Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 25:1-2

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise." — Matthew 25:1-2 (ASV)

According to Oriental custom, the bridegroom is represented as having gone to the house of his bride’s father, from where he would conduct his spouse to her future home. The parable opens at the point where some of his professed friends are waiting to join the procession and go in with him to the marriage feast. Thus, the nominal Church of Christ is waiting for the coming of the Lord.

There did not seem to be much difference in the external appearance of the ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. They were all virgins, they all took their lamps, and they all went forth to meet the bridegroom. They all made a profession of attachment to him, which led them to separate themselves from their other companions and acquaintances that they might go forth to meet him on his wedding night.

There was, however, a vital and essential difference between them: Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Let us gladly hope that we are not to gather from our Lord’s words that one half of the professing Church is composed of those whom He calls foolish. Yet our Savior would not have spoken of so great a proportion if there were not really a very large mixture of foolish professors with the wise possessors of the grace of God.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, And five were foolish.

What a division this makes in the visible Church of God! Let us hope that we are not to conclude from this that as many as half the professors of Christianity at any time are like these foolish virgins; yet our Lord would not have mentioned so high a proportion if there were not a very large mixture of the foolish with the wise: Five of them were wise, and five were foolish.