Matthew 25:9–10

The foolish show their folly by their appeal to the wise. When you apply this to spiritual things, only fools would make such an appeal. A true soul may look at the wrong object and fall almost into despair. But no one could expect to borrow from another the grace that was in him, and use it to make a light to meet the Bridegroom.

This cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom," is a great test. It finds us out. It tested these awakened virgins in the prophetic parable. We learn from it that the test comes to each one alone. What community you belong to is not the test. Neither is what profession you make. Everything depends on whether you have the oil in your vessel — have you received the Holy Spirit? And none can receive Him for another, or, having received Him, pass Him on to another. Each must receive Him for himself.

It is all in vain. No one can give of his oil to another. Each has just enough for himself. Moreover, it can only be had from God Himself. A man can give light, but he cannot give oil. This last is the gift of God alone… It is no use looking to Christian friends to help us or prop us up. No use running here and there for someone to lean on, some holy man or some famous teacher. No use building on our Church, our creed, or our sacraments. We want oil. We cannot do without it. Where are we to get it? Not from man, not from the Church, not from the saints, not from the fathers. We must get it from God; and He, blessed be His name, gives freely.

You remember that the foolish virgins wanted the wise to give them some of their oil (Matt. 25:8-9). Note what the wise said: "Go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." Take their advice; and if the idea of buying such a thing is new to you, let the word direct you: "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isa. 55:1).

Struck with awe, the foolish virgins come to the wise and say, "Give us some of your oil." But this is beyond what the Christian can do. The wise tell them, "Go, buy oil for yourselves." There is One who sells, and He sells freely, without money and without price. To buy even from an apostle is fatal.

Such "selling" speaks of fixed terms. Only on those terms can the one who seeks get what he wants. And in this way, strange as it may seem, we may buy without money. Indeed, the very terms of the gospel are that "the gift of God" cannot be "purchased with money." Nothing religious that might stand in place of money can buy it either. The pride that will not take a free gift as such must be sent away empty.

The other virgins had to go away to buy oil. I think this means only that it was too late to have a part with the Bridegroom, and that the faithful virgins could not then pass on grace. One must have it in time for the service itself. I will add that I do not think the foolish virgins were saved souls. The Bridegroom says to them, "I do not know you" — something Jesus could hardly say to those who were His own.

If the Lord were to come tonight, the oil in your mother's lamp would not take you to glory. Neither would the Christian minister's. You must have it for yourselves.

The coming of the bridegroom (v.10) is plainly not His coming in judgment, but His coming to take home to His presence His redeemed saints. Being ready, they go in with Him to the marriage. About this occasion we read of "a door standing open in heaven" (Rev. 4:1). In our present chapter, "the door was shut." No true believer will be missing, but others will be shut out.

Here the parable takes up the constant expectation of those who took the place of entering into the interests of His love. It also gives the outcome at the end for those who were "foolish" and had no share in the anointing of the Spirit. This anointing alone could enable anyone to be "ready" to go in with Christ to the marriage.

First, we must be "ready" in title; and, secondly, we must be "ready" in our moral state — ready in conscience, and ready in heart. The one is founded on the work of Christ for us; the other is connected with the work of the Spirit in us. If we are resting by faith on the finished work of Christ — leaning only on what He has done and what He is — then we are truly ready in title. We may be sure of being with Him when He comes.

No one can give of his oil to another. Each has just enough for himself. A man can give light, but he cannot give oil. The latter is the gift of God alone... It is no use looking to Christian friends to help us or prop us up. No use flying here and there for someone to lean on — some holy man, or some eminent teacher — no use building on our church, our creed, or our sacraments. We want oil. We cannot do without it. Where are we to get it? Not from man, not from the church, not from the saints, not from the fathers. We must get it from God; and He, blessed be His name, gives freely.

And what is its character morally? Is it the display of righteousness? Certainly not, but of grace. So it is not at all a question of showing faithfulness to the world. It is simply the intimate privilege of being with the Bridegroom. It is not the virgins appearing with Him; for they are not shown that way. It is an inner scene. They go out to meet the Bridegroom; the Bridegroom comes; and they go in with Him to the marriage.

The wise virgins, true Christians, will go in with Christ to the marriage, and the door will be shut. But, like the door of the ark, it will now be shut by the hand of the Lord, and none can open it. Against all who refused to enter in while it stood open, it will be closed for ever... The scene is too awful to think about. But the Lord has said enough to convince us of what will then be, and to warn us while the door still stands wide open.

Those who have life in Christ, who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will be ready. But the mere professor will be shut out. He has truth in the head and on the lip, but not in the heart. He has the lamp of profession, but not the Spirit of life in Christ.