The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 503

Ver. 4.-The provision for <Jhristian emergencies. " The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Some think that torches of tow, steeped in oil, and fastened to the end of sticks, may be meant. Wetstein quotes the following from Rabbi Solomo: " It wa.s the custom in the land of Ishmael to bring the bride from the house of her father to that of her husband in the night-time; and there were about ten staffs; upon the top of each was a brazen dish, containing rags, oil, and pitch, and this being kindled formed blazing torches, which were carried before the bride." 'l'he lights were intended to make brightness and joyousness for the marriage procession, and the possession of a lighted lamp was II sort of guarantee, a sort of ticket of ad.mis- sion to the feast. Oil from the store-vessel poured into the dish would revive the flame when the cry of the " bridegroom coming " was heard. 11 Oil in the vessel " was the virgins' provision against all contingency. Whatever happened, with oil in the vessel with the lamp they could keep the light alive. The foolish virgins went care- lessly on their journey, satisfied with this-their lamps were burning, and not troubling themselves to think how long they would burn, and what they would do when the dame began to flicker. It is not enough to have oil in the lamp. L THE II OIL OF DIVINE GBACE" IS THE PROVISION WE NEED. That :figure of speech gathers up several things. 1. A personal experience of dealing with God. 2. Culti- vated habits of communion with God. 8. A cherished sense of dependence on God. 4. Well-established views of Divine truth. 6. Gathered stores of Divine promises and comfortings. .All such things as belocg to the personal and private life of godli- ness. But this is only the one side. There is another and even more important side. The" oil of grace" really represents the indwelling Spirit, who is ready to inspire us to every good word and work. That Spirit is with all who are in earnest and dependent. When his grace seems exhausted, he II giveth more grace," and so our lamp is ever Sllpplied, and the light ever kept brightly burning. II. THE "OIL OF GBACE" CAN BE OBTAINED. In times of emergency we can use means-attend services, etc., and in a way, buy and obtain. The difficulty is that we cannot often get the grace in time for the emergency. Ill. THE II OIL OF GRACE " SHOULD BE A CONSTANT POBSEBBION; a store ever beicg replenished. See Zechariah's :figure of the livicg olive branches ever dropping fresh oil into the bowL-R. T. Ver. 10.-%e warning of the shut door. We need not push the meaning of our Lord's figure to extremes. The shut door properly belongs to the picture he is pe.int- icg. It is just what actually did happen in such cases. Those. n~t actually_ m the procession were excluded when the house was reached. "Those v1rgms had failed in that which could alone give them a claim to admission. Professing to be bridesmaids, they had not been in the bridal procession, and so, in truth and righteousness, he could only answer from within, "Verily I say ucto you, I know you not," T~i~, not only in punishment, but in the right order of things. We have a way of sh1ftmg every- thing a.way to the mysterious "day of judgment." But our Lord is not thicking of that; be was thiuking of the opportunities that come to men in the course of Christian ou. xxv.1-46.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 609