Matthew 25:1-30

25:1-5 | In ancient Jewish tradition, the bridegroom would leave his home to claim his bride. After a series of festivities, including the wedding ceremony, the couple would make their way – usually after sunset – to the bridegroom’s home. Guests who wanted to accompany them in the procession needed to bring torches (lamps). In Jesus’ parable, the problem is not that the virgins fall asleep while waiting for the bridegroom, but that some fail to prepare by bringing additional oil for the lamps.

25:6-10 | Oil in the Bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The five wise virgins represent those who have the Holy Spirit (true Christians); the five foolish virgins are those who have not truly been saved. Believers cannot impart the Spirit (share the oil) to unbelievers – each person must receive salvation for himself or herself before it is too late.

25:11-13 | The Lord of the household is not being rude when he denies entrance to the foolish virgins; he assumes those who really want to join in the festivities will come prepared.

25:14-15 | Talent in this context is a financial term referring to a unit of weight (Grk. talanton) that came to be associated with coinage. Here, the word represents all the opportunities God gives people to serve Him, including their wealth, reputation, abilities, and learning. This parable warns believers to diligently take everything God has given and invest it for His glory as they await Christ’s second coming.

25:19 | A common theme in these parables is the idea that a long time elapses between the beginning of the story and its consummation. Jesus seems to imply that there will be a lengthy period between His first and second comings. But no one should think that His delay means He is not coming at all (2 Pet. 3:3-15).

25:21 | Faithful servants, regardless of the bounty entrusted to them, use what they have been given to extend their master’s influence. The rewards God gives for such faithful service are abundant, out of all proportion to the tasks accomplished (24:47; Luke 16:10).

25:24-26 | Those who see God as a hard taskmaster never discover the joyful, biblical meaning of the fear (loving reverence) of the Lord (Prov. 1:7). Because they live only in fear, they never multiply the gifts God gives them.

25:26-30 | This parable teaches the truth that Jesus’ followers are duty-bound to work to expand His kingdom in His absence, not matter how long the wait for His return.