and friends, to his meet the bridegroom ou the road (ver. 6), own or his parents' home. In the parable, as it is absurd to suppose that they all fell however, the proceedings are somewhat asleep by the wayside, with their lamps in their bands (ver. 5), and, as e. fact, only different. Here the bridegroom is not in five went out at last; but it doubtless in- the town, but somewhere n,t a distance, 110 timates that they left their own homes to that, though the day is settled, the exact unite in duly celebrating the wedding. To honr of hi.s arrival is uncertain. He will meet the bridegroom. An evident interpo- come in the course of the night, and the lation adds, "and the· bride," whioh the authorized Vulgate unhappily confirms, virgins who e.re to meet him ha.ve as- ree.ding, ezierunt obuiam spomo et sponsa,. sembled in the house where the wedding is In this case the soene refers to the bride- to te.ke plaoe. They we.it for the summons groom's return in company with his bride. to go forth e.nd meet the bridegroom and But this is a misconception, asno mention is oonduct him to the bridal-plaoe; and when made of the bride e.nywhere in the genuine text. The bridegroom oomes to fetch home the signal is given that he is e.pproe.ohing, the bride ; and these maidens, her friends, they set forth on the road, each bearing her e.ssembled in her houee to be ready to escort le.mp (Edersheim). him thither (of. I Maco. ix. 87). The wedding seems to te.ke ple.oe at the bride'• Ver. 1.-Then. The time refers to the house, as Judg. xiv.10. hour of the Lord's e.dvent (eh. mv. 50, 51), Ver. 2.-J'ive of them were wise ( 4>pdv,µa,, and the parousia of the Son of man (oh. eh. mv. 45). and flve were foolish. The :ir;:xiv. 36, etc.). Shell the kingdom of heaven best uncials(~,B,0,D,L)invert the ole.uses, be likened. At the time named something in agreement with the order in vers. 3, 4. analogous to the coming story shall happen So the Vulgate. In this case the idee. would in the Church, in the gospel dispensation. a be that the foolish were more prominent Ten virgins. Ten is the number of per- and noticeable class than the others. All fection; such a number of persons we.s re- the virgins were outwardly the so.me, were quired to form a synagogue, and to be pre- provided with the same lamps, prepared to sent e.t e.ny office, ceremony, or forme.l perform the same office; the difference in benediction. Talmudic authorities affirm their chamoters is proved by the result. that the lamps used in bridal processions Their folly is seen in the fa.et tho.t at the were usually ten. The "virgins" here e.re time of action they were unable to do the the friends of the bride, who e.re arranged to part which e. little care and forethought sally forth to meet the bridegroom as soon would have enabled them to ·perform suc- as his e.pproa.ch is signe.lled. " The Church, oessfully. in her e.ggregate e.nd ideal unity, is the Ver. 3.-They that were foolish (af'l'"tPES bride ; the members of the Church, as in- µ..paC) . . . took no oil with them. It has dividually called. are guests; in their been doubted. whether they brought no oil eepamtion from the world, and expectation of their own at all, trusting to get their of the Lord's coming, they are his virgins" lamps filled by others, or whether they (Lange). The bride herself is not ne.med neglected to bring an additional supply to in the parable, o.s she is not needed for replenish them when exhausted. Thelatter illustration, and the virgins occupy her seems most likely to be the sense intended; place. These virgins represent believers as the spiritual aspect of the parable places divided into two sections; evidently they both classes in exactly the so.me position at are o.11 supposed to hold the true faith, and starting, and we know from other sources to be pure and undefiled followerB of the that, the oil-reservoirs being very small, it Lord (2 Cor. xi. 2; Rev. xiv. 4), to be wait- was the custom to carry another vessel from i..ug for his coming, and to love his appea.r- which to refill them. Some good manuscripts i.r,,g ; but some fail for lack of grace or of commence the verse with "for," thus making perseverance, as is tihown further on. Their the verse justify the epithets applied to the lamp■ (.,-,is >..a.µ..,,&~as al,.,-,;;.,, better ,a.,rrwv, virgins. t/iei,. own lampB). They all made separate Ver. 4.-In their ve11el8. These were r,,nd personal, independent preparation for the flasks or vases carried by the maidens ilw meetiug. These lamps (for they were to replenish the oil in the l11wps as occaaiou mr. x:n. 1-46.] THE GOSPEL AOOORDmo TO ST MATTHEW. 4,73