leaves of the fig-tree are a sign of the coming the fulfilment of Christ's predictions in re Jer to be taken as a certain assurance that Hi garding His Second Advent would also be time. "This generation shall not pass fulfilled."-In this passage Christ Destruction of Jerusalem, which before all that generation of Jews "But of that day and hour "day and hour" here meant Coming. till NOTES ON AT YATIMEV. man of the housebe immed -rather "broke three divan, geak Atime of night when it to y should," Mark adds, "Neither the S hour.) This, Christ, of cor In that capacity, all powe surrection and Ascensior, the same of His knowle "As the days of N 120 years building warned his ungodl but all in vain : t' but Noah and hi amusements. S though warn immersed in pared to m season. give His us wrapped in spiritual "Knew join Ci "A 66 ger tv r you: yourselves. room came; and n to the marriage: and ne other virgins, saying, Lord, he answered and said, Verily I say you not. Lore, for ye know neither the day nor the n the Son of man cometh." Parable is peculiar to Matthew. forms, together with the succeeding Parable of the alents, and the Picture of the Last Judgment, the sequel to the great Prophecy just uttered by Christ. General Interpretation of the Parable : : Christ will come suddenly, and unexpectedly, at His Second Advent. The Visible Church then existing, and consisting of two classes,-true Christians, and mere professors, will, when He appears, be in supine spiritual slumber, being startled from which, the unregenerate -- will realize their want of true faith, will find it repent and believe, and will be shut out from marriage feast; while the true Christians will to "the joy of their Lord." retation, &c. the Parable will be better appreciated "lowing description of NOTES ON ST. MATTHEW hrough the walls of Jewish houses, ather "broken through." it was compurn inposed of clay, or other earth. broken up."-A householder, of the house," the householder. ded upon his house, but when it is to be at h. So we, knowformed of the n," be con stead of tual vities usually lasted a week. of heaven," the Gospel Dispensation, its professed disciples, at Christ's Second Look their lamps" = making a profession of religion. "The bridegroom" = Christ, whose spouse the Church is represented to be. = "Went forth to meet the bridegroom" coming out of the world, (as the virgins went forth from their own houses), and entering the Visible Church. "Wise," rather, provident. "Foolish,"-rather, improvident, careless. "Took their lamps, and took no oil with them"-making a profession of religion, but being destitute of saving faith. In the East, it was a common practice to carry the lamp in one hand, and a pot of oil, (for the purpose of replenishing it), in the other. 66 They all slumbered and slept" = that, at Christ's Second Coming, the Church on earth will be found in a lethargic state. M "Hypocrites."-Luke has, in the parallel passage, "un believers." The Parable of the Ten Virgins. (ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.) (c. xxv. 1-13.) "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. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." This Parable is peculiar to Matthew. It forms, together with the succeeding Parable of the Talents, and the Picture of the Last Judgment, the sequel to the great Prophecy just uttered by Christ. General Interpretation of the Parable : Christ will come suddenly, and unexpectedly, at His Second Advent. The Visible Church then existing, and consisting of two classes,-true Christians, and mere professors, will, when He appears, be in supine spiritual slumber, being startled from which, the unregenerate members will realize their want of true faith, will find it too late to repent and believe, and will be shut out from the Lamb's marriage feast; while the true Christians will be received into "the joy of their Lord." Special Interpretation, &c. The details of the Parable will be better appreciated after reading the following description of Jewish weddings. These were usually celebrated at the house of the bride's father, during the evening. When the ceremony was complete, the bridegroom conducted his spouse to his home, with a gay procession, graced by the presence of female relatives and friends. 66 These virgins," festively clad, waited near the house of the bride's father, and, when the newly-wedded pair appeared, met them with congratulations, and, joining the procession, accompanied them, with songs and acclamations, to the bridegroom's house, where was prepared, for them, and the rest of the party, as rich a feast as the bridegroom could afford. When the guests had entered, "the door was shut," in order to exclude strangers. The marriage festivities usually lasted a week. "The kingdom of heaven," the Gospel Dispensation, in regard to its professed disciples, at Christ's Second Advent. "Took their lamps" = making a profession of religion. "The bridegroom" Christ, whose spouse the Church is represented to be. = "Went forth to meet the bridegroom" = coming out of the world, (as the virgins went forth from their own houses), and entering the Visible Church. "Wise," rather, provident. "Foolish,"-rather, improvident, careless. "Took their lamps, and took no oil with them"=making a profession of religion, but being destitute of saving faith. In the East, it was a common practice to carry the lamp in one hand, and a pot of oil, (for the purpose of replenishing it), in the other. 66 They all slumbered and slept"= that, at Christ's Second Coming, the Church on earth will be found in a lethargic state. M All of its members, however, will not be equally supine; some will be slumbering, or dozing; while others will actually sleep profoundly. "At midnight,”-i.e., at an hour when the call will be unexpected. It was most unusual for a bridegroom to defer his departure from the bride's father's house to so late a period as midnight. Accordingly the "virgins" are represented as growing weary with waiting, and allowing themselves to fall asleep, as if giving up the idea of the bridegroom's coming at all. So will it be with the Church. Its members, seeing that Christ apparently delays His coming, will cease to watch for it, and yield themselves to spiritual slumbers, as having no motive for vigilance. "Arose," should be "awoke." "Give us of your oil."—" It is characteristic of the foolish to look to the creature for the supply of grace. Their dependence is upon the Church.” "Our lamps are gone out."-In the dread "Day of the Lord," mere professors will, for the first time, and then too late, discover their want of faith, and the utter uselessness of their mere outward membership with the Church. "Them that sell," the Scriptures, in which the way to "eternal life" is disclosed. "While they went to buy."-Between the time of the first signs of Christ's Coming, and His pronouncing judgment on them, false professors, (as well as the hitherto impenitent), will, doubtless, (as so many do on their death-beds), put forth desperate efforts to make their peace with God. "They that were ready,"-true members of the Church. "The marriage,"-.e., the marriage feast. "The door,"-to heaven, by repentance and faith. Afterward," &c.-From this, and other passages, we gather that the righteous shall be tried first, and then the ungodly. = "I know you not" "I do not acknowledge you.” "Watch,”—i.e., “Be wakeful.” |