Evening star., 1921-02-19
School Lesson

from the truth. He also pointed out
that in the latter times '.men shall give
heed to seducing spirits and the doc
trine Of devils" 1t is of just such
that Christ called for His followers not
only to endure but also to 'be We also
ready" for His return.
In the preceding chapter of Mat
thew's gospel the duty of waiting for
the return of the absent Lord was
emphasized. In that chapter Jesus
makes the definite statement at least
SIX SIX Tunes that He is coming again.
Ine early churches were known as
stargaZers because they were looking
upward constantly to the heavens to
see signs Of His return. The second
advent of Christ is to be a personal
return Of the ascended Jesus. He as
sured. His disciples in the preceding
chapter that He would come swiftly,
vlslbiy and unexpectedly. If the
parable of the ten virgins contributes
anything to the details Of His coming,
it is that He shall return personally
and 5oyously. which comes out Of the
WORD picture Of the backgrounds s
coming. The Old Testament, upon
the surface. appears to teach only
one coming of the Messiah, but in
the light of the explanation Of Christ
Jesus, men have come to see that it
also contains prophecies of both the
hrst and second comings. This para
DIE assumes the absence from the
earth of the Lord, whoalthough alb
sent In the body, is present in the
spirit, for He sent the Holy Spirit at
pentecost. and through Him the risen
SAVIOR guides His church.
ms statement. "While the BRIDE
groom tarried," which is truly ori-
entail. hints to the delay of His returr
ana the fact that they all slumbered
ana slept" indicates the state of tha
Loru friends when He returns. that
caused thns . Him to urge upon them that
mes, 1,in, Hive y ready to go out and
is heard. Behold. the brideproony cry
cometh' go We out to meet him" Tbera
ls no reason for one trying to search
out the hidden meaning Of each III
pa pa orapery or this parable. Calvin
,at nan "i saiG: Some expositors tor
ment themselves greatly in eYn,sin-
ing the lamp the vessels and tha ~ :.
but the simple. genuine meanin. -
the whole is just this, that II is ot
enough to have a lively zeal for ~
while. We must add to this a perse-
vera oeIance .nat never tires" We are not
only to wait and watch for His COW
ing. but to work to hasten His kinn-
DOM. This parable calls DOR q nar
sonal preparedness Of every nrofess
ing Christian to be ready for IT,
Lords return. Tue
The five virgins all appeared alike
until the emergency Of the bride.
groom coming revealed their tr,,e
character. Five were careless COW
cerning their personal Relationship -
the absent Lord. They were not ~
be star gazers. but should have been
prepared by life. labor and love 70,
His return. Our readiness for fba
Kings return involves the expectancy
of true love for the Brideeroom ex.
poets this from His bride. In an.
other place Jesus refers to His com
ing as your Lord" and this implies
that He looks for obedience in His
servants. The Master of the house
when He returns expects to find thai
His stewards have labored with a
practical fidelity. He also speaks OF
His coming as that Of "the Son OF
Man." and by this inference it shows
that He expects purity in His breth.
rem. The qualities of personal pre.
paredness are love. fidelity, obedience
and purity. No man can live such 9
life unless he enjoys the indwelline
life of Christ Jesus in his own heart
Five were found. although they pro.
fessed and looked to be friends of the
bridegroom. to be without oil, which
according to the symbolism of the
Scriptures, meant that they were
without the grace Of the Holy Spirit
which could not be supplied by the
others. when they found that the,
lacked 1t.
This is the great lesson Of the para.
bic that each individual must be per.
sonally ready or they will be deprived