Matthew 25:8
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The crucial detail here is that the lamps aren't fully extinguished yet; they are "going out." This means the foolish virgins did have some light, some spark of faith, but their neglect meant it was rapidly fading, and there was no personal supply left to reignite it. Their desperate plea reveals a common misunderstanding: that spiritual readiness is something that can be borrowed or transferred at the last moment, rather than an ongoing, personal preparation.
This verse comes from Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, illustrating the importance of being prepared for his return. While all ten virgins set out to meet the bridegroom, five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not. As the long wait stretches into the night, the foolish virgins realize their lamps are failing, prompting this desperate plea to the wise.
The foolish virgins' lamps aren't just out; they're going out. What does this frantic, last-minute realization reveal about spiritual readiness?
The Greek word used here, sbennuntai, is in the present tense. This isn't about lamps that have been completely dark for a while. It's about flames that are flickering, sputtering, and on the verge of extinction. There's still a faint glow, a dying ember, but it's rapidly fading.
This detail is crucial! It means the foolish virgins had some light, some form of preparedness. They weren't utterly devoid of spiritual life at the outset. However, their initial spark wasn't sustained. The crisis isn't a sudden, unexpected failure, but the culmination of a prolonged neglect. Their lamps are going out right now, signaling a desperate, immediate need that can no longer be met by simply borrowing.
This highlights that spiritual readiness isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process. Complacency can set in, and what was once sufficient can become desperately inadequate when tested.
The foolish virgins beg for oil. Why is a solution that sounds so simple ultimately impossible to share?
The wise virgins' response, 'By no means, lest there not be enough for us and for you,' is a stark declaration. The oil in their possession represents a personal, indispensable supply of readiness. It's not transferable.
This parable teaches us that our relationship with God, our preparedness for His coming, is deeply personal. You can't borrow someone else's faith, their intimacy with God, or their spiritual endurance. The oil is stored in their own vessels, alongside their lamps. It signifies a personal provision, cultivated through deliberate effort and foresight.
When the crisis hits, what matters is the oil you have diligently stored up. There's no spiritual marketplace to buy last-minute salvation or divine favor. The 'selling' that the wise virgins suggest refers to a time that has passed—a time for diligent preparation that the foolish neglected.
Understand the original words
elaion · Greek Noun
In this parable, oil is universally understood as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, inward spiritual life, or genuine saving grace, which cannot be borrowed from another.
mōros · Greek Adjective
Describes those who outwardly associate with the Kingdom but lack the inward reality of saving faith or the Holy Spirit; they are unprepared for the suddenness of judgment.
This passage speaks about the 'lamp' of the body being the eye and the importance of the 'light' within being whole, directly paralleling the idea of inner spiritual light that can fade.
Proverbs 10:26This proverb connects the righteous person to something steady and reliable, like 'fresh oil,' contrasting with the wicked who are unstable, echoing the wise virgins' preparedness and the foolish virgins' lack.
Revelation 3:15-16Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicea for being 'lukewarm' and unaware of their spiritual poverty, a strong parallel to the foolish virgins who are outwardly professing but inwardly unprepared and lacking true spiritual vitality.
Galatians 6:7-8This passage warns against sowing to the flesh and reaping corruption, while sowing to the Spirit reaps eternal life. It highlights the consequences of spiritual neglect versus spiritual diligence, mirroring the outcome for the wise and foolish virgins.
vincentMatthew 25:8: "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."
Are gone out (σβέννυνται)The A. V. misses the graphic force of the continuous present, denoting something in progress. They see the flame waning and flickering, and cry, Our lamps are going out! So Rev.
calvinMatthew 25:1-13: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."
- Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. They that were foolish, while they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. 5. And while the bridegroom tarried, the…
The crucial detail here is that the lamps aren't fully extinguished yet; they are "going out." This means the foolish virgins did have some light, some spark of faith, but their neglect meant it was rapidly fading, and there was no personal supply left to reignite it. Their desperate plea reveals a common misunderstanding: that spiritual readiness is something that can be borrowed or transferred at the last moment, rather than an ongoing, personal preparation.
This verse comes from Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, illustrating the importance of being prepared for his return. While all ten virgins set out to meet the bridegroom, five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not. As the long wait stretches into the night, the foolish virgins realize their lamps are failing, prompting this desperate plea to the wise.
This verse comes from Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, illustrating the importance of being prepared for his return. While all ten virgins set out to meet the bridegroom, five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not. As the long wait stretches into the night, the foolish virgins realize their lamps are failing, prompting this desperate plea to the wise.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 25:8 is available in the Sola app.
"And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’" — The crucial detail here is that the lamps aren't fully extinguished yet; they are "going out." This means the foolish virgins did have some light, some spark of faith, but their neglect meant it wa…
