SueAnn Porter

I’ve read this parable a million times, but today, something jumped off the page at me.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom ^[a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

WHERE WERE THEY GOING TO BUY OIL AT MIDNIGHT?

All the regular merchants were home sleeping.

The only place to buy oil at midnight was on the shady side of town, among shady people.

Didn’t they realize this? Were they thinking at all?

 ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

They went to buy. Where?

Were they successful or did they give up?

¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Were they successful in purchasing oil? If so, at what price did they obtain it?

Or did they give up and try to get in without the oil?

¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.