Matthew:25

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Verse 1-13 - The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews , and explain the great day of Christ 's coming . See the nature of Christianity . As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ , to honour him , also to be waiting for his coming . Sincere Christians are the wise virgins , and hypocrites the foolish ones . Those are the truly wise or foolish that are so in the affairs of their souls . Many have a lamp of profession in their hands , but have not , in their hearts , sound knowledge and settled resolution , which are needed to carry them through the services and trials of the present state . Their hearts are not stored with holy dispositions , by the new-creating Spirit of God . Our light must shine before men in good works ; but this is not likely to be long done , unless there is a fixed , active principle in the heart , of faith in Christ , and love to God and our brethren . They all slumbered and slept . The delay represents the space between the real or apparent conversion of these professors , and the coming of Christ , to take them away by death , or to judge the world . But though Christ tarry past our time , he will not tarry past the due time . The wise virgins kept their lamps burning , but they did not keep themselves awake . Too many real Christians grow remiss , and one degree of carelessness makes way for another . Those that allow themselves to slumber , will scarcely keep from sleeping ; therefore dread the beginning of spiritual decays . A startling summons was given . Go ye forth to meet Him , is a call to those prepared . The notice of Christ 's approach , and the call to meet him , will awaken . Even those best prepared for death have work to do to get actually ready , 2Peter strkjv @3:14 . It will be a day of search and inquiry ; and it concerns us to think how we shall then be found . Some wanted oil to supply their lamps when going out . Those that take up short of true grace , will certainly find the want of it one time or other . An outward profession may light a man along this world , but the damps of the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light . Those who care not to live the life , yet would die the death of the righteous . But those that would be saved , must have grace of their own ; and those that have most grace , have none to spare . The best need more from Christ . And while the poor alarmed soul addresses itself , upon a sick-bed , to repentance and prayer , in awful confusion , death comes , judgment comes , the work is undone , and the poor sinner is undone for ever . This comes of having oil to buy when we should burn it , grace to get when we should use it . Those , and those only , shall go to heaven hereafter , that are made ready for heaven here . The suddenness of death and of Christ 's coming to us then , will not hinder our happiness , if we have been prepared . The door was shut . Many will seek admission into heaven when it is too late . The vain confidence of hypocrites will carry them far in expectations of happiness . The unexpected summons of death may alarm the Christian ; but , proceeding without delay to trim his lamp , his graces often shine more bright ; while the mere professor 's conduct shows that his lamp is going out . Watch therefore , attend to the business of your souls . Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long . * Verse 14-30 - Christ keeps no servants to be idle : they have received their all from him , and have nothing they can call their own but sin . Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him . The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal . The day of account comes at last . We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls , and have done to others , by the advantages we have enjoyed . It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace . It is the real Christian 's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer 's servant , in promoting his glory , and the good of his people : the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself , but to Him that died for him , and rose again . Those who think it impossible to please God , and in vain to serve him , will do nothing to purpose in religion . They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of , and punishes them for what they cannot help . Whatever they may pretend , the fact is , they dislike the character and work of the Lord . The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent . This may be applied to the blessings of this life ; but rather to the means of grace . Those who know not the day of their visitation , shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes . His doom is , to be cast into outer darkness . It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell . Here , as in what was said to the faithful servants , our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it , and this serves as a key to the whole . Let us not envy sinners , or covet any of their perishing possessions . * Verse 31-46 - This is a description of the last judgment . It is as an explanation of the former parables . There is a judgment to come , in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness , or misery . Christ shall come , not only in the glory of his Father , but in his own glory , as Mediator . The wicked and godly here dwell together , in the same cities , churches , families , and are not always to be known the one from the other ; such are the weaknesses of saints , such the hypocrisies of sinners ; and death takes both : but in that day they will be parted for ever . Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd ; he will shortly distinguish between those that are his , and those that are not . All other distinctions will be done away ; but the great one between saints and sinners , holy and unholy , will remain for ever . The happiness the saints shall possess is very great . It is a kingdom ; the most valuable possession on earth ; yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in heaven . It is a kingdom prepared . The Father provided it for them in the greatness of his wisdom and power ; the Son purchased it for them ; and the blessed Spirit , in preparing them for the kingdom , is preparing it for them . It is prepared for them : it is in all points adapted to the new nature of a sanctified soul . It is prepared from the foundation of the world . This happiness was for the saints , and they for it , from all eternity . They shall come and inherit it . What we inherit is not got by ourselves . It is God that makes heirs of heaven . We are not to suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal happiness . Good works done for God 's sake , through Jesus Christ , are here noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the Spirit of Christ , and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them . The wicked in this world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest , but they turned from his calls ; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ , that would not come to him . Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses . The punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment ; their state cannot be altered . Thus life and death , good and evil , the blessing and the curse , are set before us , that we may choose our way , and as our way so shall our end be . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

---