The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

From his Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily 78, on Matthew 25:1–30), NPNF translation. Public domain.

On what the lamps and the oil signify:

But by lamps here, He means the gift itself of virginity, the purity of holiness; and by oil, humanity, almsgiving, succor to them that are in need.

On virginity destitute of mercy:

He puts forth this parable sufficient to persuade them, that virginity, though it should have everything else, if destitute of the good things arising out of almsgiving, is cast out with the harlots.

On the tarrying, and that death is a sleep:

"Then, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." He shows that the time intervening will not be short, leading His disciples away from the expectation that His kingdom was quite immediately to appear ... And at the same time He intimates this too, that death is a sleep. For they slept, He says.

On the folly of seeking oil out of season:

Again He calls them foolish, showing that nothing can be more foolish than they who are wealthy here, and depart naked there, where most of all we have need of humanity, where we want much oil. But not in this respect only were they foolish, but also because they looked to receive it there, and sought it out of season.

On why no one can lend us oil at that hour:

That no man can protect us there, if we are betrayed by our works, not because he will not, but because he cannot ... This the blessed Abraham also indicated, saying, "Between us and you there is a great gulf."

On who it is that sells the oil:

"But go to them that sell, and buy." And who are they that sell? The poor. And where are these? Here, and then should they have sought them, not at that time ... Wherefore here must we get together the oil, that it may be useful to us there.

On the shut door and the fearful word:

For nothing is more sullied than virginity not having mercy ... And not even when they had knocked did they obtain, but they heard that fearful saying, "Depart, I know you not."

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Origen (c. 185–254)

From his Commentary on Matthew, as compiled in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain.

On the virgins and their lamps:

The understandings of all who have received the word of God are virgins ... They take "their lamps," i.e. their natural faculties, and go forth out of the world and its errors, and go to meet the Saviour, who is ever ready to come.

On why all must be wise or all foolish:

And because the virtues are so linked together, that he who has one has all, so all the senses so follow one another, that all must be wise, or all foolish.

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St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

From his Homilies on the Gospels, as compiled in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain.

On the one thing the foolish lack:

It is to be observed, that all have lamps, but all have not oil.

On why the lamps of the foolish go out:

The lamps of the foolish virgins go out, because the works which appeared outwardly to men to be bright, are dimmed within at the coming of the Judge. That they then beg oil of the wise virgins, what is it but that at the coming of the Judge, when they find themselves empty within, they seek for witness from without?

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

From his Commentary on Matthew, as compiled in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain.

On who the virgins with oil are:

The virgins that have oil are they who, besides their faith, have the ornament of good works; they that have not oil, are they that seem to confess with like faith, but neglect the works of virtue.

On why the wise will not share, and why no virtue can be borrowed:

For these wise virgins do not answer thus out of covetousness, but out of fear. Wherefore, each man shall receive the recompense of his own works, and the virtues of one cannot atone for the vices of another in the day of judgment.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

From his Questions on the Gospels, as compiled in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain.

On why both wise and foolish are called virgins:

And as this continence may be done before God, to please Him in inward joy of the conscience, or before men only to gain applause of men, five are called wise, and five foolish. Both are virgins, because both these men exercise continence, though from different motives.

On the habit that betrays the foolish:

From habit, the mind seeks that which uses to give it pleasure. And these now seek from men, who see not the heart, witness to God, who sees the heart.