Matthew 25:1-13; Be stingy with the oil? What's the real meaning?

[in_servitude]

Matthew 25:1-13

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be **enough **for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13b Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

I had lunch once again with my protestant friend today. He asked if it “tweaked” me that the wise virgins were the ones who were stingy with their oil and didn’t try to figure out how to get the foolish virgins into heaven.

My answer was that the oil represented something other than just stuff. It was something internal. I recall a past homily where the priest said that the wise virgins were not in position to give them oil since they couldn’t give them the preparedness for Heaven - they had to do that work for themselves. That is why they had to go and get it. But, as this story shows, they waited too long to get themselves prepared.

Now, I’d like to hear from the wise folks that post on this forum. I think I am missing something here. Thanks!!

 

[NotWorthy]

This is what I found recently on this parable:

Stay awake and stay on Watch!!!

The story uses an ancient Jewish custom: after the betrothal, the groom would lead a procession to bring his new wife to their home, and they would celebrate a week-long banquet with family and friends. In the parable, the bridegroom arrives to begin the joyous procession to the wedding feast.

I like Origen’s writings on this for he explains it better than I ever could (circa 230AD): *… awaiting the bridegroom signifies one’s uncertain life-span – no one knows the hour of his death and judgment. The lamp is Christian Faith, while the oil represents Good Works. Thus, faith without works is useless. Souls must prepare for their personal encounter with Christ (the bridegroom) by loving God and neighbor, since those lacking good works will be shut out of heaven’s banquet.
*
When you have experienced that emotional high that comes from conversion, you have a lamp (like the 10 virgins), but you need oil to keep that fire burning. Every fire will burn out, if it runs out of fuel. Just as our faith will tend to burn out if we don’t provide the fuel – this fuel comes from loving God, His Church, and His Children. In doing so, we’ll receive his Graces, which of course will make our fires burn brighter, and maybe lighting the darkness for others.

 

[the_phoenix]

Actually in_servitude,

I think you’ve already answered quite nicely.

How about this as another possibility?

Definition of ENABLER
: one that enables another to achieve an end; especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior

~~ Merriam Webster

merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enabler

… and, from Wikipedia …

"Enabling prevents psychological growth in the person being enabled and can contribute to negative symptoms in the enabler.

One of the primary purposes of a formal Family Intervention with alcoholics/addicts is to help the family cease their enabling behaviors.

Generally, individuals who enable others have weak boundaries, low self-esteem, and have difficulty being assertive when they communicate with others."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling

… and here’s an example containing a reference to light, which I thought was interesting as related to the parable mentioning oil to light lamps …

"If the alcoholic drinks up the money that was supposed to pay the utility bill, he’s not the only one who will be living in a dark, cold, or sweltering house. The rest of the family will suffer right along with him.

Tough Choices, But Choices
That makes the only option for the family seem to be taking the money intended for groceries and paying the light bill instead, since nobody wants to be without utilities.

But that is not the only option. Taking the children to friends or relatives, or even a shelter, and letting the alcoholic come home alone to a dark house, is an option that protects the family and leaves the alcoholic face-to-face with his problem.

Those kinds of choices are difficult. They require “detachment with love.” But it is love. Unless the alcoholic is allowed to face the consequences of his own actions, he will never realize just how much his drinking has become a problem – to himself and those around him."

alcoholism.about.com/cs/info2/a/aa052197.htm

…

Am interested to see what others think as well, and other interpretations, like NotWorthy’s above, too.

…

 

[in_servitude]

This is what I found recently on this parable:

Thanks. The oil being the fuel that will expire if we fail to tend to our faith is an excellent analogy. This would amplify the justification that it cannot simply be given. Because if it could be thrust upon someone, I’d certainly be filling up the oil lamps all around me at the office. It’s kind of dim there right now.

 

[in_servitude]

Yes. I like this too. The concept that the wise virgins didn’t choose to enable the foolishness of the others is good stuff. Imagine the disaster of enabling our friends distance from Christ. Ooof. That would not be very wise at all. Nice.

 

[bird66]

Those kinds of choices are difficult. They require “detachment with love.” But it is love. Unless the alcoholic is allowed to face the consequences of his own actions, he will never realize just how much his drinking has become a problem – to himself and those around him."http://www.nling.info/g.gif

 

[in_servitude]

Those kinds of choices are difficult. They require “detachment with love.” But it is love. Unless the alcoholic is allowed to face the consequences of his own actions, he will never realize just how much his drinking has become a problem – to himself and those around him.

Yeah. I’ve got an ex-foster kid - and I’d definitely do all the work for him if it would bring him to Christ. But, that actually destroys the system that God has put in place. So, I pray and trust.

 

[bmonk]

Those kinds of choices are difficult. They require “detachment with love.” But it is love. Unless the alcoholic is allowed to face the consequences of his own actions, he will never realize just how much his drinking has become a problem – to himself and those around him."http://www.nling.info/g.gif

And isn’t that how God treats us? He allows us to live with the consequences of our sins. He warns us and offers us forgiveness and healing–but if we don’t accept, he accepts our choices and lets them stand.

I also like the idea of the five virgins heading out to buy more oil at midnight–long before the idea of a 24-hour store was even imagined. If you are not ready when God appears, there will be no time to get ready. God has warned us all: get ready!

 

[Mintaka]

In ancient times, a 24 hour store was a matter of waking up the storekeeper who lived above his shop.

Of course, if the whole town’s either processing with the bridegroom or waiting for him to come back to the house with the bride, there’s nobody there to wake up!