3. The Kingdom of Heaven is Like…

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Matthew 25:1

Upon arrival in the Rocky Mountains visitors are struck by the many sights all around them. Snow capped mountains, high waterfalls, flowing rivers, pristine mountain lakes, and wildlife in abundance. To enjoy the fullest experience of the mountains, time must be spent focusing on each sight. As we embark on the study of this majestic parable we are similarly struck by the many elements within. We are introduced to a kingdom, virgins, lamps, a bridegroom, oil, a fixed time, a marriage, and a door. For our greatest benefit from the parable we need to understand something of the various elements of the parable by looking at each one on its own terms.

We are introduced to the parable not by meeting the ten virgins who appear later in the first verse but rather the Lord begins the parable with commentary on a kingdom. “Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened…”

This is not the first time Matthew uses the title, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” nor is it the last. It is a phrase, however, that we only read in the Gospel of Matthew. Other gospels use the similar phrase, “The Kingdom of God.” “The Kingdom of Heaven” is used more than 30 times in Matthew’s Gospel beginning with the start of John the Baptist’s ministry (3:2) and continuing with Jesus’ ministry when He, “began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ( 4:17).  Among the many uses of this phrase there are at least twelve kingdom of heaven parables where the Lord describes the Kingdom of Heaven by illustration.  The parables begin with the Wheat and the Tares in 13:24 and continue to the parable of the talents in 25:14. The parable of the ten virgins then is the eleventh in the series of parables beginning in this way, “The Kingdom of heaven is likened…”

Christ’s parables are word pictures. As such we need to use them accordingly. We do not need to interpret the book solely through the picture but rather we should interpret the picture through the book. By interpreting Scripture through Scripture in this way we we will glean the spiritual realities the Lord has reserved for us through the illustration of the parable.

There are a variety of interpretations given for the Kingdom of Heaven among theologians. Some have suggested the kingdom of heaven to represent the invisible church, that is the elect of God, the born again, the saved. While the kingdom of heaven includes the born again, this interpretation does not hold as we see in several of the parables, that in the kingdom of Heaven there are two groups of people: actual believers; and those who fake belief in Christ (13:24-30; 18:23-35; and 25:1-13). So, the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be solely the invisible church but rather something beyond the invisible church in which there are both believers and unbelievers, all who will one day meet the Savior for glorification or judgment. Knowing these two groups co-exist in the church should have great impact on the manner and focus of preaching in the present time.

Some consider the general rule and reign of Christ in the present age to be the Kingdom. We need not vigorously refute this interpretation as Christ surely is reigning over all things and His church is included in all things and advancing to all nations. Nevertheless, there does seem to be something much more particular in Christ’s preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven than the general reign of Christ. It seems to me we ought to take the position that many theologians share, that the Kingdom of Heaven is most specifically the visible manifestation of Christ’s kingdom on earth – the church.

The parable represents the kingdom of heaven, that is, the church, and the administration of the gospel dispensation in it… The kingdom of heaven, the state of things under the gospel, is the external kingdom of Christ, and the administration and success of it.

Matthew Henry, Commentary on Matthew 13 and 25

By this term [the kingdom of heaven] is meant the condition of the future Church, which was to be collected by the authority and direction of Christ.”

John Calvin, Commentary on Matthew 25

The chief doctrines to be observed herein are, first, that the external visible church is worthy to be called and counted the Kingdom of Heaven… To this end the visible church is compared to ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom’s coming.”

David Dickson, Commentary on Matthew 13 and 25

A simple definition of the Kingdom of Heaven then is the visible church where Christ is confessed and embraced as Lord and Savior and His Word is proclaimed.

Now then, as Matthew 25 begins, both the immediate audience and us today know much more of the visible church and the Kingdom of Heaven than merely what we read in Matthew 25:1-13. By the 25^th chapter, Christ has shown that His people in His Kingdom, the good seed, have been planted by God (Parable of Wheat and Tares 13:24-30); Those in the Kingdom of Heaven have a great treasure which can be compared to nothing else (Parable of the Treasure 13:44); the treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven is the God Man Jesus Christ (Pearl of Great Price 13:45-46); The Kingdom of Heaven started small but grows large (like the mustard seed and leaven) into which all nations are drawn (13:31-33); The Kingdom of Heaven casts a wide net with the gospel call seeking for dying souls. Such as should be saved will be saved by God Himself ordinarily through the preaching of the Word (13:47-52); The faithful servants in the Kingdom of Heaven are forgiven by God and therefore are quick to forgive others (18:23-35); All who are physically in the Kingdom of Heaven, that accept Christ with their lips, while denying Him in their heart, will certainly be cast off into utter torment (see parables of the Wheat and Tares, Net and Fish, and Ten Virgins).

With all these things before us, the Kingdom of Heaven which Christ has been speaking of for twenty-four chapters, the visible church, is likened on this occasion in the twenty-fifth chapter unto ten virgins.

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