The Commentary by George C. Tenney

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 6, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 14.

The Commentary.

By George C. Tenney

NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.

THE parable of the ten virgins, forming the basis of the lesson for this week, is truly a most beautiful and touching illustration of an important subject, one of the most beautiful, doubtless, to be found in all the range of literature. The subject to which it applies is the second coming of Christ, continued from the last week's lesson. The object of the parable is to enforce upon our minds the necessity of watchfulness, and particularly of preparation for that great event.

THERE is a recurrence of the figure of an Eastern wedding, the coming of the bridegroom to the wedding, and the impressive ceremonies for his reception by ten virgins appropriately clad, and provided with lamps. A tarrying of the expected bridegroom intervened, and then came the thrilling cry, "Behold the bridegroom cometh." There was a sudden awakening of the virgins, their lamps were quickly lighted, and as they went forth it was immediately discovered by five of these expectant ones that they had by a foolish oversight failed to supply themselves with oil for their lamps, and that they were going out.

THEY could not thus meet their coming Lord; the event so long anticipated was just upon them, there was no oil to feed their lamps, and the agonizing thought vividly appeared that after all their expectations and outward preparation, they were about to lose this one great opportunity of their lives. They appealed to their wise companions whose lamps were burning brightly, and whose faces were lighted up with glad expectancy, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out." But this could not be. The grace represented by the oil is not a human gift, it must be obtained from God. No one has a surplus to impart; each one must obtain it for himself. There was but one way to remedy their sad mistake, they must go to those who had it to sell, and buy. On the verge of despair, yet cherishing a hope, they hastened away, and when they returned it was too late, the door was shut, and from within came the fatal words, "I know you not."

THE marriage represents the reception of his glorious kingdom by Christ the bridegroom. It is true that in certain scriptures the church is spoken of as the bride, but in this and other scriptures the people of God are the guests and attendants, while the kingdom of glory represented by the city, New Jerusalem, is regarded as the bride. See Revelation 21. There the angel says to John, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God." The description of the city then follows. With this understanding, many seeming inconsistencies disappear, and all appears harmonious. The marriage ceremony is thus described by the prophet Daniel: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, glory, and a kingdom," etc.

THE true church are called as guests to the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb." But the ten virgins represented a particular class whose duty and great privilege it was to welcome the coming of the king. They were apprised of the approach of the event, and understood that a special preparation was necessary. A portion of them wisely made thorough work, while the rest were contented with the outward work and neglected the necessary grace. The lesson is especially to professed Christians, which class these virgins represent rather than nonprofessing sinners. And it appeals particularly to everyone who desires to be in an acceptable state when the Lord shall appear the second time.

THE oil represents the Christian graces, especially that of faith. There is nothing to absolutely prevent anyone from passing along with an exterior appearance of sincerity and religion. He may wear a very thin religious covering all through his probationary time, and entirely neglect to obtain the necessary experience in the things of God. Christian experience is not a matter of appearances only; but its foundation is in the "hidden man of the heart," in the deep principles and motives which lie beneath the thoughts and purposes, and of which the outer life is but an expression. And the time is coming which will test to the depth every man's character.

ESPECIALLY will this be true of those who live in the days of Christ's second coming. The prevailing worldliness and pleasure-loving will induce many to trust in outward forms and professions, while the inward graces are entirely forgotten or neglected. But the test will surely come. None but those who have their lamps supplied with the oil of faith will be prepared to meet the Bridegroom when he comes. And to give this parable to the unconverted and sinners who make no pretensions of religion, is to deprive the Christian church of what is intended to be to them a most important lesson and admonition. To meet the trying test of the Judgment requires deep and thorough work.

WE learn from this parable that there will be a class which will be prepared and ready to enter in to the wedding. Many other scriptures show the same thing. God will have a faithful, watching people. Some will

exclaim when he comes, "Lo this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us." But let none wait, hoping to make the necessary preparation when the thrilling cry is made, "Behold the bridegroom cometh." It will then be too late to repair the fatal mistake and gain the necessary experience. Hence the force of the admonition which follows the parable, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man doth come." Watching implies faithfulness in self-examination, and earnestness in our Master's work. G. C. TENNEY.