_TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM_ ‘Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.’ Matthew 25:1 Amongst our Blessed Lord’s words of warning, this parable holds a very conspicuous place. I. THE VIRGINS CHOSEN.—They were chosen... [ Continue Reading ]
_LAMPS BURNING LOW_ ‘Our lamps are gone out.’ Matthew 25:8 We might more literally translate the words, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The appeal is for more oil for lamps that are burning low. I. SIGNS OF A FLICKERING LAMP.—What is it that causes the light that is in us to... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PENALTY OF NEGLECT_ ‘And while they went … the door was shut.’ Matthew 25:10 The ten virgins represent the professing Church, for the framing of the parable excludes those who are living in total neglect of outward observances. I. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PARABLE. We see in what the wisdom of... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CLOSED DOOR_ ‘And the door was shut.’ Matthew 25:10 Very solemn tone in these words, even standing alone; this feeling increases when you see in what connection they occur. They are not words of ornament, but have their own meaning for the attentive soul. I. PASSING AWAY OF LAST CHANCE.—Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOUND FAITHFUL_ ‘His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ Matthew 25:21 What we must learn from the saints is to persevere to the end in our struggl... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DISUSED TALENT_ ‘Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine.’ M... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE_ ‘Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.’ Matthew 25:29 The words of the text, if we did not know by Whom they were spoken, would perhaps suggest to us rather a sad and h... [ Continue Reading ]
_NO NEUTRALITY_ ‘Cast ye the unprofitable servant.… gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:30 The Advent warning, contained in parable of unprofitable servant, is directed against the sin of despised opportunities and a wasted life. The smallest amount entrusted to the servant, but he must render accoun... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CALL TO GLORY_ ‘Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Matthew 25:34 The parable, if parable indeed it be, sets Christ forth to us under three titles:—‘the Son of man,’—‘the S... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST IN HIS POOR_ ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’ Matthew 25:40 The ground of the judgment, you note, is the carrying out in this life the principles of active love. No mention is made of faith in Christ; but all that is done ... [ Continue Reading ]
_ETERNAL PUNISHMENT_ ‘And these shall go away into everlasting punishment.’ Matthew 25:46 I. A FACT.—The revelation of eternal punishment _ is a fact_. Poor humanity has always tried to escape the logic of facts. I cannot see the possibility of evading the conclusion that in some sense of the te... [ Continue Reading ]