Tag Archives: oil

Jesus Did Not Say That The Foolish Virgins Were Not Filled With The Holy Spirit

Apologetics, , , ,

JESUS DID NOT SAY THAT THE FOOLISH VIRGINS WERE NOT FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in their jars along with their lamps. (Matt 25: 1-4)

We Gentiles, who understand neither the language nor the culture of the ancient Hebrew people, make a real mess if this one. When we read about lamps or light, it should alert us immediately that Jesus was talking about “walking” or living their lives God’s way and that oil had something to do with the way they lived.

We must also remember that Jesus was telling His disciples a parable. Therefore His story had a purpose and He was addressing a specific situation. We cannot interpret all the details of a parable without losing the teller’s main intention. What was the theme of Jesus’ discussion with His disciples? He was responding to their question about the destruction of the temple which He has just predicted:

‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’ (Matt 24: 3b)

He did not give them a timeline which they could tick off as events happened. Hebrew people did not think like that. He gave them “signs” so that they could recognise what was happening and take action before they were caught up in the destruction. The whole purpose of His response was to teach them how to be ready for His return. It was not about living it up until just before His return but about being faithful to their duty so that they would be ready when He came to fetch His bride.

This parable fits into this theme. Jesus is the bridegroom who has gone to prepare the bridal chamber for His bride. It is the bride’s duty, during the extended betrothal period, to separate herself from all other men (to be holy) and to prepare her bridal gown. We have already discovered the interpretation of the “bridal gown” from our reference in Rev. 19: 6-8.

‘. . . For the wedding of the Lamb has come and the bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous deeds of the saints).

Just as the believer is robed in the righteousness of Christ, given to us as a free gift to cover our unrighteousness and make us acceptable to the Father, so we must confirm our status as God’s sons and daughters by living as Jesus taught us or, as the Bible’s imagery explains, we must walk in God’s way, following the path of His teaching or Torah by being generous and merciful to all people because God has been generous and merciful to us.

The “oil” in this parable is not a reference to the Holy Spirit, as many preachers interpret the story, but to the “righteous deeds of the saints” which the bridal gown represents. The five wise virgins were filled with righteous deeds – they lived their lives according to Jesus’ teaching, that is, the way He interpreted God’s instructions found in the first five books of the Bible, collectively known as the Torah. Their lamps were full of oil because they walked in the light of God’s word.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psa. 119: 105)

Doing the right thing (righteous deeds) is not the reason for their righteousness but the evidence of a right relationship with God, made possible because Jesus removed the barrier of sin.

The foolish virgins showed no evidence in their lives that they had ever responded in faith to the offer of the gift of righteousness. They had no “light” on their way. When the bridegroom came, they could not go into the wedding feast with the others because their lamps were empty of the true light of life, the good works that revealed their true nature as daughters of God.

We read the clue to the seriousness of their failure to be ready by the response of the bridegroom when they wanted to enter the banqueting hall.

But when they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day nor the hour. (Matt 25: 10-13)

The bridegroom denied them entry because He did not “know” them. The word “know” implies the intimate knowledge of a husband and wife which results in reproduction, just as Adam “knew” Eve and she bore a son.

Jesus only “knows” us when we bow to Him as Lord and respond to Him in submission and obedience to His word. We respond to His mercy and generosity by treating our fellow human beings with mercy and generosity, revealing our nature as sons and daughters of God.

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matt 25: 40)

John, the beloved disciple, hit the nail on the head!

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18)

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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A Table-land Of Plenty

Bible Study, , , , ,

A TABLE-LAND OF PLENTY

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5.

What lies beyond the dark valley and why do the sheep have to go through it? Why can’t they stay in the green pastures and beside the quiet waters? After all, isn’t that all they need?

I am not familiar with the care of sheep, especially those in the Middle East, but I am told that the best, sweetest and most nourishing grazing for sheep is on top of the mesa, the table-land where the rain falls and the grass grows lush and thick.

The good shepherd knows his sheep and he knows his grazing. He wants the best for his sheep, even if it costs him time and effort to find it and to prepare it for them. He goes ahead of his flock, finds the mesa where the sweetest grass grows and prepares it for his sheep. He clears it of poisonous and obnoxious weeds and drives off the wild beasts that may endanger his animals. Then he returns to the flock.

When the time is right, after checking the mesa a second time, he leads the flock through the valley that takes the safest route to the table-land. The sheep may not find the way easy but they follow the shepherd because they trust him and they know his voice. After safely negotiating the treacherous path through the dark valley, they finally reach the table which is laden with the good things a sheep needs to flourish.

In perfect safety they graze, confident that, even though they are surrounded by “enemies”, the shepherd is there to guard and protect them. They can graze in peace because no harm will come to them.

In the warm sunshine, flies breed and multiply. They bother the sheep, some even laying their eggs in the soft mucosa of the sheep’s nostrils. The shepherd pours olive oil on the heads of his sheep to keep the flies away. He does more than just rub a little oil on their noses. He douses their heads so that there is no chance for the flies to alight on the sheep. The oil soothes their itchy skin and they can continue to graze in comfort.

David was well aware of the time and effort it took to care for the sheep. It was a much bigger job than just leading them out and lazing around in the sun watching them while they grazed. A shepherd faced dangers from wild animals. He had to stand between them and the flock, drive them off, rescue the lambs which a lion or bear might take, if he could, and stay alert for an ambush.

He had to know the plants which were harmful to the sheep. He had to find the best pastures and the quiet streams. He had to know the terrain and keep the sheep away from dangerous ravines and precipices. He had to lead them along safe paths. He had to find the easiest and safest route to the table-land. He had to prepare the “table” before he led them there to graze, clearing the pasture of unsafe plants and driving away the wild beasts.

Looking back over his life, David realised that God had been all that, and more, to him. It was heartening for him to know that even the darkest valleys he had gone through were the way to the table-land. There was a rich reward for trusting the shepherd and staying close to him.

Did he think about the years of running from Saul, living in caves, eating off the land like a wild animal and having to stay alert, day and night, in case of an ambush? His shepherd was there, always beside him, leading him safely through until he reached the table and was able to partake of the rich fare the shepherd had provided. He found strength, grace and mercy at the table.

His shepherd took care of the big things, the “enemies” that threatened his life, and the little things, the “flies” that troubled him. He had the anointing of the oil of the Spirit who enabled him to rule his people wisely with a kindly and merciful attitude. He was not a ruthless tyrant like some of his descendants. He was a living example of a godly king. He was passionate about God; he set up twenty-four hour worship and made extravagant preparations for the building of the temple. O yes! David was wholeheartedly for God. This was the grace on his life because of the “oil” that kept the “flies” away.

David’s shepherd is our shepherd. On the other side of every dark valley is a table-land which the shepherd has specifically prepared for each one of us. There is a bounty of God’s goodness waiting for us when we have gone through the valley. This is the reward for trusting and following Him when we cannot see the way.

“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.