At that timeThis phrase refers to the eschatological context, indicating a future event related to the end times. It connects to the broader discourse in
Matthew 24, where Jesus discusses signs of the end of the age and His second coming. The phrase sets the stage for a parable that illustrates readiness for the return of Christ.
the kingdom of heaven will be like
The kingdom of heaven is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing God's sovereign rule and the spiritual realm where His will is fulfilled. This parable is one of many that Jesus uses to describe aspects of the kingdom, emphasizing the need for preparedness and vigilance.
ten virgins
The virgins symbolize purity and readiness, often representing believers or members of the church. The number ten may signify completeness or a community, as it is a number often used in Jewish tradition to denote a quorum or a complete set.
who took their lamps
Lamps are symbolic of light and guidance, often representing the Word of God or the Holy Spirit. In the cultural context, lamps were essential for night-time travel and gatherings, highlighting the necessity of being prepared with spiritual illumination.
and went out to meet the bridegroom
The bridegroom is a typology of Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as the bridegroom in the New Testament (e.g.,John 3:29,Revelation 19:7). The act of going out to meet Him signifies the anticipation and active waiting for Christ's return. In Jewish wedding customs, the bridegroom's arrival was a significant event, often occurring at night, requiring the bridal party to be ready and vigilant.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Kingdom of HeavenRepresents God's sovereign rule and the spiritual realm where His will is fulfilled. In this parable, it symbolizes the spiritual readiness required for entry into eternal life.
2.
Ten VirginsSymbolic of believers or members of the church. The number ten often signifies completeness in biblical terms, representing the whole community of faith.
3.
LampsRepresent the preparedness and spiritual vigilance of the believers. In the context of the parable, they are essential for meeting the bridegroom.
4.
The BridegroomRepresents Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as the bridegroom in the New Testament, coming to claim His bride, the Church.
5.
The Event of Meeting the BridegroomSymbolizes the Second Coming of Christ and the final judgment, where believers must be prepared to meet their Savior.
Teaching Points
Spiritual ReadinessBelievers must maintain a state of spiritual vigilance and preparedness, as the timing of Christ's return is unknown.
The Importance of WisdomThe parable distinguishes between wise and foolish virgins, teaching that wisdom involves foresight and preparation in our spiritual lives.
The Role of the Holy SpiritThe oil in the lamps can be seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the need for a continual filling and reliance on the Spirit for spiritual readiness.
Community and AccountabilityThe collective journey of the virgins suggests the importance of community and mutual encouragement in maintaining spiritual readiness.
Urgency of the GospelThe parable underscores the urgency of responding to the Gospel message and living in anticipation of Christ's return.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 25:1?
2.How does Matthew 25:1 illustrate the importance of being spiritually prepared?
3.What does the "kingdom of heaven" symbolize in Matthew 25:1?
4.How can we apply the parable's message to our daily Christian walk?
5.What Old Testament passages emphasize readiness for God's kingdom?
6.How does this verse encourage vigilance in our faith journey?
7.What does Matthew 25:1 teach about the kingdom of heaven and its accessibility?
8.How does the parable of the ten virgins relate to preparedness for Christ's return?
9.What historical context influenced the imagery used in Matthew 25:1?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 25?
11.Why does the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) assume a wedding custom that seems unfamiliar or historically unsubstantiated?
12.Are you prepared for the unexpected arrival?
13.What if the end comes unexpectedly like a thief?
14.What defines the concept of the Bridal Paradigm?What Does Matthew 25:1 Mean
At that time• Jesus connects this parable to the moment He has just described inMatthew 24, the season of His return that arrives “like lightning” (Matthew 24:27) and “at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
• The phrase tells us He is still talking about the end of the age, the same day when “the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:30).
• Paul echoes the suddenness of that day—“the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Believers are to live in constant readiness, knowing the moment is set and sure.
the kingdom of heaven• Here, the “kingdom of heaven” is not a future place only; it is the whole realm of God’s saving rule, stretching from the new birth (John 3:3) to the final consummation (Revelation 11:15).
• Jesus has already compared this kingdom to wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), and a wedding banquet (Matthew 22:2). Each picture shows both present reality and future fulfillment.
• The coming comparison, then, previews how people who claim citizenship in that kingdom will respond when the King arrives.
will be like ten virgins• “Ten” suggests completeness; all the wedding attendants are accounted for. Yet, as verses 2-13 reveal, not all are prepared.
• “Virgins” emphasizes purity and devotion (2 Corinthians 11:2;Revelation 14:4). Outwardly, every one of them appears qualified to stand with the bride.
• Jesus warns that outward status—membership, service, reputation—cannot substitute for an inner, saving relationship with Him.
who took their lamps• Lamps were small clay dishes with wicks and oil, giving just enough light for the dark streets (Psalm 119:105).
• Carrying a lamp pictures a public profession of faith—“John was a lamp that burned and gave light” (John 5:35).
• Yet a lamp without oil is useless (Proverbs 6:23). The following verses will expose whether these attendants possess an enduring inner supply—the Holy Spirit’s life (Romans 8:9).
and went out• The virgins leave the house and step into the night, anticipating the groom’s approach. True faith is active: we “go out to Him outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13) and live in eager expectation (Titus 2:13).
• Their movement underscores responsibility. Salvation is God’s gift, yet watchfulness is our charge—“Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:43).
to meet the bridegroom• Scripture consistently identifies the Bridegroom as Christ (Matthew 9:15;John 3:29). His return culminates in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
• The virgins’ single purpose is fellowship with Him. Likewise, believers are “to be caught up together … to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
• Those truly ready find His appearing a moment of joy, not dread (2 Timothy 4:8).
summaryMatthew 25:1 introduces a parable of contrast: all ten attendants look the same, carry lamps, and step into the night, yet only some possess the hidden resource that keeps the flame alive until the Bridegroom arrives. Jesus anchors the story in the certainty of His return, urges every listener to genuine, Spirit-filled readiness, and reminds us that the kingdom of heaven rewards watchful hearts more than outward show.
XXV.
(1)Then shall the kingdom of heaven. . .--The three parables of this chapter appear here as in closest sequence to the great discourse of Matthew 24, and are as its natural conclusion. On the other hand, no trace of such parables being then spoken appears either in St. Mark or St. Luke, and their absence is at least a phenomenon that calls for explanation. That which seems most probable is that the strictly apocalyptic part of the discourse was, as the destruction of Jerusalem drew near, frequently impressed by oral teaching on the minds of disciples, and then reproduced in writing, with the diversities of detail incidental to such a process, as a document complete in itself, while it was reserved for St. Matthew--here as elsewhere, eager in collecting parables--to add the teaching that actually followed it. The parables have a common aim, as impressing on the disciples the necessity at once of watchfulness and of activity in good, but each has, it will be seen, a very distinct scope of its own.
Be likened unto ten virgins.--On the general meaning of the symbolism of the Wedding Feast enough has been said in the Notes onMatthew 22:2. Here, as there, we have to remember, that while the bride is the Church in her collective unity, the contrasted characters of the members of the Church are represented here by the virgins, as there by the guests who were invited; and for this reason, probably, the bride herself is not introduced as part of the imagery of the parable. As far as the frame-work of the figure is concerned, the stage in the marriage rites which is brought before us is the return of the bridegroom, after the espousals have been completed in the house of the bride's father, to his own abode, bringing the bride with him. Jewish custom required the bridesmaids to wait at the bridegroom's house, to receive him and the bride, and as this was commonly after sunset, they were provided with lamps or torches.
Which took their lamps.--Better,torches, as the word is rendered inJohn 18:3. These were of tow, steeped in oil and fastened to the end of sticks.
Verses 1-13. -
Parable of the ten virgins. (Peculiar to St. Matthew.) This parable, as a continuation of the teaching of the last chapter, sets forth the necessity of having and retaining grace unto the end, in order to be able to welcome the advent of Christ. The duty of watchfulness and preparation for the great day is, of course, implied and set forth (ver. 13); but the point is that the oil of God's grace alone enables the soul to meet the bridegroom joyfully, without dismay. The usual marriage customs of the Jews are well known. On the appointed day, the bridegroom, accompanied by his friends, proceeded to the bride's house, and thence escorted her, with her attendant maidens and friends, to his own or his parents' home. In the parable, however, the proceedings are somewhat different. Here the bridegroom is not in the town, but somewhere at a distance, so that, though the day is settled, the exact hour of his arrival is uncertain. He will come in the course of the night, and the virgins who are to meet him have assembled in the house where the wedding is to take place. They wait for the smnmons to go forth and meet the bridegroom and conduct him to the bridal place; and when the signal is given that he is approaching, they set forth on the road, each bearing her lamp (Edersheim).
Verse 1. -
Then. The time refers to the hour of the Lord's advent (
Matthew 24:50, 51), and the parousia of the Son of man (
Matthew 24:36, etc.).
Shall the kingdom of heaven be likened. At the time named something analogous to the coming story shall happen in the Church, in the gospel dispensation.
Ten virgins. Ten is the number of perfection; such a number of persons was required to form a synagogue, and to be present at any office, ceremony, or formal benediction. Talmudic authorities affirm that the lamps used in bridal processions were usually ten. The "virgins" here are the friends of the bride, who are arranged to sally forth to meet the bridegroom as soon as his approach is signalled. "The Church, in her aggregate and ideal unity, is the bride; the members of the Church, as individually called, are guests; in their separation from the world, and expectation of the Lord's coming, they are his virgins" (Lange). The bride herself is not named in the parable, as she is not needed for illustration, and the virgins occupy her place. These virgins represent believers divided into two sections; evidently they are all supposed to hold the true faith, and to be pure and undefiled followers of the Lord (
2 Corinthians 11:2;
Revelation 14:4), to be waiting for his coming, and to love his appearing; but some fail for lack of grace or of perseverance, as is shown further on.
Their lamps (
τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, better
ἑαυτῶν,
their own lamps). They all made separate and personal, independent preparation for the meeting. These lamps (for they were not torches) were, as Dr. Edersheim notes, hollow cups or saucers, with a round receptacle for the wick, which was fed with pitch or oil. They were on these occasions fastened to a long wooden pole, and borne aloft in the procession.
Went forth. This does not refer to the final going forth to meet the bridegroom on the road (ver. 6), as it is absurd to suppose that they all fell asleep by the wayside, with their lamps in their hands (ver. 5), and, as a fact, only five went out at last; but it doubtless intimates that they left their own homes to unite in duly celebrating the wedding.
To meet the bridegroom. An evident interpolation adds, "and the bride," which the authorized Vulgate unhappily confirms, reading,
exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae. In this case the scene refers to the bridegroom's return in company with his bride. But this is a misconception, as no mention is made of the bride anywhere in the genuine text. The bridegroom comes to fetch home the bride; and these maidens, her friends, assembled in her house to be ready to escort him thither (cf. 1 Macc. 9:37). The wedding seems to take place at the bride'e house, as
Judges 14:10.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
At that timeΤότε(Tote)Adverb
Strong's 5119:Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.theἡ(hē)Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.kingdomβασιλεία(basileia)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932:From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.ofτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.heavenοὐρανῶν(ouranōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772:Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.will be likeὁμοιωθήσεται(homoiōthēsetai)Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3666:To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.tenδέκα(deka)Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1176:Ten. A primary number; ten.virginsπαρθένοις(parthenois)Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3933:Of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter.whoαἵτινες(haitines)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3748:Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.tookλαβοῦσαι(labousai)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2983:(a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.theirἑαυτῶν(heautōn)Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438:Himself, herself, itself.lampsλαμπάδας(lampadas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2985:A torch, lamp, lantern. From lampo; a 'lamp' or flambeau.[and] went outἐξῆλθον(exēlthon)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1831:To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.toεἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.meetὑπάντησιν(hypantēsin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5222:A meeting. From hupantao; an encounter or concurrence.theτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.bridegroom.νυμφίου(nymphiou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3566:A bridegroom. From numphe; a bride-groom.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 25:1 Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be (Matt. Mat Mt) 
