Buying Oil - Matt 25

[Omegaman 3.0]

   1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2“Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.8“The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11“Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12“But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

What do you suppose this "buying of oil" represents?

[other one]

I have always considered it a building up of faith as we go along....    I have no real scripture to back it up, it just seems that way to me personally.    We usually have a big boost of faith when we first come to Christ, but we can get slack if we do not keep up and watch and be ready.

[missmuffet]

That is the Parable of the 10 virgins.It has to do with being ready when Jesus comes back

 

Question: "What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?"

Answer:As we take a good look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), we must acknowledge up front that there has been much debate as to the meaning of these words of our Savior. At least one aspect of this parable can be known with absolute certainty. The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and this parable describes His return. Both the Old Testament (Isaiah 54:4-6;62:4-5;Hosea 2:19) and the New Testament (John 3:27-30;Matthew 9:15;Mark 2:19-20) represent the Messiah as a bridegroom. Both God’s people Israel and the Church are described in Scripture as the bride (Ephesians 5:25-32) for the Messiah.

The historical setting can also be known with a fair amount of certainty. In describing a first-century Jewish wedding, D.A. Carson in theExpositor’s Bible Commentarydescribes the setting this way: “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home. The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch. Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands. The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.” The torch was either a lamp with a small oil tank and wick or a stick with a rag soaked in oil on the end of it which would require occasional re-soaking to maintain the flame.

Of interpretive significance is which return of Christ is this? Is it His return for the rapture of the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation? Dispensational scholars divide over this issue, and no attempt will be made to answer that question here. Regardless of which return it is, the lessons to be learned are relevant to both.

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 fixed on Jesus at all times 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. This would apply to either the coming of Christ for His Church or for the Tribulation saints as they await His second coming.

Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing which manifests itself in several areas of our lives. If we would be ready for Christ’s return, we must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and literal resurrection from the dead (John 3:16;14:6;Romans 10:9and10;1 Corinthians 15:1-4;Ephesians 2:1-10). Saving faith in Jesus Christ will manifest itself in every aspect of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) will begin to show. A desire for greater holiness and less sin will be apparent. And a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives. One of the best passages articulating what saving grace and faith look like in a believer’s life isTitus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

The five virgins who have the extra oil represent the truly born again who are looking with eagerness to the coming of Christ. They have saving faith and have determined that, whatever occurs, be it lengthy time or adverse circumstances, when Jesus returns, they will be looking with eagerness. 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. This, of course, is never the case. One person’s faith in Jesus cannot save another. The “Lord, lord” and “I do not know you” of verses 11 and 12 fit very well with Jesus’ condemnation of the false believers ofMatthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

May we not be found “going away to make the purchase” (v. 10) when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. Keep waiting and watching with joy and anticipation.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-ten-virgins.html#ixzz3dNRJ2qfE

[Sister]

   1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2“Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.8“The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11“Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12“But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

What do you suppose this "buying of oil" represents?

Hi Omegaman

 

The oil represents the truth.  It's the fuel we need to sustain our spiritual walk right to the end of our lives. 

 

Psalms 141:5   Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

 

Proverbs 21:20   There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

 

If we have no oil, we are not fueled up spiritually, therefore we can easily fall asleep and be deceived.  If we fall asleep we will not be prepared.

The truth is our armour, our protection and our covering. 

 

A lantern does not need oil just once, it has to be constantly topped up.  We have to be filled with knowledge, spiritual knowledge - truth, not just a little bit of truth but be filled with it, and have an ample supply to get us through to the end.

 

In this example, that is what the oil means.

 

 

Jesus says it in a different way here but means the same thing;

 

 Revelation 3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

[Last Daze]

 

   1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2“Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.8“The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11“Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12“But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

What do you suppose this "buying of oil" represents?

Hi Omegaman

 

The oil represents the truth.  It's the fuel we need to sustain our spiritual walk right to the end of our lives. 

 

Psalms 141:5   Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

 

Proverbs 21:20   There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

 

If we have no oil, we are not fueled up spiritually, therefore we can easily fall asleep and be deceived.  If we fall asleep we will not be prepared.

The truth is our armour, our protection and our covering. 

 

A lantern does not need oil just once, it has to be constantly topped up.  We have to be filled with knowledge, spiritual knowledge - truth, not just a little bit of truth but be filled with it, and have an ample supply to get us through to the end.

 

In this example, that is what the oil means.

 

 

Jesus says it in a different way here but means the same thing;

 

 Revelation 3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

 

To dovetail into this....

 

Oil was possessed by both the wise and foolish, that is, those who knew Jesus and those who didn't.

Oil can be possessed in different quantities.

 

It makes sense to me that the oil would be truth.

 

But be ye doers of the word [truth], and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  James 1:22

 

Both those who know Jesus and those who don't can have truth.  Those who know Jesus have acted on that truth.  Their obedience to the truth increases their oil.

 

Obviously the truth is not bought or sold, but as the parable suggests, it is each person's responsibility to acquire a sufficient amount themselves.

[Guest]

I believe the "buying of oil" is related to the bridesmaids trying to earn the return of the Holy Spirit, which they had lost by taking their eyes off the Lord; oil is typically used to represent the Holy Spirit in Scripture, and since the Holy Spirit is not sealed within the hearts of people after the Rapture (removal of the Church), He can leave a person, as He did with Saul, and whom David feared would happen to him because of his sin with Bethsheba.

[Guest shiloh357]

I am not sure the "buying of oil"  has any real meaning.  It really isn't the point of the parable  Every detail of a parable doesn't have to have some kind of theological meaning.   It is important that we avoid spiritualizing every detail or push the details beyond what the author intended.  

 

The point of the parable is was not to be like those who heard the message, who knew the Lord was coming, but never prepared and when they finally wake up to the truth, they are horrified to find out that it's too late and they are locked out of the Kingdom forever.

[missmuffet]

I am not sure the "buying of oil"  has any real meaning.  It really isn't the point of the parable  Every detail of a parable doesn't have to have some kind of theological meaning.   It is important that we avoid spiritualizing every detail or push the details beyond what the author intended.  

 

The point of the parable is was not to be like those who heard the message, who knew the Lord was coming, but never prepared and when they finally wake up to the truth, they are horrified to find out that it's too late and they are locked out of the Kingdom forever.

That is how I see it.

[Guest]

Since the parable takes place after the Rapture (the bridesmaids are waiting to get in to the banquet, which always takes place after the wedding), those who are waiting for the Lord's Second coming must believe in Christ as their Savior and obey the Law. The Oil in the lamps represent the Holy Spirit. And since the ones who run out of Oil represent those who have either let their faith waiver or have not obeyed the Law, the Holy Spirit has left them, which means that they are no longer assured entrance into Heaven. Every parable that the Lord told does have very important spiritual significance and must be recognized.

[missmuffet]

Since the parable takes place after the Rapture (the bridesmaids are waiting to get in to the banquet, which always takes place after the wedding), those who are waiting for the Lord's Second coming must believe in Christ as their Savior and obey the Law. The Oil in the lamps represent the Holy Spirit. And since the ones who run out of Oil represent those who have either let their faith waiver or have not obeyed the Law, the Holy Spirit has left them, which means that they are no longer assured entrance into Heaven. Every parable that the Lord told does have very important spiritual significance and must be recognized.

Yes