Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 25:1

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." — Matthew 25:1 (ASV)

Then shall the kingdom of heaven... — The three parables of this chapter appear here in close sequence to the great discourse of Matthew 24, serving as its natural conclusion. On the other hand, no trace that such parables were spoken then appears in either Mark or Luke, and their absence is a phenomenon that calls for explanation. What seems most probable is that the strictly apocalyptic part of the discourse was frequently impressed upon the minds of the disciples through oral teaching as the destruction of Jerusalem drew near. It was then reproduced in writing—with the variations in detail that are incidental to such a process—as a complete document. It was reserved for Matthew, who was eager to collect parables here as elsewhere, to add the teaching that actually followed.

The parables have a common aim: to impress upon the disciples the necessity of both watchfulness and good works. However, as we will see, each parable has its own distinct scope.

Be likened unto ten virgins — Enough has been said about the general meaning of the wedding feast's symbolism in the notes on Matthew 22:2. Here, as there, we must remember that while the bride is the Church in her collective unity, the contrasting characters of the Church's members are represented here by the virgins, just as they were represented there by the invited guests. For this reason, the bride herself is probably not introduced as part of the parable's imagery. As for the framework of the parable, the stage of the marriage rites brought before us is the bridegroom's return to his own home with the bride, after the betrothal has been completed at the house of the bride's father. 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 translated in John 18:3. These were made of tow, steeped in oil, and fastened to the end of sticks.