The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 25:1–13, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
I. The parable of the ten virgins. (v. 1–13)
Annotated Text
1. Then (when Christ comes to hold the judgment) 1 the Kingdom of Heaven (the estate of those who publicly confess themselves to [be part of] the Church of God and to the Gospel) will be like ten 2 virgins, who 3 took their lamps (presented themselves externally as Christians) and went out to meet the Bridegroom (Christ).
1 Or, much more in the last times and with reference to His second coming.
2 † A number of which was commonly required at solemn Jewish ceremonies.
3 * Invited as guests for a wedding, which in those lands was for the most part held in the evening.
2. But five of them were foolish (by which those are to be understood who do not deal wisely in their Christianity and who do not let their salvation be a matter of true seriousness to themselves), and five were wise (by which those are to be understood who are upright Christians, who are understanding what the will of the Lord is, Ephesians 5:17, and who fulfill it in deed).
(2 Timothy 3:5; Revelation 14:4)
3. The foolish took their lamps; however, they did not take oil along with themselves 1 (they did not have true saving faith and Christian virtues, but rather were only hypocrites).2
1 In separate vessels, to refill their lamps in the case of a longer delay.
2 † Here, the oil is the grace of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 45:8), which is mediated by the Word and Sacraments, which works faith, love, and all good in men, and which prepares their hearts in the grace of God for willing and joyful service.
4. But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps (also well provided with oil). (Luther: “The lamps without oil are good works without faith, which must all be quenched. The vessel of oil however is faith in the conscience in the grace of God, which does good works that endure.”)
5. Now, when the Bridegroom was delayed (with His coming), they * all became drowsy and slept (in such a form that they did not wait with due care for the coming of Christ).
* James 3:2
6. But, at midnight (when they least expected it) there was a cry (through the sound of the trumpet): “Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go out to meet Him!”
[For the trumpet sound, see Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52]
7. Then * all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps (they prepared their lamps and poured oil into them).
* Luke 12:36ff.
8. But the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are quenched.”
9. Then the wise answered and said, “Not so, so that there may not be a lack for us and you. But go away to the merchants and buy for yourselves (buy where you want, we have nothing left over for you. Luther: “But just as here none gives the oil to another, so also must each believe for himself”).
10. And when they went out to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready * went in with Him to the wedding (into the joy of eternal life), and the door was shut (so that no one could come in anymore).
* Revelation 19:7
11. Finally, the other virgins also came and * said, “Lord, Lord (they repeated this word ‘Lord’ from hypocritical hearts, Matthew 7:22; Luke 6:46), open to us!”
* Luke 13:25ff.
1 * Or also, from all too-late recognition of the majesty of Christ, Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10–11
12. But He answered and said, “Truly, I say to you, * I do not know you (I regard you not; you do not belong to My wedding, for you had the time of grace, and when you ought to have sought the oil of true faith working through love, you did not pay attention to it; and now it is too late).
* Matthew 7:23; Psalm 1:6
1 * I cannot recognize you, with your fruitless behavior, as the companions of My bride.
13. Therefore, * watch (be prepared at all times), for you neither know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come. (In the following parable [i.e., the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14–30], Christ reminds us that each person ought to righty use and employ the gifts God has imparted to him during the time of his [earthly] life, so that on the Last Day, he may receive a reward for his faithfulness and diligence, yet by grace. But it is to be understood with this parable, that Christ will deal with us in this manner.)
* Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:33ff.; Luke 21:36 (Revelation 16:15)
Useful Applications
I. CORRECTION: That we ought to be watchful at all times in faith and remain in preparedness (which is signified by the oil and the burning lamps of the virgins), so that we meet the heavenly Bridegroom spiritually when He appears in His glory for judgment, and so that we do not neglect the time of grace according to the likeness of the foolish virgins. (v. 1–13)
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 