The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-20
THE TEN VIRGINS.
LESSON ", SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATioNAL SERIES, APRIL 22.


49,. q,
A' vi '"' ,S'o"' "'' Nv
Golden Text, Matt. sSv, io-Mcmorize
Verses 10, II, I2, t3-Comment by
NJ, m q uog,na,.
From Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission OF
d. O. HOFFMAN, fhiadeipnia puohsnerJ
es-Lamps, torches. No oil, no grace.
Oil with their lamps, grace should go with
profession. Tarried, the Lord will not come
as soon to his church as expected. Not
enough for you no one can supply grace for
anothers need. Door shut, as much for the
comfort and security of those within as for
the exclusion of those without Watch
therefore, this is the scope and design of the
whole parable. The central thought Of this
lesson is that we must be always ready for
the Lords coming Are wel
v. l. The number ten" would seem TO he
the perfect number of secular life, as ''seven"
is of the spiritual life. 1t may "have orig
mated in the arithmetic Of the ten fingers"
Ten formed a Jewish company, ten ate the
Passover together, ten Jews in one place
formed congregation to build synagogue,
there were ten commandments, etc. This
number would seem to refer to church as it
appears to the world. The number five would
of only one hand, the five senses without the
five mental faculties, or vice versa,
The parable is based upon the marriage
customs of the east. The bridegroom went,
late in the evening, attended by his friends,
or "groomsmen,n to the brides dwelling,
where she awaited him, attired in white
robes, decked with jewels and attended by
her bridemaids. The whole company then
went in procession by torchlight to the bride
grooms house, being joined on the way by
invited guests cthe virgins in the parable)
with torches when the bridegrooms house
was reached the train OF friends and guests
entered and the doors were shut, debarring
any ones entrance that would come later.
Lamps were absolutely needed by each one
in the dark streets OF an Asiatic city In
modern Jerusalem the authorities require
every one to carry lamp.
While the virgins symbolize the whole
Church OF Christ the lamp would seem to
represent the outward profession Of Chris
tianity. The "oii" stands for the spiritual
life and grace in the soul. The "fiame" OF
the lamp typifes the outshinng OF holy life,
fed and nourished by grace VI course the
bridegroom" is none other than Christ
coming to this world for his bride, the
church.
". 2. The numbers make nothing to the
case, only the division Is essential. The
church at Christ's coming, as now, will con-
sia OF the two classes the nominal and real
Christians. The wise and fooiish are undls-
tinguishable until the crisis comes.
VS.. In the case OF the foolish virgins the
taking of the lamps is everything, but the
wise seem most concerned about taking oil in
their vessels. Some are anxious about the
profession and forms OF religion. Better be
concerned about having grace in the heart.
V.5. Allusion is made to a longer delay
Of the Lords coming than believers reckoned.
While the bridegroom tarried they all, both
wise and foolish virgins slept The word
"slumbered" signihes drowsiness, nodding,
while slept" describes the full unconscious
ness OF sleep. Two stages OF spiritual declen-
sion may possibly be indicated But there
appears no censure for their sleeping; 1t was
not interpreted as unwatchfulness, 1t was not
guilty sleep.
~. o. At midnight" when that which was
wrong could not be made right, herald, or
partof l0,s. retin'ie want before, anDour-
cling the approach OF the bridegroom. The
midnight fW the Church Of Christ is when
tho worldly spirit Is 30 far In the ascendancy
a. TO mako II seem that the whole church has
fallen inse Ne common coufSe OF the world,
and when the truth or Christ ~ troduced and
cast aside BY the mass Of men Such mid
nights OF Christian history there have been
followed by coming OF the bridegroom.
VI, Snatches OF the joyous music were
already falling on their ears Excitemsnt
was rising into enthusiasm. The virgins
"ail arose" The trimming of the lamps i'm
Piled the infusion OF fresh oil and the re-
moval OF the fungi which had gathered
around and was clogging the wick. Self ex-