The Oil of the Spirit: Ready for the Bridegroom

In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, one thing we understand immediately is the importance of oil. Of course oil was necessary for light in biblical times and throughout Scripture it also symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Since the bridegroom would come at night, at an unannounced time, the virgins had to be ready at all times with oil in their lamps to light their way. In those days, it was customary for weddings to take place at night. The bridegroom would arrive to meet the bride and and her attendants, and together they would process to the location of the wedding celebration.

The Oil of the Spirit: Ready for the Bridegroom

Before we proceed with the story, let's look again at the oil they used to light their lamps. Oil, throughout the Bible, has been a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When you and I have the Holy Spirit we are a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). We show the light of God's love, peace, and righteousness to a world that lives in darkness.

In the New Testament, Jesus explains we are a "light to the world" (Matthew 5:13-16). We are not to hide that light. Jesus says that this light will allow people to see our good deeds and "glorify your Father in Heaven." Our light never glorifies us, only God.

You and I as children of God have been anointed with the oil of salvation. The name Christ literally means "Anointed One." Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil in the Old Testament to show that the Holy Spirit of God rested on them. They were set apart for a special purpose just as you and I who have the Holy Spirit living within us are a set apart people (Acts 13:2).

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." God Himself has anointed us and sealed us with His Holy Spirit. This is the evidence of who we belong to. Our hearts prove we are His.

This anointing with the Holy Spirit that the oil represents is so God's holiness will be seen in our lives. The Holy Spirit prepares us for the day when our Lord comes as the Bridegroom for His Church. When we have the oil of the Spirit we will be ready for the Bridegroom. Pray that you have oil and your wick is trimmed!

Waiting for the Bridegroom

For some reason, in the parable, the Bridegroom is delayed. Now this delay was not necessarily a problem. The bridesmaids, as most of us would, grew tired and fell asleep. Do you see yourself in this story? If you are a Christian, or proclaim to be one, you know the Bridegroom (Jesus) is coming to claim His church. We are all like the bridesmaids. Eagerly awaiting Jesus, the Bridegroom of the church, we all have our lamps lit.

Trimming the Lamps: A Call to Obedience

Continuing with our story, the sleepy virgins are awakened by the cries outside that the Bridegroom had finally arrived. They jumped up and all ten proceeded to "trim their lamps." Trimming a lamp involves cutting the wick to keep the flame clean and bright, and checking the oil supply. A trimmed wick burns clean and bright while an untrimmed wick is dim and smoky.

What does the act of trimming their lamps represent? Well we know already that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, trimming the wick represents living a life of love and obedience to the Savior. We don't just say we are a Christian and then live like the world. We stay prepared for His coming by the zeal and passion we have to become like Him.

Prepared vs. Unprepared Hearts

Each group of virgins initially had oil, each group had light, but only one group was prepared by having obtained more oil for a longer wait. And all had fallen asleep, but they were not reprimanded for this. The Lord may come today or in hundreds of years, either way life continues and we must always stay prepared for that day.

At this point we see the difference between the two groups of virgins. Five of them were foolish, Jesus tells us, and five wise. How were the five foolish? They only brought enough oil for a short time. They were not prepared to wait. Their lamps could not be lit.

In your life are you spiritually prepared to meet the Lord? Is your light still burning for Him? Do you have a renewed heart that is committed to God or just a knowledge of Him in your head? For some being a Christian means just believing in someone to help you in time of need, in other words, they are Christian only for what they can gain from it.

Costly Oil and Spiritual Sacrifice

The five foolish virgins begged the wise ones for some of their oil. They were told no, not out of meanness or stinginess, but out of the knowledge that they had to keep enough supply for themselves. The wise virgins told the foolish ones to go buy some more oil. Oil was costly. They might have to sacrifice to get more oil. Undoubtedly the wise virgins had done just that. Have we sacrificed anything to serve God more effectively?

But who do the sellers of oil represent? A possibility is that they are the preachers and teachers of the Word of God who present His grace and forgiveness to the world. They don't literally sell it, of course. We can't borrow the Holy Spirit from someone else, but God often uses faithful preachers and teachers to stir our hearts, teach His Word, and guide us toward spiritual maturity. They're not oil sellers, but they help point us to the One who gives the oil freely.

If you want to grow in the Spirit of God, one of the best places is in the Word of God brought to you by those who know Him.

God never tells us that we can purchase that which only He can give. Grace is given to us by the Holy Spirit. This grace is given in abundance and freely (Isaiah 55:1). We cannot deserve it, or work for it, but we can receive it through our faith in Him.

The Danger of Delay

While the foolish virgins were on their way to buy more oil, the bridegroom returned. We can't wait till the last moment to commit ourselves fully to Jesus. Because we never know when we will meet Him in death or He will return for His bride. We may have good intentions.

Maybe we think, "Tomorrow I will pray more" or " Next week, I will begin reading my Bible" or "I will forgive my neighbor after I get over being angry." Delay is never good. Often our delay is rooted in self preservation. We want to hold on to our time, pride and comfort just a little bit longer. Jesus tells us however, that, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 16:25).

This is so like many people as they approach death. They hurriedly try to do the things they should have done years before. They start to question if they are truly ready to die. Some in that moment will come to a true saving faith in Christ but many never will and will die, too late, alone, and outside of God's grace.

The Closed Door of Judgment

When the foolish virgins returned they were sadly out of time. The wise virgins had been ushered into the wedding party and the door shut. How sad for us if we wait too long to truly know God and the door is shut. The foolish virgins stand outside crying for their Lord to open the door but now, their delay too long, He tells them He never knew them. The wedding party is only for family.

Belatedly, they see the consequences of the sin of relying on themselves instead of God and His Holy Spirit. Too late they wish they could go back and do what they know now they should have done. But now the door is permanently closed to them. They are completely without hope.

Cultural Christianity and Shallow Faith

Jesus warned us that many would fall away from the faith. Like the foolish virgins, many today aren't "counting the cost" of discipleship (Luke 14:28). They believe in God because that's just what most people do. They may go to church because nice people go and they want to be counted as nice. Maybe they think believing in their mind that God exists is all they have to do, but James tells us even demons believe in God (James 2:19).

Who Is the Fool?

How does the Bible define a fool? We can be either a fool or a fool for Christ. A foolish person hates knowledge (Proverbs 1:22) and takes no pleasure in understanding (Proverbs 18:2). This knowledge and understanding is of God. "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'"(Psalm 14:1). Notice that it says, "in his heart." What he says with his lips may be different. Is our heart saying something different from what is coming from our mouth? Are we anointed with the Holy Spirit of God?

Let us not delay.

May we be found ready,

with lamps burning,

and hearts fully His,

when the Bridegroom comes.