The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 494

neo.rer tho.n some expect; or it mo.y be more distant. The virgins who neglected to carry oil were those who expected the bridegroom would soon appear. It is your bo.seleee supposition that the Lord will not come quickly that betrays you into care- lessness. If any one feels that this comes to no more than an appeal to fear, it can only be said in reply that the expectation of Christ's coming does not give rise only to fear, but also to hope; that it braces the Christian energies, and, in accordance with human nature, quickens the spiritual life. The expectation of Christ's coming becomes merged in the sense of his presence. III. IT SHOWS us ROW WE ABE TO PBEPABE FOB MEETING 'l'HE LOf\D, The lamps of the virgins were meant to add brilliancy to the scene. They were in keeping with it. Everything in us that heartily welcomes Chiist's presence, and heartily rises to do him honour, everything that will seem a suitable accompaniment in the triumph of a holy Redeemer, is a preparation for Christ's coming. Passing, however, to some detail brought before us in the parable, we are at once brought face to face with the warning that all who may at one time show preparedness for Christ's presence do not in the end show the ea.me. The folly of the foolish virgins consisted in this-that they lit their lamps, but ma.de no provision for feeding them: the flame was to all appearance satisfactory, but the source of it was defective. They are a warning to all who a.re tempted to make conversion everything, edification nothing; who can remember the time when they bad very serious thoughts and very solemn resolutions, but have made no earnest effort, and a.re making none, to maintain within themselves the life they once began. The wise are those who recognize that they must have-within them that which shall enable them to endure to the end; not only impressions, right impulses, tender feelings, but ineradicable beliefs and principles which will at all times produce all right impulse and feeling, and bring us into contact with Christ and with things unseen. Another hint may be accepted from this part of the parable-that there must be regard paid both to the outward and inward life. On the one hand, if you do not renew your supply of grace, if you do not carefully see to the condition of your own spirit, your good works will soon become less frequent, less sincere, and less lovely, your flame will burn low. But on the other hand, if you tend only the life of your own soul, if you are not letting your light shine before and upon men, then you will soon find it impossible to receive oil, your internal life, the graces of your own spirit, will languish and stagnate. If you are to be prepared to meet your Lord, the vessel of oil is not enough without the burning lamp, nor the lamp merely lighted and with no supply of oil. This being the distinction between the wise and foolish virgins, that which brings it to- light is that the bridegroom did not come while all the lamps were burning, and that during his delay they all slumbered and slept. This seems to mean no more than that all having made such preparation as they judged sufficient, calmly and securely waited the approach of the bridegroom. But the security which is excusable and the repose which is necessary in one condition is in another utter madness. It is one thing to turn away your attention from the Person and coming of Christ when you have made sure you are prepared to meet him, and altogether another thing to turn your attention to other things in mere thoughtless security. But we may learn from the slumber of the wise as well as from the rash sleep of the foolish. There is a kind of sleep in which the sense of hearing at least is on the alert, and takes note of the one sound it waits for. Whatever necessary occupation turns our direct attention from the approach of our Lord, there should still be an openness of sense in his direction, an inwrought though latent expectation of bis coming, a consciousness which but a whisper will a.rouse. " At midnight the cry is heard, Behold the bridegroom cometh!" And now the difference between the really and apparently prepared is manifested. This sudden and appalling reversal of their hopes, this mingling at a marriage feast of exultant joy and the most melancholy and calamitous ruin, seems intended to fix in our miuds au idea opposite to, and that should extirpate, the idle fancy that things somehow will come all right, that there is no real need of all this urgent wa.n::ing and watching. Men cannot believe that out of a life that may be jested or trifled away consequences so lasting and so awful can possibly flow. You may defer all seriousness, all thought of God, all trying of your hope and security till the coming of your Lord, but further you cannot defer it, then it will be made manifest that this life haa momentous issues. 500 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MATTHEW. [on. xxv.1--46,