Matthew 25

Ver. I—13. This and the subsequent parable may have some relation to the time of Christ’s coming to destroy the Jewish nation, but especially to his coming to the last judgment. As the Jews had ordinarily their weddings at night, and seldom fewer than ten bridemaids, that custom is here alluded to. Christ, who betrothes and unites sinners to himself in the day of his power is the glorious bridegroom. His tarrying denotes his deferring the Jewish destruction, and death, and the last judgment, till the due season. His coming at midnight, and with a great cry, denotes how unexpected and alarming his coming is. The ten virgins denote multitudes of apparently real Christians. Their slumbering denotes their common sloth and security while Christ withdraws his presence. The foolish virgins, who had only lamps, but no oil in them, represent nominal Christians, who have a profession of gospel truth but no real grace. The wise virgins are true believers, whose external profession of Christ arises from real grace in their hearts, and who are in an habitual readiness to meet with Christ

Matthew 25:14-30

The Master is Christ, who in his ascension travelled into a far country. The servants are ministers and people. The talents are offices, gifts, and opportunities, given by Christ to men in different degrees for the good of the church, and to be accounted for at the last day. 32, 33. He will fully and exactly separate the righteous from the wicked

Matthew 25:34-40

They are called to the kingdom, not as the reward of their works, but as the inheritance to which they are entitled as adopted children of God through Christ

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXV.—It is absurd to esteem any as Christians who have not the appearance of real saintship. And inestimable is the worth of real grace implanted in the heart by a new creation in Christ. It makes a wide difference between true believers and mere nominal professors.. Safe is their meeting with Christ, and certain their admission to glory who have it: but dreadful their exclusion from Christ, and deep their damnation in hell, who die without it! Happy are they who with diligence use whatever they receive to his glory; inexpressibly great shall be their honour and their reward: but miserable are they, who, through unbelieving hard thoughts of God, take up with a mere hypocritical profession. Every plea of innocence, prudence, or of wonted assistances, will issue in their confusion.—How certain—how sudden—how awful how glorious—will be the appearance of Jesus to judgment; exact and final shall be his separation of the righteous and the wicked; and impartial his trial of human works. Gracious and heart-ravishing will be his last invitation to saints; high his regard to them, and every kindness shewn to them! But awful indeed his dismissal of sinners from him, whom they now so hate and contemn. And how fixed—how important—how lasting—is men’s future state! May these awful, these eternal realities, sink deep into my heart!