Got Your Oil?

              “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)

 

I have to admit that I haven’t really thought about this story enough. It’s always been that t. he wise virgins had lamps, the foolish ones didn’t so they wouldn’t be able to see where they were going to get to where the groom was. So, we need to have oil for our lamps for the coming of the kingdom.  I mean, it sort of makes sense. Except, why couldn’t the ten walk together through their own neighborhood at night? Lights from five lamps should have been enough to let them see where they were going.  After all, the foolish virgins were able to find their way to the oil vendor.

That’s the question that came to mind today. The an

swer is that the lights weren’t so that they could see. The lights were so that the groom could be seen by everyone.  The purpose wasn’t practical, it was ceremonial. Like running out of wine (John 2), running out of oil in your lamp as you led the groom’s procession was a significant social error. It showed disrespect for the groom and the bride.

                It wasn’t as if the virgins didn’t have warning. They were either asked or assigned to fill their rolls, and they had accepted or agreed. Generally speaking, the groom arrived at night, so they had basically three responsibilities. They were to come up with a lamp. They were to have oil. They were to be available when the groom arrived. According to the passage, they seem to have stayed together and when he arrived, they all trimmed their lamps. They accomplished two of the three tasks, but it seems apparent that they didn’t bother to get oil. And given the parallel Jesus drew, they apparently didn’t think he was going to arrive, but rather than find someone to take their place, they enjoyed the status of being one of the lamp bearers without doing what a lamp bearer was supposed to do.

                As a Christian, we have a responsibility to wait for Christ’s return. Exactly what that responsibility includes may differ from person to person. But whatever it is, we need to keep ourselves ready. We don’t know exactly when it will happen, so we need to keep whatever supplies we need on hand, even if those supplies are nothing more than awareness. If we can’t be bothered to be prepared to show respect and join in the festivities, there’s no reason we should expect to be included in the celebration.