Verse 3 “those(being) fools,having taken the lamps of
them,not did take with themselves oil;
4/ the but prudent took oil in the vessels of them with the lamps of them. ”
The translation of this in many Bibles is misleading and doesnt explain the difference between the Wise and fools...and implies its Oil thats the problem. Its not Oil,or the lack of it, thats the problem at all.
This is why.
Here is the Greek wording for the “Wise” and “Foolish” in talking about them as groups. They are not spoken about the same !
In the Greek,Jesus speaking about the Wise:“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
In the Greek,Jesus speaking about the Fools: “not take with themselves oil.” Why? Because they didint have anything to take the Oil in...no Vessel or Lamp.
Jesus refers only to the Wise as “Vessels and Lamps”
The difference was that the Wise were a Vessel and a Lamp...and the Fools were not anymore.
There is a reason Jesus worded it the way He did.
The Virgin Wise: “oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
Fools:“not take with themselves oil.”
What is a lamp of the old days?
Lets explore why there is a significant difference by looking at what a lamp of old times were.
How can we say that the Virgin Wise were a “vessel” and a “lamp” as the Greek tells us? Lets think about what a lamp is. A lamp is not just a wick that you walk around with...and it burns. There are many parts to a lamp. 1,The Wick.2,the vessel part that holds the oil. 3.Where the wick is fixed to soak up the oil and burn. 4.A handle of some sort or somehow to hold the lamp 5.The oil.
Without any of these parts,the “lamp” wont work.
The lamp in old times WAS the vessel that held the oil AND the same thing where the wick was held so that it could burn and shine light. So it was a vessel(so it could hold oil) and a lamp so the wick could burn the oil and give light. Without the “vessel” part that holds the oil,its NOT a lamp.
There is the “vessel” part so that it can hold oil and THUS is a lamp.
This is why Jesus worded it the way He did.“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self” The Virgin Wise were Lamps...BECAUSE they were a Vessel and they could hold Oil HS. The Virgin Wise were a “vessel” capable of holding oil HS...thus they WERE a Lamp to shine light by burning oil that was in the “vessel” of the Lamp.
In talking about the Wise and Fools..Jesus uses a different word to describe “self”. For the Fools He words it differently...and for a reason.
In talking about the Fools he says: “not did take with (outside)themselves oil” Why? Because they WERE NOT a “vessel”/lamp anymore (but used to be)in preparation for the Bridegroom! We will see why later.
WISE:“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
FOOLS:“not take with themselves oil.” The word SELF in talking about the Wise is different than the word used for “ themselves” in talking about the Fools.
The Fools did not take oil WITH or outside themselves..because they were not a lamp and thus NOT a “Vessel” to hold the oil. They were not a Lamp and thus the Vessel part of the lamp to hold the oil was gone.
Why ? Because as we have already looked at,the Fools chose to be silenced and in do this,no longer were Lamps.
What were they THEMSELVES ? Thats the question ! The 2 groups were different...and Jesus used different words to make the point.
The point Jesus was making here was.... were they able to have the capacity to be a “vessel” for the oil or Holy Spirit,because the Fools were no longer a Bride Lamp.
For the Wise “in the lamps of self” was still there. The Fools “in the lamps of self” was gone.
Remember,they allowed themselves to be silenced. Thats what “Fool” means. If you are silenced,you are not shining.
You are not a Bride Lamp anymore because you are not shining out Light by declaring certain things.
The Virgin Wise were a Bride Lamp,thus BOTH a “Vessel” and a “Lamp” because that is what a lamp is ! The “vessel” or person is fit for Oil or Holy Spirit and thus shines light as a Bride Lamp.
When were they referred to as Wise and Fools?
We have to remember where we are in time in relation to the 2 groups...WHEN they are called Wise and Fool. We are at a time just before Jesus arrives when certain events have happened that changed some of the Virgins. Remember what Jesus said about the 10 Virgins in Verse one...there was NO distinction. ALL were called Virgins...NOT Wise or Fool.
It was only after going back to sleep after the first wrong expectation and the “Cry/call” was made and they awoke, that they then were called Wise and Fools. Something had happened within the group during the “sleep period” that had divided the group and the above description of the Fools applies.
BUT is has plenty to do with the meaning of “Fool” and HOW the Silence was “imposed” that gave them the name Fool. What stopped them from being Wise and made them Fools by choice.
4/ the but prudent took oil in the vessels of them with the lamps of them. ”
The translation of this in many Bibles is misleading and doesnt explain the difference between the Wise and fools...and implies its Oil thats the problem. Its not Oil,or the lack of it, thats the problem at all.
This is why.
Here is the Greek wording for the “Wise” and “Foolish” in talking about them as groups. They are not spoken about the same !
In the Greek,Jesus speaking about the Wise:“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
In the Greek,Jesus speaking about the Fools: “not take with themselves oil.” Why? Because they didint have anything to take the Oil in...no Vessel or Lamp.
Jesus refers only to the Wise as “Vessels and Lamps”
The difference was that the Wise were a Vessel and a Lamp...and the Fools were not anymore.
There is a reason Jesus worded it the way He did.
The Virgin Wise: “oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
Fools:“not take with themselves oil.”
What is a lamp of the old days?
Lets explore why there is a significant difference by looking at what a lamp of old times were.
How can we say that the Virgin Wise were a “vessel” and a “lamp” as the Greek tells us? Lets think about what a lamp is. A lamp is not just a wick that you walk around with...and it burns. There are many parts to a lamp. 1,The Wick.2,the vessel part that holds the oil. 3.Where the wick is fixed to soak up the oil and burn. 4.A handle of some sort or somehow to hold the lamp 5.The oil.
Without any of these parts,the “lamp” wont work.
The lamp in old times WAS the vessel that held the oil AND the same thing where the wick was held so that it could burn and shine light. So it was a vessel(so it could hold oil) and a lamp so the wick could burn the oil and give light. Without the “vessel” part that holds the oil,its NOT a lamp.
There is the “vessel” part so that it can hold oil and THUS is a lamp.
This is why Jesus worded it the way He did.“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self” The Virgin Wise were Lamps...BECAUSE they were a Vessel and they could hold Oil HS. The Virgin Wise were a “vessel” capable of holding oil HS...thus they WERE a Lamp to shine light by burning oil that was in the “vessel” of the Lamp.
In talking about the Wise and Fools..Jesus uses a different word to describe “self”. For the Fools He words it differently...and for a reason.
In talking about the Fools he says: “not did take with (outside)themselves oil” Why? Because they WERE NOT a “vessel”/lamp anymore (but used to be)in preparation for the Bridegroom! We will see why later.
WISE:“oil in the vessels of self,in the lamps of self”
FOOLS:“not take with themselves oil.” The word SELF in talking about the Wise is different than the word used for “ themselves” in talking about the Fools.
The Fools did not take oil WITH or outside themselves..because they were not a lamp and thus NOT a “Vessel” to hold the oil. They were not a Lamp and thus the Vessel part of the lamp to hold the oil was gone.
Why ? Because as we have already looked at,the Fools chose to be silenced and in do this,no longer were Lamps.
What were they THEMSELVES ? Thats the question ! The 2 groups were different...and Jesus used different words to make the point.
The point Jesus was making here was.... were they able to have the capacity to be a “vessel” for the oil or Holy Spirit,because the Fools were no longer a Bride Lamp.
For the Wise “in the lamps of self” was still there. The Fools “in the lamps of self” was gone.
Remember,they allowed themselves to be silenced. Thats what “Fool” means. If you are silenced,you are not shining.
You are not a Bride Lamp anymore because you are not shining out Light by declaring certain things.
The Virgin Wise were a Bride Lamp,thus BOTH a “Vessel” and a “Lamp” because that is what a lamp is ! The “vessel” or person is fit for Oil or Holy Spirit and thus shines light as a Bride Lamp.
When were they referred to as Wise and Fools?
We have to remember where we are in time in relation to the 2 groups...WHEN they are called Wise and Fool. We are at a time just before Jesus arrives when certain events have happened that changed some of the Virgins. Remember what Jesus said about the 10 Virgins in Verse one...there was NO distinction. ALL were called Virgins...NOT Wise or Fool.
It was only after going back to sleep after the first wrong expectation and the “Cry/call” was made and they awoke, that they then were called Wise and Fools. Something had happened within the group during the “sleep period” that had divided the group and the above description of the Fools applies.
BUT is has plenty to do with the meaning of “Fool” and HOW the Silence was “imposed” that gave them the name Fool. What stopped them from being Wise and made them Fools by choice.
