MATTHEW 25:1-13

DEEPER STUDY # 2
(25:1-13) Jesus Christ, Bridegroom—Great Marriage Feast: throughout Scripture the symbolism lying behind this para-
ble involves three pictures.
1. Christ is pictured as the bridegroom.

“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom re-
joiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Is.62:5).
“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bride-
groom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and
then shall they fast” (Mt.9:15).
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and
heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled”
(Jn.3:29).
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of
God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets....And I went unto the angel,
and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up: and it shall
make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey” (Rev.10:7, 9).
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev.21:2).

2. Believers and the church are pictured as the bride of Christ.

“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom re-
joiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Is.62:5).
“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and
in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies” (Hos.2:19).
“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye
should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth
fruit unto God” (Ro.7:4).
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Eph.5:30).
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor.11:2).
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and
his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev.19:7).
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev.21:2).
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that
is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev.22:17).

3. The return of the Lord is pictured as a great marriage feast.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and
his wife hath made herself ready....And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called
unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God”
(Rev.19:7, 9).
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last
plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife”
(Rev.21:9; see outline and notes—Mt.22:1-14).


1
(25:1) Kingdom of Heaven—Jesus Christ, Return: the word then refers back to the Lord’s return discussed in Chapter
24. He was saying, “Then [when the Lord returns] the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins [believers].” Five are
foolish and five are wise, and there is going to be a separation of the wise from the foolish. Note the kingdom of heaven does
not refer only to the perfect state of being in the future; it also refers to the present imperfect state of religion in the church
(cp. Mt.19:23-24; cp. Mt.13:1-58).
When Christ returns, something will be clearly seen—the foolish within the kingdom, those who have a false profession
within the church and religion, shall be separated from the wise, “Watch therefore” (v.13).

2
(25:1-4) Parable: there are wise and foolish virgins or believers who attend a wedding. Christ says three things about
them.
1. The ten virgins (all professing believers) take their lamps (lives or testimonies) and go forth to meet the bridegroom.
All believers take their lives and go forth, professing a testimony that they live for Christ and look to Christ. All professing
believers (whether genuine or just religionists and church people) go forth to meet the Lord. However, as they “go forth”
some (five) are wise and some (five) are foolish.
2. The foolish virgins (believers) take no oil except what they already have in their lamps (lives). They have no provi-
sion of righteousness beyond themselves, beyond their own righteousness. They have no supply of the Holy Spirit.

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