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I have wondered what the oil signified. Why were the five who left to buy oil and returned so cruelly dealt with? They looked just like the other girls in the wedding party. True they fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom, but so did the others. Yet they were closed off from the wedding feast.
If you look at the parable, the Word of God tells clearly what the problem was with these five disqualified members of the wedding party. They were foolish, whereas the other five were wise.
The lack of oil was just a result of what the foolish virgins were, the condition of their being. They had no forethought and wisdom in their conduct. They were complacent and at ease - along for the ride, doing this thing because the other girls were doing it. The Bridegroom said to them, "I never knew you."
The Bible has much to say about fools. We must study to be able to recognize these characteristics in ourselves or in others. Obviously these characteristics can disqualify and exclude us from the kingdom of God, just as they did the five foolish virgins in Jesus' parable.
Here are some of the things the Bible has to say about fools.
Fools say there is no God (if not with their mouths with their actions). They are corrupt and evil. They do not seek after God and inquire of Him. (Psalm 14 and Psalm 53)
Fools despise godly wisdom, instruction, and discipline (Prov. 1:7)
Fools hate knowledge. (Prov. 1:22)
Fools are destroyed by their own careless ease. (Prov. 1:32)
Fools bring destruction upon themselves because they despise the word and counsel of God. (Prov. 13:13)
If you associate with fools you become a fool yourself and suffer the consequences. (Prov. 13:20)
A fool's mouth brings him shame. (Prov. 14:3)
Don't hang around foolish and self confident people. You will not find wisdom on their lips. (Prov. 14:8)
The heart of a fool displays his lack of good sense and normal prudence and foresight. (Prov. 12:23)
Fools always judge themselves to be right and will not listen to counsel. (Prov. 12:15)
"A fool's wrath is quickly and openly known but a prudent man ignores an insult." (Prov. 12:16)
Fools mock at sin and in turn sin mocks the fool. (Prov. 14:9)
A fool only wants to reveal his personal opinions and himself. He has no appreciation for wisdom and understanding. (Prov. 12:16)
The mouth of a fool is his own ruin. (Prov. 17:7)
A fool's own foolishness will ruin his affairs and then he will be resentful against the Lord. (Prov. 19:3)
Discipline drives foolishness out of the heart of a child. (Prov. 22:15)
Fools think and say that God does not see what they do. They pour out arrogant words and boasting. They crush the people of God. They take advantage of the helpless for their own profit. (Psalm 94)
"The fool speaks folly and his mind plans iniquity: practicing profane ungodliness and speaking error concerning the Lord, leaving the craving of the hungry unsatisfied and causing the drink of the thirsty to fail." Isaiah 32:6
This is only a sampling. Get your concordance and look them up for yourself.
Foolish people do not fear God. Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If fools feared God, they would be wise. We don't shrink from God in fear, but we shrink from the consequences of being irreverent or disrespectful or disobedient, as were Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts.
What is Jesus telling us in this parable of the ten virgins? Be wise. Seek God and fear Him. Follow wisdom and truth. Make sure your works of service to God are from a pure heart with right motives and not just for show. Don't practice sin, but be diligent to practice obedience to God's Word and to His Spirit.