The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-10-12
THE TEN
VIRGINS
Sunday School Lesson Tor Oct. IA. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON IEAl.-Mdtl. I0.l-1o. nneMoEy
Se GoIpEN M TExT.-"watch therefore;
for We know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the son of man cometh. Matt
SCRIPTURE DMoNITIoN ON
WATCHING.-Deut 40; Prov 423-26;
Matt. 26:13; 2s4o, Al: Rom. 1911; ! Cor
le:l2; is;l$ i Eph 6:lS' Is; Thes' o4' o.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. /. Then" At the time which
has just been spoken of (See proceed
ing chapteD; that is, at the Lords
coming. THE kingdom of heaven"
The members of Christ's kingdom on
earth will resemble ten virgins whose
story is about to be told. Ten vir-
gins" Girl friends of the bride or
bridegroom who would join in the
wedding procession. The church is
often called the bride of Christ (Eph.
5:23-27; Rev. 21:2). But here the at
tendant virgins are taken to typify
the church. took their lamps" The
common Jewish lamp was a saucer
shaped vessel containing oil, upon
which the wick fioated. The lamp
represents whatever in the Christian
life is outward and observable by
others. This includes Christian pre-
fession, attendance upon religious
services, the performance of deeds OF
charity, and the like. Went forth to
meet the bridegroom" This typifies
the going forth to meet Christ Jesus,
the now unseen Bridegroom.
V. 2. Five wise five fool
ish." The Revisers reverse the order
in which these are named. The wis
dom referred to is prudent fore
thought Five were prepared for
emergencies; the other five were
ready only in case everything should
move along with the expedition they
hoped for.
V. 3. Jesus now goes on to explain
why he calls one class of virgins fool
ish. 1t was because they took no Oil
with them" Their lamps were full
when they set out, but they carried no
reserve supply of oil.
V. 4. THE wise took oil" They
knew it was uncertain what hour the
bridegroom might come, hence they
would prepare for emergencies. The
oil the Christian needs is obtained
only by heart-union with the source
of all love and all grace.
V. S. THE bridegroom tarried.' He
came from a distance and met various
hindrances on the way. By this Jesus
lntimates to his disciples that there
may be delay in his coming to take
the whole church to himself 1t is
also true that there are times when
to each of us Jesus seems to delay
leading us forward in ways we had
hoped he would take, or in giving us
the sweet experiences which others
tell Of enjoying.
v. 6. "At midnight" The coming
was long delayed; it occurred just
when men are wont to fall into deep
sleep, and when thick darkness en-
velops the land. Scripture tells us
that Jesus will come 'as a thief in the
night" and "at such an hour as We
think not" Behold, the bridegroom
ETC. Heralds announced his approach.
Though Jesus seems to delay long, he
will surely come at just the best time.
V. Z. "All arose and trimmed their
lamps" By daily communion with
Jesus, praying to him, loving him,
listening for his voice, we should keep
our lamps trimmed and burning.
V. 8. "Give us of your oil, for our
lamps are going out" The foolish
virgins sought help from their sisters.
For lack of oil, their lights were flick
ering and about to go out.
v. 9. Not so; lest there be not
enough for us and you" 1t was not
that the wise virgins were selfish or
unkind, but they felt how deeply the
bridegroom would be dishonored if all
the lights should go out. While there
are many things which each Christian
can and will do for others, there are
some things which he cannot do. He
cannot live for another. go, buy"
The wise knew nothing better to sug
gest for the foolish to do.
v. 10. while they went to buy"
The time was too short for them to ac-
complish their purpose. One reason
that our loving Lord comes to us so
often and in such varied ways is that
he may awaken us to replenish our
lamps before death shall come upon
us. Ready, went in to the
marriage" They went into the house
of the bridegroom, where the wedding
festivities were to be held. For each
Of us who is ready to meet Jesus there
will be entrance to, and participation
in, the joys of the marriage supper
Of the Lamb" "The door was shut"
Surely this teaches that a time will
come when it will be too late to gain
entrance to heaven.
VS.. II, 12 Lord, Lord, open unto
u.s." The bridegroom himself is evil
IDENTIFY the one addressed in the para
| BILE.
v. 10. Watch therefore" Here
Jesus gives the application of the par
able which, like the preceding one
| (24:42), is to urge us to be watchful
and ready for his coming.
Practical Points.
v. 1. Hearts should always be 60
ing forth to meet our coming Lord
Heb. 9:28.
v. 2. They only are wise who pro-
vide for the future as well as for the
present. John 2:17.
V. 8. A mere profession of religion,
without true love to God in the heart,
will not save us.-Luke 8:13.
v. Z. We should persistently try to
overcome our faults and conquer our