April 20 - The Ten Virgins - Or Give Me Oil in My Lamp Keep Me Burning

Matthew 25:1-13

“The prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamp…The bridegroom came…and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.”

Stones used in olive crushing

When we need olive oil we simply go to the grocery store and buy some---imported from Italy or Spain. Similarly, during Bible times oil could be purchased from olive growers and dealers in the market. Olive trees grow quite easily in the Mediterranean region. The ripe olives were gathered, washed and initially crushed. Then the crushed olives were put into a basket that was hung off the end of a log and heavy stones applied pressure to the basket to further crush the olives and release the precious olive oil. The first press of the olives was the best and was likely reserved for cooking. After the first press, additional rocks were added and sometimes the olives were heated to release more oil. The second and third pressings yielded a lower grade of olive oil and that was suitable for use in lamps, for preparation of soap or cosmetics and ceremonial uses. After bathing people would rub oil on their skin for health and to soften their skin. Oil also played an important role in lighting not only homes, in simple clay vessels, but also in the temple in huge metal lamps.

In the marriage customs of the Hebrew people after the betrothal or engagement of the couple, the bridegroom must build their home, adding onto his father’s existing home. When it was ready, the father of the groom would invite people to the wedding, sometimes providing special wedding clothes for them. The bride would be taken by her guests from her family’s home in a procession in the middle of the night through the streets to the bridegroom’s home. The bridegroom would not be at home when she arrived, giving her time to have her hair done by her maids in waiting. He would be having dinner at another relative’s home and his wedding guests would accompany him back to his own home where his bride waited for him. People along his procession route would call out “There he is. He is coming!” The bride’s maids in waiting would come out with oil lamps to light up the entrance as the groom and his guests arrived. After the bridegroom procession entered, the doors were shut and no other guests were received. Then the bride and groom would be seated under a colorful canopy and for the next three to five days the father of the groom hosted an elaborate and elegant banquet.       
This is one of my favorite parables. I just imagine these ten girls all curled up, sleeping while they are waiting for the bridegroom’s procession. "He is coming!" They are awakened suddenly, excited, jumping up and down, bumping into each other, and some discover they don’t have enough oil. Like the song, "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning," on fire for the Lord. The oil has been said to represent the Holy Spirit. So how do you bottle up that (Him) to be prepared?



Oil lamp replica from Israel

The point is that the five girls who planned ahead had enough “oil” to light their lamps and the others didn’t. The unprepared girls had to go buy more oil---and when they arrived at the wedding feast the door was locked and they were not allowed to enter. Thus they were left out in the cold---the Lord didn’t know them. Be ready---again, BE PREPARED!  We don’t know the hour or the day that Christ, the bridegroom, will return and take us to His feast. That is The Banquet we don’t want to miss!

Lord, fill me—fill us—with the Holy Spirit that we will always be prepared. Give us wisdom to know what to do as we wait for your return. We joyfully look forward to sitting at your banquet table, feasting with you.