Is Your Lamp Lit?

In Old Testament times, people used lamps made from small clay saucers that were filled with olive oil.  These lamps typically had a single wick that provided illumination when lit.¹  Prior to a Jewish wedding ceremony, a bridegroom would leave his house and travel to the house of his bride.  This was a celebratory procession that included the groomsmen, musicians and singers, and people holding lamps.^1,2 

Lamps and oil also have symbolic meanings in Scripture:¹  

• Leviticus 8:10-13:  ¹⁰And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.  ¹¹And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.  ¹²And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.  ¹³And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.

• 1 Samuel 10:1: Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

• 1 Samuel 10:6: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

• 1 Samuel 16:13: 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.

These Old Testament passages tell us that oil is symbolic of receiving the Holy Spirit.¹  Now see what Scripture tells us about lamps.

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

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

These passages tell us that a lamp is symbolic of God’s Word. 

The importance of having oil

Jesus often spoke in parables, a style of teaching that was very common among Jewish rabbis who lived during his time.³  When the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus said in Matthew 13:11 (NIV):  "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

Knowing that the Word of God is a lamp, and that the Holy Spirit is the oil that keeps a lamp burning, helps us understand the meaning of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins. 

Matthew 25:1 tells us: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  The bridegroom, of course, is Christ Jesus. 

In Matthew 25:3, we learn that the foolish virgins took their lamps, and took no oil with them.  The other five virgins were called wise because they took oil in their vessels with their lamps (Matthew 25:4). 

Then something happened to all the virgins: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept (Matthew 25:5).  It is my opinion that this parable describes many believers who are sleeping today because they are not eagerly anticipating the Lord’s return. 

Yes, the virgins are believers!

Mathew 25:3-4 states: ³They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  These passages say that the five foolish virgins did not take any oil.  They do not say that they did not have any oil to begin with (the Amplified Bible reads that they did not take any [extra oil]).  It would be impossible for the five foolish virgins to take something they did not already have. 

The five foolish virgins clearly understand the importance of having oil — and the consequences of being unprepared.  Matthew 25:8 reads: The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'  This is an important distinction because many assume that the five foolish virgins are unbelievers.  But if they were unbelievers, they could never have had any oil (the Holy Spirit) to begin with!

If you have doubts about this, do a word search using the terms “harlot” and “virgins” to see what Scripture says about both.  Never rely on man’s interpretations because humans (myself included, and may God forgive me if I ever err here) are fallible.  Always use Scripture to interpret Scripture, praying for guidance and wisdom.

When the Lord returns

In Matthew 25:6, Jesus says: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  According to Jewish tradition, the friends of the bridegroom usually traveled at night to bring the bride and her bridesmaids to the home of the bridegroom. 

This was a celebratory procession marked by the shout of the bridegroom: "Behold the bridegroom cometh!" (see Jeremiah 7:34; Revelation 18:23).  The procession occurred at night so that those who worked during the day could attend.⁴  It was also customary for the bridal procession to carry lamps with them. 

When the cry went out, Matthew 25:7 tells us that Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  But something tragic happened to the five foolish virgins when they were on their way to buy oil.  Matthew 25:10 warns us about it: 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.

Sadly, when the foolish virgins shout for the bridegroom to open the door in Matthew 25:11, saying Lord, Lord, open to us (and if they were unbelievers why would they call the bridegroom Lord?), he tells them, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12).

References: 1. Merril F. Unger and R.K. Harris, ed.  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary  (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1988), 253, 753, 818, 819, 937.  2.  Alfred Edersheim.  Sketches of Jewish Social Life.  (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.,1994), 143.  3.  Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg.  Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.  (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009) 30.  4.  Eager GB.  “Marriage.”  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.  Orr J, ed.  http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?action=Lookup&word=marriage&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Lookup.  Accessed June 17, 2010.