25:1 kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven (see note on Matthew 3:2) is here seen in its outward aspect of Christian profession. It contains both members who have prepared for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom and are waiting anxiously for Him and also members who care more about their own comfort and personal interests than about the Bridegroom, and so have not bothered to prepare for His coming. The message is similar to that of the faithful and evil servants in the preceding parable. Like the unfaithful servant, the foolish virgins were unconcerned about the Lord because they thought His coming (or their death) would be delayed. The evil servant, however, was a wicked hypocrite; the foolish virgins were indifferent procrastinators. In spite of their professed commitment to the kingdom, both of these types of “Christians” are not really committed to the Lord. Thus they are still unsaved sinners. The moral in both parables is to be watchful and ready, living in light of the imminent coming of the Lord. The same watchfulness would also serve to prepare them for death, if that should come first. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13). Note also Hebrews 9:28; I John 2:28; etc.

25:13 Watch therefore. The oft-repeated command to watch for the coming of the Lord not only rebukes those who attempt to set the date of His return, but also those who argue that He cannot come until certain other predictions have been fulfilled (the manifestation of Antichrist, a great revival, a great apostasy, the revival of the Roman empire, or some other such event). It would be pointless to be watching for His coming if we must watch for other signs first. His return for those who have believed on Him is always imminent (Matthew 24:42,44; Mark 13:33-37; Hebrews 9:28; Titus 2:12-13; I John 2:28; etc.). See also notes on I Thessalonians 5:9; II Thessalonians 2:3; and Revelation 3:10.