Matthew 25:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

At the stroke of midnight, a call was heard. This statement aligns with the teaching of the parable or signifies that the resurrection will occur during the nighttime. The Apostle Paul also refers to this call, explaining, “At the proclamation, at the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, he will come down from heaven” (1 Thess. 4:16). What is the significance of the trumpets? And what does this call signify? “The bridegroom is coming.” Then all the maidens awoke and prepared their lamps. However, the foolish ones asked the wise, “Give us your oil” (Matthew 25:7-8).

He states that a voice was raised at midnight. This indicates that the Lord will arrive unexpectedly, as we are often in a deep slumber at that hour. His return will be accompanied by a shout, signifying that at His second coming, the trumpet will sound.

Why the hour of midnight? It is because at this hour, there is a lack of hope and belief; darkness represents a time of unawareness. Some may attempt to determine the time themselves: look, so many days have elapsed since Adam, and six millennia have come to completion. Now, according to certain scholars, the day of reckoning approaches. Yet such calculations are fleeting, and the arrival of the bridegroom remains delayed. Notice that the maidens who went out to greet him have fallen into slumber. Just when hope seems lost, as they lament having waited for six thousand years only to see the time slip away, they ponder how they might know his coming. He will indeed arrive at midnight. What does this indicate? It signifies a moment that you will not expect.

In an instant, akin to a tranquil night when everyone is at ease and slumber runs deep, the return of Christ will be heralded by angelic proclamations and the resounding trumpets of the heavenly hosts that announced His arrival. It may be beneficial to share some insights for the reader. According to Jewish customs, the Messiah will appear in the stillness of the night, reminiscent of the exodus from Egypt when the Passover was realized, the destroyer passed over the homes, and the Lord made His presence known above the houses, with the lamb's blood consecrated on the doorposts (Ex. 12:23). From this, I believe the apostolic practice emerged, suggesting that on the eve of Passover, until the hour of midnight, the faithful anticipating the Lord’s coming should remain within the temple.

It is stated that at midnight signifies either a sudden and unexpected event or suggests that the resurrection of the dead will occur at night. What is referred to as a cry here is described by the Apostle Paul as the command and voice of the Archangel (1 Thess. 4:16). This call is for those to emerge from their graves.

As long as these individuals contributed what was necessary to sustain the lampstand by their righteous actions, the lampstand of purity remained alight among them, glowing brightly in the legacy of the saints. However, when their faith wavered and they fell into moral decay, the oil diminished, and the lamp was extinguished entirely. In response, the wise virgins, like radiant beacons illuminating the world with their incorruptible light, rekindled the lamps. Therefore, even now, we must generously offer the untainted oil of virtuous deeds and wisdom, cleansed from all forms of corruption, so that while we await the Bridegroom, our lamps do not go dark.

The postponement of the bridegroom serves as a period for repentance. For the faithful, the waiting is a time of restoration, while for all during this season of reflection, it represents a brief death. At midnight, a shout pierces the night, catching everyone unaware. The sounding of the trumpet heralds the arrival of the Lord, urging all to rise and greet the bridegroom. The preparation of the lamps symbolizes the reunion of souls with their bodies, and their brightness reflects the awareness of the righteous deeds nurtured within our earthly vessels.

Bridegroom of salvation and hope for those who worship You, O Christ God, Please enable us, who seek You, to lead a pure life in preparation for Your union, So that we may receive, as chaste, the HOLY VENGEANCE.

Now the season of virtues has arrived, And the Judge is at the door. Let us not be filled with hatred, But rather, with fasting let us approach, Bringing forth tears, remorse, and compassion, Crying out: ‘We wander in the darkness of the sea.’ But forgive us all, O Creator of all, Let us grasp the unfading crown.

All will witness how the sudden blast of the announcing angel’s trumpet will awaken the dead of the ages, waiting for Christ, the Glorious Bridegroom, the Son of God, the eternal God of our God. With a shout, suddenly all shall emerge to meet...

The wise took their lamps and carried oil in their containers. As the bridegroom delayed, they initially grew drowsy and eventually slipped into deep slumber. They felt assured, thinking they were fully prepared to welcome the bridegroom at any time. However, one can envision the distress faced by the foolish maidens and their complete vulnerability at that hour, when suddenly a cry pierced the night from the gathering outside, announcing the arrival of the bridegroom and urging the people to come forth to greet him.

It is essential to be diligent at the appropriate time. When the Son of Man arrives, it will be too late to fret over what preparations are required for His return. Do not follow the example of the foolish virgins; instead, embody the wisdom of the prudent ones.

All ten maidens awaited the arrival of the bridegroom with their lamps lit for a considerable time and eventually fell asleep, while their prepared lamps continued to glow. Then, at midnight, there was a cry: the bridegroom is here, come out to greet him. The maidens awakened and hurried to their lamps, realizing that the oil they had poured into them was depleted; the wise maidens, as Jesus referred to them, swiftly replenished their lamps with their spare oil, while the foolish ones, noticing their lamps flickering, requested oil from the wise, but their appeals were denied. The light of faith alone is insufficient: without righteous deeds, it will extinguish.

As the groom delayed his arrival, all the guests grew drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, they were stirred awake by the sounds of music and joyous cries from the streets. From a distance, they noticed the glow of the lamps in the procession and cried out at the door, “Look, the bridegroom is approaching; come out to greet him.”

At the hour of midnight, this phrase indicates, according to the parable, that the resurrection will occur during the night. There was a shout, which may have originated from the bridegroom's servants or from those who had risen to greet him, similar to the virgins who had dozed off.