“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is the first of three parables in the eschatological conclusion of the Olivet Discourse, all addressed to the watch-readiness command of Matthew 24:42–44. The ten virgins who take their lamps to meet the bridegroom are the eschatological community waiting for the Son of Man's return.
Church Fathers on Matthew 25:1
Hom. lxxviii, In the foregoing parable the Lord set forth the punishment of the man who beat, and was drunk, and wasted his Lord’s goods; in this He declares his punishment who profits not, and does not prepare for himself abundantly the things of which he has need; for the foolish virgins had oil, but not enough.
'Then,' because all this discourse is concerning the great day of the Lord, concerning which He had been speaking before.
By 'the kingdom of heaven' is meant the present Church, as in that, 'The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend.' [Matt 13:41]
Read all 58 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!