The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-01-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International seriep for
February 3. 100f-psrnbIe of
the Zen Virgins.
The LESSON TEXT.
Matthew 25:1-13.)

Matthew 25:1-13)
Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be
likened unto.ten virgins, which took their
lamps and went forth to meet the bride
groom.
O. And five of them were wise, and five
were foolish
3. They that were foolish took their
lamps. and took no oil with them.
4. But the wise took oil in their vessels
with their lamps.
s. While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept.
6. And at midnight there was cry made
Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out
to meet Him.
Z. Then all those virgins arose, and
trimmed their lamps.
5. And the foolish said unto the wise. Give
Us of your OIL for our lamps are gone out
9. But the wise answered, saying, Not SO;
lest there be not enough for us and you;
but go We rather to them that sell, and buy
for yourselves.
10. And while they went to buy, the BRIDE
groom came; and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage; and the
door was shut
IL. Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord. Lord, open to us.
H. But He answered and said Verify,
say unto you, know you not.
13. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither
the day nor the hour wherein the Son of
Man cometh.
GOLDEN TEXT.-watch, therefore,
for We know neither the day nor the
hour wherein the Son of Man cOmeth.
Matt. 2S,13.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
This lesson Immediately follows the
last lesson in point of time. being'Tues-
day afternoon. April 4, the third day be-
fore the crucifixion. Jesus is on His
way from the temple to Bethany. on the
Mount of Olives. overlooking ,Ierusa
lem. Through the parable of the viz
gins He utters prophecies and warn
ings to His disciples. The lessen ana.>-
sis covers the following three points:
1. The Preparation for the Birds groom
Ver. IA.
2. The Cry at Mi6night.-Ver. SO.
8. The Arrival of the Bride 81 Ever.
t0-12
After silencng His enemje. ;ir a.
tile. tender Jesus pronounced the = o.;
terrible woes upon them IL. ,".t
their falseness and misleading OF he
people. closing with 4 t>I.,L - ian.th;
over Jerusalem because Cl the lA!..
that would befall It CT %c, ant T =
rejection of Him. Ec >GW =
casting into The treas ury It" T.; at-
fering. and praised her, f.r he
given all she had. His rub ic
was closed. As Jesus went Gu -
temple with His discl 6. -.
sled that the immense ,i.> Il /.
temple foundations ,h.'.r
thrown down. On their ~, e. a.
any they sat down on the wt>igrr
of the Mount of Olives whr:" -
could look down upon the city. T."
Jesus foretold the dreadful trouh,,
that were shortly to come.
AS they were still sitting on the
mountain side. Jesus described HIS
own coming again in great glory. No
one, He said, would know the day of
His coming, but all ought to be doing
their duty faithfully and watching foi
it. He told number of parallels to
warn them that they must be ready,
or the hour of their salvation might
pass. You will notice the difference
between this parable and those in the
preceding chapter. Those warned the
servant to be awake and watching. But
the one we study to-day looks rather
to a preparation that should be made
long before. 1t was the custom to cele-
brate marriage by procession from
the house of the bride to that of the
bridegroom. 1t was generally at night.
and everybody had to carry lighted
lamp. Each of the girls should have
brought enough oil to last, and have
had it with her. This was something
they knew they would need, and could
have attended to it many days before.
| While waiting for the wedding process
sion there was no reason why they
should keep awake. The procession
would come with noise and music. Had
they been all ready they could have
been getting refreshing sleep so as to
be bright for the feast. But the prepa-
ration had been neglected. 1t is not
mere watching we must learn from this
parable. 1t is to make sure of the prep
| aratiou.
The claim for share in the feast is
not sustained Desire for Heaven is
not passport to Heaven. Wish for
bliss is not proof of fitness for the COM
| panionship of the holy; and only those
can be admitted to the company of the
blest who are fit TO have fellowship
with them. Jesus demands that his
disciples be alert. vigilant, watchful.
"ie know not the day nor the hour"
As true now as when Jesus spoke these
words. 1t is dangerous, as well a i'm
| pious. to say: "The Lord delayeth His
coming" Therefore the impressive ex-
hortation: "Watch."