Check Your Oil

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13

​Jesus told another parable about ten virgins with torches, or lamps, who went out to meet the groom. It was customary that virgins in the bridal party would be ready to guide the groom and his groomsmen in a procession to his waiting bride-to-be. Also, by custom, the groom would arrive at an unexpected time, so the virgins always had to be prepared. Semper Paratus.

In those times, there were three stages of a Jewish wedding. The first was engagement – a formal agreement made by the fathers of the intended. The second was betrothal – the ceremony where mutual promises were made. The third was marriage – approximately one year later, the bridegroom came unexpectedly for his bride.

Ten was the usual number in the bridal procession. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. Jesus didn’t describe them as good or bad; only thoughtful or thoughtless, sensible or careless. The point of the parable was not their virginity, which was assumed, but that they were ten young ladies invited to participate in the bridal party.

The foolish virgins brought their lamps, but failed to bring any extra oil. In the Bible, oil usually signifies the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lubricates like oil to prevent friction and wear in our lives. The Holy Spirit heals like oil as a medicinal treatment for spiritual illness. The Holy Spirit provides clarity; there is light where the Spirit of God is. When used as fuel, the Spirit of God offers warmth and comfort. Without the Holy Spirit, none can be equipped for the Groom’s arrival. The wise virgins brought an extra oil supply to accomplish the job. These girls represented the faithful who stay filled with the Holy Spirit and remain ready for anything. The foolish girls didn’t plan. They were running on empty!

As the story continues, the bridegroom is delayed, probably by design. The ladies went off to bed. Life continues as usual. In the middle of the night, they were awakened by someone shouting that the groom was about to arrive. “Wake up, girls! Get ready for the groom.” There is now a major crisis. Note: Desperation usually follows crisis. It is a crisis that divides the ready from the unready. Are we, as believers, fully equipped to respond correctly? Are our tanks brimming?

They all awoke at the shout and went to prepare their torches. The foolish five panicked and realized they didn’t have enough oil for the midnight stroll. They asked the girls who were ready for some of their oil. “Sorry,” the wise ones answered. “If we give you some of our oil, we won’t have enough for our lamps. But you have options. If you hurry, you can go to the shop and buy some. Problem solved.” Not quite!

While they were gone, the groom arrived, and the organized ladies led him and his groomsmen into the wedding ceremony. The doors of the celebration were closed and locked behind them. No one else would be allowed entrance. The foolish virgins finally arrived at the door. Too late! They frantically knocked and called out to be let in. “Sorry, we’re closed. Private party. Who are you, anyway?” The Master did not recognize them at all! Since they rejected the oil of the Holy Spirit, they were also rejected from the Bridegroom’s celebration. Once that door closes, it will never allow entrance to another.

The simple moral of the story here is that because no one knows the time of Jesus’s next arrival, we need always to be prepared and have our tank of reserved oil topped off!