Expert: Dennis Herman - 1/27/2010

Question
The 5 foolish virgins did not take enough oil, what does that mean? I know that the oil represents the Holy spirit but did they not have enough of the Holy Spirit  or what did they not have enough of?

Answer
KJV Matthew 25:1-13
1.  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4.  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6.  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7.  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10.  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13.  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

This is a tough question to answer, because it may have more than one meaning.  True, the oil may represent the Spirit of God, we see proof of this in Zechariah.

KJV Zechariah 4:12-14
12.  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13.  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14.  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Zechariah identifies the two olive trees and the two anointed ones.  Now who are these two anointed ones?  In Revelation 11:3 we are told of two witnesses.  A complete study of the subject shows these two represent the Old and New Testaments.  
Http://adventbiblestudy.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/two-witnesses-revelation-113/

Could these two anointed ones represent the same?

KJV Zechariah 4:2-6
2.  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, And behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3.  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4.  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5.  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6.  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

In verse 6 we are shown these represent the Spirit of the Lord.  Now what is the difference between the Spirit of the Lord and His word?  How does God communicate with us?  

KJV 1 Samuel 16:13
13.  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

KJV Psalms 23:5
5.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup Runneth over.

Oil is also used to anoint.

Would it be easier to understand the parable of the 10 virgins if some of them had forgotten the word of the Lord?  Verse 3 tells us five of them took no oil.  So they have a lamp and no oil.  One is not much good without the other.

There may be a clearer understanding if we looked at the spiritual interpretation for lamp.

KJV Leviticus 24:2
2.  Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

A lamp needs oil.

KJV Numbers 8:2
2.  Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

A lamp gives light.

KJV 2 Samuel 22:29
29.  For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

The Lord is a lamp to lighten our spiritual darkness.

KJV Proverbs 6:23
23.  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

The commandment and law are light.  Without them we would never know the difference between good and evil.

KJV Psalms 119:105
105.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

God's word is a lamp.

It appears either interpretation for the oil would be correct.  If it represents the word, it agrees with the interpretation of lamp.  If it represents the Spirit, it would also agree with the lamp representing the word.  The only proper way of interpreting God's word is through His Sprit.  The only way to accurately interpret God's word is with the word of God.  

You could say, the 5 wise used God's word to understand God's word.  Because the foolish lacked either the word or the Spirit, they had no light, no way of understanding God's word.