Today I continue looking at Matt 25:1-13 but may have more questions than answers.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt 25:2
Why were 5 wise and 5 foolish?
The answer is given; those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matt 25:3-4
What is the lamp and oil?
A lamp cannot be lit without oil, so this could be a reference to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16
If so, then is the oil symbolic of the Holy Spirit, without which, a Christian has no light.
Now do we divide these virgins up as 5 that were filled with oil (Holy Spirit) and 5 that were not?
Not necessarily!
Later on it’s revealed that the foolish did have some oil because they said, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” Matt 25:8
The lamps could not be lit unless there was so oil but they didn’t have enough oil to complete the task at hand.
So we find much in common with the 10; they are all virgins, they all have lamps, they all have oil in the lamps, and they are all waiting for the bridegroom, so we must assume they are with or standing by for the bride. Remember she is not mentioned at all.
Was the coming of the bridegroom a surprise?
Only to a certain degree. They went out to meet the bridegroom. Matt 25:1
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Matt 25:5
They expected him to come but he was delayed. That word is chronizontos, which the root word chronos deals with time, any space of time; minutes, years, ages!
It means to tarry, while away the time, or to take time.
The bridegroom took his time. He was in no hurry; after all, he would have a lifetime to spend with his bride, or in the case of our Lord, an eternity!
Now here is the exciting part!
And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Matt 25:6
I’ll chronizontos and look at this next time.