The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready
went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
The foolish did not have enough oil. In desperation they go to the wise and implore them, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." These are believers, whose hearts must have some compassion for the foolish! These are people who must desire that all should know the Bridegroom and go with Him into His kingdom; yet, they respond, "go and buy for yourselves." What is it then that I would have, that I could not give to another in need? It could only be my relationship with Yeshua, my King, my brother, my best friend, my husband, my Lord. I would love to give that to others, but I cannot. They must come to know Him for themselves. I am putting that word know in italics because it does not mean the same thing in Hebraic understanding as it does in English. It does not mean to "know about Jesus." Most of the world has heard about Jesus Christ and knows about Him. But this word in Hebrew is yada, Strongs H3045. This word implies a very intimate knowing of someone, as in the relationship of husband and wife. Definitions of this Hebrew word include kinsman and intimate friend.
When Yeshua our Messiah (the Bridegroom) returns for His Bride, the foolish will be desperate and scrambling for oil; but this oil cannot be purchased with cash or gold or silver. It cannot be bought, borrowed, or exchanged. It can only come from the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit), who has been abiding in the wise virgins all along. And as much as these people, who live and move and have their being in Yeshua, would like to share this oil with others, it cannot be shared! Each must cultivate his or her own relationship with the Living Word.
Having meditated upon this parable for weeks now, you can imagine my surprise when I read Oswald Chambers' devotion for today, April 9, from My Utmost for His Highest. He wrote, "Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no on can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it."
Have you seen Him? Do you know Him? Do you spend time with Him each day in prayer, conversing with Him like an intimate friend? Do you have His Word hidden in your heart? DOES HE KNOW (YADA) YOU?
Ask God to fill you with this oil now, and do not delay. The Bridegroom is returning soon - and while others' lamps go out and they race to search for this oil - the door will be shut.
