SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:5
Y tardndose el esposo, cabecearon todas, y se durmieron.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:5
Verse 5. The bridegroom tarried] The coming of the bridegroom to an individual may imply his death: his coming to the world-the final judgment. The delay-the time from a man's birth till his death, in the first case; in the second, the time from the beginning to the end of the world. Slumbered and slept.] Or, enustaxan kai ekaqeudon, they became drowsy and fell asleep. As sleep is frequently used in the sacred writings for death, so drowsiness, which precedes sleep, may be considered as pointing out the decays of the constitution, and the sicknesses which precede death. The other explanations which are given of this place must be unsatisfactory to every man who is not warped by some point in his creed, which must be supported at every expense. Carelessness disposed them to drowsiness, drowsiness to sleep, deep sleep, which rendered them as unconscious of their danger as they were before inattentive to their duty. The Anglo-Saxon has hit the meaning of the original well] of which my old MS. Bible gives a literal version, in the English of the 14th century: forsothe-alle nappeden and sleptyn.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. While the bridegroom tarried , etc.] The space of time here referred to, is either from the ascension of Christ, to his coming to take vengeance on the Jews; or from thence to his second coming; or rather from the time of some general expectation by the saints, of the near approach of Christ, till such time he does come: for as there was a general expectation of the coming of Christ before he came in the flesh, so there will be a general expectation of Christ being near at hand some time before his second coming; and because such an expectation will not be answered, or Christ will not come so soon as was hoped for, and expected, a general drowsiness, and security, and unconcernedness, especially about the coming of Christ, will fall upon the churches. Thus, in the last century, there was among the people of God, in these kingdoms, a general expectation of Christs speedy coming; but being in this disappointed, professors of all sorts are fallen asleep, and do not at all, or very little, at least very few, concern themselves about it: in a word, this interval of time seems to regard that period which is pointed out by the Laodicean church state, which will usher in the coming of Christ, and the last judgment. Now Christ, the bridegroom, may be said to tarry, not with respect to the time fixed by the Father and himself; for as this is settled, though unknown to man, it will not be passed by him; he does not, nor will he tarry beyond the appointed time: but either with respect to the time fixed by men; or with respect to the declaration of Christ, and his apostles, that he would come quickly, and the length of time since; or rather with respect to the expectations of the saints, and their impatience. The reason why he tarries is, because his time is not come, and there are many things to be done first; there is to be a glorious spread of the Gospel all over the world; all the elect must be gathered in, both among Jews and Gentiles; and the man of sin must be destroyed; and the ungodly must fill up the measure of their iniquities; and Christ tarries to try the graces of his people, who should exercise faith in his coming, by looking, watching, and waiting for it, desirous of it, and hastening unto it; being ready for him, prepared to receive him, and to go with him to the nuptial-chamber; but instead of this they all slumbered and slept : which is not to be understood as if that one only slumbered, and the other slept; that is, that the wise virgins slumbered, and the foolish virgins slept; for the wise virgins, or true believers, are elsewhere said to sleep, and formal professors to slumber; but both these are spoken of them all: and by this slumber, and sleep, is not meant a natural death; though that is sometimes called a sleep, and to which true believers are subject, as well as others; yet all at the coming of Christ will not be asleep in this sense: and were this intended, their resurrection would be designed by their arising, in the seventh verse; and so the resurrection of the saints, and of others, would be together, which is not true, for the dead in Christ will rise first; and would be also before the coming of Christ, whereas the resurrection of the saints is not till at his coming; and it would look, by the account in some following verses, as if grace might be had, or, at least, be thought to be had, after the resurrection: nor is this to be understood of the dead sleep of sin: a death in sin may be signified by sleeping, and be so called, and conviction be an awakening out of it; but the foolish virgins were always asleep in this sense, and were never truly and thoroughly awaked; and wise virgins never do, nor can, fall into this sleep; for being quickened by Christ, they never die again: nor of a judicial slumber and sleep, which the saints are never given up to; but a dead, lifeless, and sleepy frame of spirit in the wise virgins: which lies in grace not being in exercise; in a slothfulness to perform religious duties; in taking up a satisfaction with the outward parts of religion; in an indifference about the interest of Christ; in an unconcernedness at the omission of duty, or commission of sin; and in an entire ease of mind with regard to such a frame and state: the causes of it are a body of sin; an anxious care of the world; a being weary of spiritual exercises, and a leaving them off; abstaining from an awakening ministry, and spiritual conversation; and keeping company with sleepy and slothful professors, or the men of the world: and often it arises from ease, peace, and liberty; and sometimes from long watchfulness, and waiting for the bridegrooms coming; in which, being disappointed, such a frame of spirit ensues: and also in the foolish virgins it intends great carnal security in themselves; a rest and confidence in their external profession; and a laying aside all thoughts of Christ, and his coming to judgment: for a difference there is between the sleep and slumbering of the one and of the other; the wise virgins are children of the day, and not of the night; though they sleep, their hearts wake, and they sleep with grace in their hearts; neither of which can be said of the foolish virgins, or formal professors: as to the phraseology here used, the Jews would distinguish upon it, for they make a difference between slumbering and sleeping: they do not dismiss (the company) after the passover with the sweet-meats: if some of them sleep, they may eat, but if all of them, they may not eat. R. Jose says, wmnmntn , if they slumber they may eat; wmdrn , if they sleep they may not eat f1439 : which Maimonides thus explains, if they slumber; that is, if they begin to sleep, but are not yet overwhelmed with sleep, but bear when others speak to them, and answer immediately to them that call them: if they sleep: if they are oppressed with a deep sleep.
Though the phrase bykw yyn , which I should choose to render, he slumbered and slept, is often said of the same person, without any distinction, as here.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ' coming. See the nature of Christianity. As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to honour him, also to be waiting for his coming Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolis ones. Those are the truly wise or foolish that are so in the affairs of their souls. Many have a lamp of profession in their hands, but have not, in their hearts, sound knowledge and settled resolution, which ar needed to carry them through the services and trials of the presen state. Their hearts are not stored with holy dispositions, by the new-creating Spirit of God. Our light must shine before men in goo works; but this is not likely to be long done, unless there is a fixed active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ, and love to God an our brethren. They all slumbered and slept. The delay represents the space between the real or apparent conversion of these professors, an the coming of Christ, to take them away by death, or to judge the world. But though Christ tarry past our time, he will not tarry pas the due time. The wise virgins kept their lamps burning, but they di not keep themselves awake. Too many real Christians grow remiss, an one degree of carelessness makes way for another. Those that allo themselves to slumber, will scarcely keep from sleeping; therefor dread the beginning of spiritual decays. A startling summons was given God ye forth to meet Him, is a call to those prepared. The notice of Christ's approach, and the call to meet him, will awaken. Even thos best prepared for death have work to do to get actually ready, 2P 3:14. It will be a day of search and inquiry; and it concerns us to think how we shall then be found. Some wanted oil to supply their lamp when going out. Those that take up short of true grace, will certainl find the want of it one time or other. An outward profession may ligh a man along this world, but the damps of the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light. Those who care not to live the life yet would die the death of the righteous. But those that would be saved, must have grace of their own; and those that have most grace have none to spare. The best need more from Christ. And while the poor alarmed soul addresses itself, upon a sick-bed, to repentance an prayer, in awful confusion, death comes, judgment comes, the work i undone, and the poor sinner is undone for ever. This comes of havin oil to buy when we should burn it, grace to get when we should use it Those, and those only, shall go to heaven hereafter, that are mad ready for heaven here. The suddenness of death and of Christ's comin to us then, will not hinder our happiness, if we have been prepared The door was shut. Many will seek admission into heaven when it is to late. The vain confidence of hypocrites will carry them far i expectations of happiness. The unexpected summons of death may alar the Christian; but, proceeding without delay to trim his lamp, his graces often shine more bright; while the mere professor's conduc shows that his lamp is going out. Watch therefore, attend to the business of your souls. Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
Greek Textus Receptus
χρονιζοντος 5549 5723 V-PAP-GSM δε 1161 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM νυμφιου 3566 N-GSM ενυσταξαν 3573 5656 V-AAI-3P πασαι 3956 A-NPF και 2532 CONJ εκαθευδον 2518 5707 V-IAI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Slumbered and slept (enustaxan kai ekaqeudon). Slumbered is, literally, nodded. Note the variation of tense. Nodded is aorist, denoting a transient act, the initial stage of slumber. They dropped their heads. Slept is imperfect, of continuous slumber.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
25:5 {They all slumbered and slept} (enustaxan pasai kai ekaqeudon). They dropped off to sleep, nodded (ingressive aorist) and qen went on sleeping (imperfect, linear action), a vivid picture drawn by the difference in the two tenses. Many a preacher has seen this happen while he is preaching.
