Matthew 25:2

“And five of them were wise, etc.] The order of these words is inverted in some versions, as in the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic, and in Munster’s Hebrew Gospel, which read, “and five of them were foolish, and five of them were wise”; but this is of no great consequence. There is a parable of R. Jochanan ben Zaccai f1438, who lived before, and after the destruction of the second temple, which bears some likeness to this part of the parable, and others in it, and is this; “a certain king invited his servants, but did not fix any time for them; those of them that were µyhqp, “wise”, adorned themselves, and sat at the gate of the king’s house, and said, is there any want at the king’s…”

“And five of them were wise - . The words “wise and foolish,” here, refer only to their conduct; in regard to the oil. The one part was “wise” in taking oil, the other “foolish” in neglecting it. The conduct of those who were “wise” refers to those who are “prepared” for the coming of Christ - prepared by possessing real piety, and not being merely his professed followers. The conduct of those “without” oil expresses the conduct of those who profess to love him, but are destitute of true grace, and are therefore unprepared to meet him. Nothing can be argued from the number here in regard to the proportion of sincere Christians among professors. circumstances in parables are not to be pressed…”

“Mat 7:24-27, Mat 13:19-23, Mat 13:38-43, Mat 13:47, Mat 13:48, Mat 22:10, Mat 22:11; Jer 24:2; Co1 10:1-5; Jo1 2:19; Jde 1:5 Matthew 25:3”