Book of Matthew - Chapter 25 - Verse 8

The verse 'And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.' from the Bible is part of a parable known as the Parable of the Ten Virgins, found in the book of Matthew. This parable teaches us about being prepared and ready for the coming of the Lord. In the parable, ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, five are wise and have brought extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and have not. When the bridegroom finally arrives, the foolish virgins ask the wise ones for some of their oil as their lamps are going out. The wise virgins refuse, telling them to go and buy more oil for themselves. This highlights the importance of being prepared and spiritually ready for the return of Christ, as we cannot rely on others to provide us with the necessary resources for our faith.

The theological interpretation of this verse focuses on the concept of preparedness and personal responsibility in one's spiritual life. In this parable of the ten virgins, the wise virgins represent those who are diligent in their faith, continually seeking to grow closer to God and maintain their spiritual readiness. They are wise because they have taken the time to ensure they have enough oil for their lamps, symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. On the other hand, the foolish virgins represent those who are complacent in their faith, neglecting to nurture their relationship with God and failing to be properly prepared for His coming. When the cry goes out at midnight, it becomes clear that the foolish virgins have not adequately prepared, as their lamps have gone out. The request for oil from the wise virgins serves as a warning about the consequences of spiritual unpreparedness and the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's own relationship with God.