The National tribune., 1888-04-12
SUNDAY MEDITATIoN.
Practical Duties Taught b. q stadY OF the Inter
national Sunday -seaaal lesson Appointed f0g
April -. 81. Matt, e5:I-ig.


national SUNDAY .seaool Lesson Appoiatsd for
April - 81. Matt, e5 lib.
Zone reading these notes should FIRST carefully
study the paragraph lroG the Holy Scriptures As
indicated aboyeI
SUBJECT; THE PARABLE OF TIKI TEN via
GINS.
Christ and his Disciples had speat the dsy
in Jerusalem, mainly ia the temple. After the
completion OF evening prayer at She temple
which prayer service began 81 3 o'clock, and in
which it is most likely the Savior ana his
Apostles joined, Jesus and the Twelve left the
city on the way 10 Bethany passing over ut
Olives.
Tho account Of this parable is given only by
st. Matthew
The speaker was Christ. The hearers were
the Twelve Apostles (Z1:33 The parable
was uttered quite in the afternoon, say about
o'clock OF Wednesday, AarGh is, Il, u, -.
Ouly one day interviewed between its u.terauce
and ghris5'5 cruCl6Zi0n. II was IN tHe 3itH
year Of his life and thg fourth Of his ministry,
1919 years ago.
The parable was spoken on the slope Of ut
Olives, overlooking the city OF Jerusalem, with
It's gorgeous temple just in front Of chem 1T,
Olives Is an elevation so high as to admit Of
looking down into and all over the capital of
Palestine. The sun was in It's descent aud
casting brilliant rays over the great city
Illuminating towers, spires, turrets, and bring
ing lat0 relief the outlines Of the grand walls
of the sacred temple Looking back the beau
tiful sight caught the eyes OF the Disciples.
They al once call the attention Of Christ TO the
magniacence Of the scene, and they ask him TO
pause aud look. He .oraseejug the destruction
of so much grandeur and knowing it due TO
the slu!alne5s Of the people, W. can imagine
him saying: Zoo bad; is is 5ad a nation
should make such q wreck OF ITSELF 10 IS too
mach to sacrifice for sin: it is fearful that
Buildings so associated with David and Solo
mon and che entire history Of the Hebrew race
should become mere debris. Would the people
might reform. But they viii not. As their
sin is fixed, so their destiny is sealed Then
Christ went on to t9retel the story Of Jewish
guilt and punishment.
Tho parable Of the 10 virgins is part Of
Chri5t'5 prophecy 10 the Twelve Of events sure
to follow; OF the more immediate results, with
special alIusion to the destruction Of Jerusa-
lem, and then, by association Of Ideas, of the
end Of the world, with some account Of the
Judgment Day.
The thoughts specially impressed by this
parable are the need of uHceasug vigilance;
the danger OF late repentance; the constant
need Of readiness for death and ear final &C
count; the conditions of acceptance or rejec-
tion by Christ at the last great day. We
should try so to live that when Christ returns
we may welcome him-yea, before his coming
| long for It.
q For thee, its God iLs King, the long rejected,
Earth groan5 and cries;
For thee, the long beloved and the long expected,
Thy bride sill signs"
The parable is an illustration of the princi-
pies which govern Ia the history and destiny
Of Chri5t's Church, which is indeed "the King
dom Of Heaven" (V.1.J
The lamps were probably rather torches,
! hambeauX. In early times they used to wind
rags around an iron or earthcnWare rod hay
! ing through it minute apertures for the ex-
uding Of Oil poured into the tube. Prudent
persons, besides iIling their lamps carried some
oil for repleni5hing. Marriages were usually at
night.
There were 10 virgins, 10 talents 10 pounds,
10 pieces oil silver, 10 lepers, authority over ID
cities, 10 horns, 10 commandments, etc. some
thiak it was usual to have 10 bridesmaids.
| We cannot account for tins number being 10.
| The Rabgns said 10 was the all comprehend
/ ing number" 1t Ray be this fact gave Edward
! d. Hale said number Is the basis Of his % Tea
/ Times One p clubs, which are sprinsins up IN
/ some parts OF our country, and are known as
| the Kings Daughters"
/ The office Of the virgins was to form pro
/ ccs5ion and escort the bride to the home Of the
! Bridegroom. They also met tho bridegroom
/ when no was coming to the brides house.
/ They accompanied the procession from the
/ house of the bride 10 that Of the bridegroom.
/ Often there were two Gets Of virgjns-0ne that
met the bridegroom coming to the brides house,
/ the other that met the bridal procession when
1 it reached the bridegroom's residence. The
virgins could not know the exact hour when
/ the bridegroom would come, aud must be Ia
momentary preparation. Says Mrs. Z. z.
! H2yesgsI: