Mathew 25: 7-8
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said
to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
Both groups had oil, but the foolish virgins did not have enough for the unexpectedly long
delay. When the cry went out, their lamps were still burning but sputtering and about to go
out. They were not prepared for the long haul. They had not continued to overcome. They
were not enduring to the end. Their oil—their good works, their overcoming—proved
insufficient for the task. In this one point, they failed, and what a foolish failure it was!
The overall and easily seen thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour
and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency
arises in our lives and keeping our eyes always fixed on Jesus while we eagerly await His
coming. As seen in the fact that all the virgins were sleeping when the call came indicates that
it doesn’t matter what we are doing when Christ returns. We may be working, eating,
sleeping, or pursuing leisure activities. Whatever it is, we must be doing it in such a way that
we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes.
The five virgins who have the extra oil represent the truly born again who are looking with
eagerness to the coming of Christ. The five virgins without the oil represent false believers
who enjoy the benefits of the Christian community without true love for Christ. They are
more concerned about the party than about longing to see the bridegroom. Their hope is that
their association with true believers (“give us some of your oil” of verse 8) will bring them
into the kingdom at the end.
Remember, Jesus gives a chilling judgment to the virgins who fail to overcome: “I do not
know you” (Matthew 25:12)
GET TO KNOW YOUR MASTER, HE IS GOOD!

Kurian Varghese