See note Matt. 5:3^4b and note Matt. 13:3¹ and note Matt. 13:24^1a.

Ten is the major part of twelve (Gen. 42:3-4; 1 Kings 11:30-31; Matt. 20:24). Hence, the ten virgins represent the majority of the believers, who will have died before the Lord's coming. The two men or two women in Matt. 24:40-41 represent the remaining believers, who will live until the Lord's coming.

Virgins signify believers viewed from the aspect of life (2 Cor. 11:2). Believers, who are the kingdom people, are like chaste virgins. As virgins they bear the Lord's testimony (the lamp) in the dark age and are going out of the world to meet the Lord. For this they need not only the indwelling but also the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Lamps signify the spirit of the believers (Prov. 20:27), which contains the Spirit of God as the oil (Rom. 8:16). The believers shine forth the light of the Spirit of God from within their spirit. Thus, they become the light of the world and shine as a lamp in the darkness of this age (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15-16), bearing the testimony of the Lord for the glorification of God.

Went forth signifies that the believers are going out of the world to meet the coming Christ.

The bridegroom signifies Christ as the pleasant and attractive person (John 3:29; Matt. 9:15).

Five is composed of four plus one, signifying that man (signified by four) with God (signified by one) added to him bears responsibility. The fact that five of the virgins are foolish and five are prudent does not indicate that half the believers are foolish and the other half are prudent. It indicates that all believers bear the responsibility of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Being foolish does not make these five virgins false. In nature they are the same as the five prudent ones.

Oil signifies the Holy Spirit (Isa. 61:1; Heb. 1:9).

Man is a vessel made for God (Rom. 9:21, 23-24), and man's personality is in his soul. Hence, vessels here signifies the souls of the believers. The five prudent virgins not only have oil in their lamps but also take oil in their vessels. That they have oil in their lamps signifies that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in their spirit (Rom. 8:9, 16), and that they take oil in their vessels signifies that they have the Spirit of God filling and saturating their souls.

Becoming drowsy signifies becoming sick (Acts 9:37; 1 Cor. 11:30).

Sleep signifies death (1 Thes. 4:13-16; John 11:11-13). While the Lord delays His return, a majority of the believers become sick and then die.

Midnight signifies the darkest time of this dark age (night). That time will be the end of this age, the time of the great tribulation.

This cry signifies the voice of the archangel (1 Thes. 4:16).

A word different from meet in v. 1. The word in v. 1 refers to meeting someone alone and in secret, whereas the word here refers to meeting someone openly according to plan and ceremony.

Arose signifies resurrection from the dead (1 Thes. 4:14). This is the resurrection predicted in 1 Thes. 4:16 and 1 Cor. 15:52.

Lit., adorned. Trimmed their own lamps signifies the virgins' dealing with the testimony in their living. This indicates that after we are resurrected, our living for the Lord's testimony still needs to be dealt with if it has not been perfected before we die.

This word implies that even after they are resurrected, the foolish believers will still need the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Going out proves that the lamps of the foolish virgins were lighted; they contained some oil but did not have an adequate supply. The foolish virgins represent the believers who are regenerated with the Spirit of God and indwelt by the Spirit of God, but who have not been filled with Him sufficiently to have their whole being saturated with Him.

No one can obtain the filling of the Holy Spirit for others.

Here those who sell oil must be the two witnesses who appear during the great tribulation, the two olive trees and the two sons of oil (Rev. 11:3-4 and notes; Zech. 4:11-14).

Buy indicates that a price must be paid. Having the filling of the Holy Spirit is at a cost, such as giving up the world, dealing with self, loving the Lord above all, and counting all things loss for Christ. If we do not pay this price today, we will have to pay it after we are resurrected.

This is the Lord's coming to the air (1 Thes. 4:16), a part of His coming (parousia).

They must be those who are invited to the marriage dinner of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9 and note 1).

We should be ready (Matt. 24:44), always having oil in our vessel, always being filled with the Spirit of God in our whole being. Watching and being ready should be our daily exercise for the Lord's coming (parousia).

This is the rapture of the resurrected believers to the air (1 Thes. 4:17) at the time that the Lord's coming (parousia) descends to the air.

This is the marriage dinner of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9), which will be spread in the air (1 Thes. 4:17) on the path of the Lord's coming (parousia). It will occur before the manifestation of the kingdom and will be a reward of mutual enjoyment with the Lord, a reward to be given to the believers who are ready, who are equipped with the filling of the Holy Spirit before they die.

This is not the door of salvation but the door through which one enters into the enjoyment of the Lord's wedding feast.

This is the resurrected believers' coming before the Lord at a later time; it occurs later because of their unreadiness.

Not know here carries the sense of not recognize, not approve, as in Luke 13:25. The foolish virgins had their lamps lighted, went forth to meet the Lord, died, and were resurrected and raptured, but were late in paying the price for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Because of this the Lord would not recognize them, approve them, for participation in His wedding feast. They miss this dispensational reward but do not lose their eternal salvation.

This word, the same as in Matt. 24:42, indicates that vv. 1-13 are a completion of Matt. 24:40-44, a section on the believers' being watchful that they may be raptured. Verses 40-44 in ch. 24 unveil the rapture of living believers who are ready. Verses 1-13 of this chapter are needed to reveal the rapture of those who have died and are resurrected.

This parable of the talents, like the parable of the ten virgins, concerns the kingdom of the heavens.

The man here signifies Christ, who was about to go abroad, into the heavens.

Slaves signify believers viewed from the aspect of service (1 Cor. 7:22-23; 2 Pet. 1:1; James 1:1; Rom. 1:1). The believers' status in relation to Christ is of two aspects: in life they are virgins living for Him; in service, in work, they are His purchased slaves serving Him.

His possessions signifies the church (Eph. 1:18) with all the believers, who constitute God's household (Matt. 24:45).

A talent, the largest unit of weight, was worth 6,000 denarii (see note John 6:7¹). In the parable of the virgins, oil signifies the Spirit of God (vv. 3-4), whereas in this parable, talents signify spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6). For life we need oil, the Spirit of God, even His filling, that we may be enabled to live the virgin life for the Lord's testimony; for service, for work, we need the talent, the spiritual gift, that we may be equipped as a good slave to accomplish what the Lord intends to accomplish. The filling of the Spirit in life enables us to use the spiritual gift in service (work), and the spiritual gift in service matches the filling of the Spirit in life, that we may be a perfect member of Christ.

Own ability signifies our natural ability, which is constituted of God's creation and our learning.

Traded with them (talents) signifies our using of the gift that the Lord has given us.

Gained another five (talents) signifies that the gift we received from the Lord has been used to the fullest extent, without any loss or waste.

The main emphasis in this parable is on the one-talented one, who received the smallest gift. It is very easy for the least gifted to mistreat or ignore their gift.

The earth signifies the world; thus, dug in the earth signifies becoming involved in the world. Any association, any involvement, with the world, even a little worldly talk, will bury the gift we have received from the Lord.

Hid his master's money signifies rendering the Lord's gift useless, letting it lie waste under the cloak of certain earthly excuses. To make any excuse for not using the Lord's gift is to hide the gift. This is always the danger with the one-talented ones, those who consider their gift to be the smallest.

A long time signifies the entire church age.

Came signifies the Lord's descending to the air (1 Thes. 4:16) in His coming (parousia). After burying the talent in the earth, the evil slave thought that all would be well. Little did he know that his master would come to settle accounts with him.

Settled accounts signifies the Lord's judging at His judgment seat (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10) in the air (within His parousia), where the believers' living, conduct, and work will be judged for reward or punishment (1 Cor. 4:5; Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12; 1 Cor. 3:13-15). See note Heb. 10:35^1b.

This is to come to the judgment seat of Christ.

The gaining of another five talents is the result of the full use of the gift of the five talents.

A few things signifies the Lord's work in this age.

Over signifies the ruling authority in the coming kingdom.

Many things signifies the responsibilities in the coming kingdom.

The joy of your master signifies the enjoyment of the Lord in the coming kingdom. This refers to inward satisfaction, not to outward position. To participate in the Lord's joy is the greatest reward, better than the glory and position in the kingdom.

This is the same appraisal the Lord gave to the five-talented one.

This is the same reward the Lord gave to the five-talented one. Although the gift given to the two-talented one was smaller than that given to the five-talented one, the Lord's appraisal and reward were the same in both cases. This indicates that the Lord's appraisal and reward are not related to the size and quantity of our work, but to our faithfulness in using His gift to the fullest extent. The same appraisal and reward would have been given to the one-talented one if he had been as faithful.

The one-talented one also, who did not gain any profit for the Lord, came to the judgment seat of Christ in the air. This proves that he was not only saved but also raptured to the air. No unsaved person can be raptured and come to the judgment seat of Christ.

The Greek word refers to outward, objective knowledge, not to inward, subjective realization.

Apparently, the Lord is hard in His strictness. He demands that we use His gift to the fullest extent for His work, which requires our absoluteness.

Apparently, the Lord's work always begins from zero. Reaping where He did not sow and gathering where He did not winnow, He seemingly demands that we work for Him with nothing. This should not be an excuse for the one-talented one to neglect the use of his gift; rather, this should force him to exercise his faith so that he can use his gift to the uttermost.

Lit., scatter. So in v. 26.

To be afraid is negative. We should, rather, be positive and aggressive in using the Lord's gift.

This is to be too passive. We should be active in the Lord's work.

Merely to keep the Lord's gift and not lose it is not sufficient; we must gain a profit by using it.

The Lord admits that He is strict in what He demands of His slaves for His work.

This signifies the use of the Lord's gift to save people and to minister His riches to them.

Interest signifies the profitable result we gain for the Lord's work by using His gift.

This signifies that in the coming kingdom the Lord's gift will be taken away from slothful believers.

This signifies that the faithful believers' gift will be increased.

To everyone who gains profit in the church age, more gifts will be given in the coming kingdom age; but concerning the one who has not gained a profit in the church age, even the gift that he has will be taken away from him in the coming kingdom age.

See note Matt. 22:13^2a.

See note Matt. 8:12² and note Matt. 22:13^2a.

This word, the same as in Matt. 24:51, indicates that vv. 14-30 are a completion of Matt. 24:45-51. Both sections concern faithfulness for the Lord's work. Verses 45-51 in ch. 24 deal with the slave's unfaithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission. Verses 14-30 in this chapter are needed so that the slave's unfaithfulness in using the Lord's talent can be dealt with.

See note Matt. 8:12^3b.

But indicates that what is spoken in vv. 31-46 is another section, the section concerning the Gentiles.

Son of Man is the title of Christ in relation to His kingdom, the Messianic kingdom (Matt. 13:41). His judgment here is a preparation for that kingdom.

This is the open aspect of the Lord's coming. (See note Matt. 24:27¹ and note Matt. 24:37¹.) It will be the continuation of His coming mentioned in Matt. 24:30.

The Lord's glory comprises the glory of His divinity (John 17:22, 24), the glory of His humanity (Psa. 45:3), the glory of His resurrection (John 7:39; Acts 3:13-15), and the glory of His ascension (Heb. 2:9).

The throne of David (Luke 1:32-33), which will be in Jerusalem (Matt. 19:28; Jer. 3:17).

All the nations refers to all the Gentiles who remain at Christ's coming back to the earth, after He has destroyed those Gentiles who follow Antichrist at Armageddon (Rev. 16:14, 16; 19:11-15, 19-21). These remaining Gentiles will all be gathered and judged at Christ's throne of glory. This will be Christ's judgment of the living before the millennium (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1). It differs from His judgment of the dead at the great white throne after the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15) and will be executed on the earth after His judgment of the believers at His judgment seat in the air (vv. 19-30).

The Lord is the Shepherd not only of the believers (John 10:11; Heb. 13:20) and the Jews (Psa. 80:1; Jer. 31:10) but also of all the Gentiles (Psa. 100:1-3).

The place of honor (1 Kings 2:18; Psa. 45:9).

After the judgment at Christ's throne of glory, the "sheep" will be transferred into the millennium to be the people living under the kingly ruling of Christ and the overcoming believers (Rev. 2:26-27; 12:5; 20:4-6) and under the priestly ministry of the saved Jews (Zech. 8:20-23). In this way the "sheep" will inherit the (coming) kingdom. In the millennium there will be three sections:
1) the earth, where the blessing of God's creation will be, as mentioned in Gen. 1:28-30 ;
2) the nation of Israel in Canaan, from the Nile to the Euphrates, from which the saved Jews will rule over the whole earth (Isa. 60:10-12; Zech. 14:16-18);
3) the heavenly and spiritual section (1 Cor. 15:50-52), the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens, where the overcoming believers will enjoy the kingdom reward (Matt. 5:20; 7:21).
The kingdom that the "sheep" will inherit consists of the first section.

The blessing of the first section in the millennium, the blessing of God's creation, was prepared for the "sheep" from the foundation of the world, whereas the blessing in the third section, the blessing of the heavenly and spiritual kingdom, was ordained for the believers before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-4).

All the sufferings in vv. 35-39 will befall the believers who are left to be tried (Rev. 3:10 and note 2) during the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21).

This will happen in the great tribulation, when the believers suffer the persecution of Antichrist (Rev. 13:6-7; 20:4).

These should refer to the believers who overcome the persecution of Antichrist (Rev. 15:2 and note 2). They will be with Christ at this judgment.

Christ's brothers are His believers (Matt. 12:49-50).

Christ is one with the believers, who are His members, as indicated in Acts 9:4.

The fire in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). The "goats" will perish in the lake of fire, after Antichrist and the false prophet (Rev. 19:20) and before the devil and the resurrected sinners (Rev. 20:10, 15). This is part of the fulfillment of Rev. 14:10.

The lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for man. However, if any man follows the devil in opposing the Lord, he will share the lake of fire with the devil and the fallen angels.

This also will occur during Antichrist's persecution.

This is to perish in the lake of fire (v. 41).

So that the believers left on earth will be cared for during Antichrist's persecution, an eternal gospel will be preached to the nations (Rev. 14:6-7 and notes), as illustrated by the parable of the net in Matt. 13:47-50. The Lord will then judge the nations not according to the law of Moses or the gospel of Christ, but according to the eternal gospel. This is a matter of God's dispensation. Those who obey that gospel and treat the suffering believers well will be blessed and reckoned as righteous and will inherit the kingdom (v. 34); but those who do not will be cursed (v. 41) and will perish for eternity.

The gospel of grace (Acts 20:24) brings eternal life into the believers (John 3:15-16) that they may live by God's life, whereas the eternal gospel brings the "sheep" into eternal life that they may live in the sphere of God's life.