In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten young women waiting for a bridegroom. Five of them were ready with extra oil for their lamps, but the other five didn’t have any and weren't prepared. But what does this oil mean? The oil plays a crucial role in this parable because it is the reason why the foolish virgins couldn't join the wedding celebration. Sadly, many Christians today lack a clear understanding of the oil in Matthew 25.
So, let's be thankful to God for giving us the Spirit of Prophecy, which helps us understand God's Word clearly. So, let’s turn to the Spirit of Prophecy for the answer. Testimonies to Ministers has enlightened us, “Now is the time for the careless to arouse from their slumber. Now is the time to entreat that souls shall not only hear the word of God, but without delay secure oil in their vessels with their lamps. That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin.” TM 233.2
So, what does the oil represent? Ellen White says, “That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable.” Many times, Ellen White emphasized that the oil is the character of Jesus. Take note of this another quote;
“My mind is carried to the future when the signal will be given, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." But some will have delayed to obtain the oil for replenishing their lamps, and too late they will find that character, which is represented by the oil, is not transferable. That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin.” The Bible Echo, May 4, 1896
Now, what is the character of Jesus? The Spirit of Prophecy has a clear answer;
“The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing--the reproduction of Christ's character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others.” COL 67
What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? The Bible has a clear answer;
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22, 23
To summarize, the oil represents the character of Jesus, and Jesus' character is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, our goal is to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Ellen White says, “When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.” DA 676
Our goal is not simply to understand the church's 28 fundamental doctrines. We may know the doctrine and share it with others, but then return home to quarrel with our wife, mistreat our children, argue with our neighbors, or criticize our pastor or fellow church members like a Pharisee! Such actions reflect the spirit and character of Satan. Remember, the oil represents the character of Jesus. “A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. How important, then, is the development of character in this life.” COL 332
Let us daily invite the Holy Spirit to take control of our hearts and minds.
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte writes from Thailand. His email address is acardeinte@aiias.edu
Follow his FB page: Adventist ToolBoX
To read the previous blog articles, go to SULADS Thailand website and click blog section. Direct link below; https://www.suladsthailand.com/blog-1/
Write a comment
Jevielyn Paypa (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:29)
Amen �
ZYL (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:30)
Amen. I want a further detail of this. Some say its just a Holy Spirit some say its a character some say its the Truth.
Denisi (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:31)
Thanks for that message
Karen (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:32)
Thank you
Jenny James (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:33)
This massage gives me a very good lessons to learn and a hope for tomorrow.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful massage thos morning.
Karen (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:35)
"In the parable, the oil in the wise virgins’ lamps represents their righteous living and obedience. We each fill our own lamp, which represents our own life, with our obedience and righteousness. Heavenly Father’s blessings to us for our righteous actions cannot be given to the disobedient."
- “Lesson 25: Parable of the Ten Virgins,” Primary 7: New Testament (1997), 83–86
Boas Japmaholi (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:35)
Thankyou for the beautiful read.. Character is the greatest richest we can treasure as oil in the lamp..
No name (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:39)
According to the book of Object Lessons it says that the oil here is the Holy Spirit
Yonex Gosh (Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:41)
Now I know what is oil represent?
Bernie Yparraguirre (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:00)
Great exposition on the oil - the character of Jesus Christ brought about by the Holy Spirit. Praise God. ☺️✅️��
Livai Atieng (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:01)
I like the message . Very interesting and inspiring to read. Like to read more of this type of stuff
Thanks ��
Meresiana kilai (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:06)
Amen
Savitha Mathew (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:09)
When God's presence is there in our life God is leading us through holyspirit. We must baptized with the holyspirit then only we will have characters Jesus
Nickson Undip (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:12)
� AMEN
Ernest cutara (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:25)
Thank you very much for this messege very interesting and inspiring, we need Jesus christ in our life
Peter Taul (Sunday, 17 March 2024)
Thank you very much for the inspirations,it helps me understand the true meaning of the oil and the fruit of the Spirit.
Catherine Peñaloza (Sunday, 17 March 2024 19:38)
Thank you and God bless ❤️
Precilla selga (Sunday, 17 March 2024 20:02)
Amen
Azzaro Sitali (Sunday, 17 March 2024 20:05)
The righteousness of christ.
Our characters us to change as Christians
Cosma (Sunday, 17 March 2024 20:17)
May God bless you for the enlightenment.
Ramlan (Sunday, 17 March 2024 20:24)
Jesus in heaven..
Holy Spirit everywhere..
salome (Sunday, 17 March 2024 20:57)
thanks i appreciate the powerfull insight God bless you all
Joy Nakintu (Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:44)
Amen,I really need God to strengthen Jesus,s character in me
Gugulethu (Sunday, 17 March 2024 22:35)
Thank you
Please keep on sending this information it's enlightening our faith �
Bena (Sunday, 17 March 2024 22:41)
What a lesson this morning. Christ character is key in Christian life.
Soriggi (Sunday, 17 March 2024 22:46)
Thank you for the lesson
Thembinkosi Sithole (Sunday, 17 March 2024 22:50)
Thanks for the message
ISAACK IMA (Sunday, 17 March 2024 23:08)
AMEN. MAY GOD'S BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES FOR SHARING THESE WONDERFUL TRUTHS.
Marory (Sunday, 17 March 2024 23:08)
We need to invite and submit to the power of Holy Spirit to mould and lead us on our daily endeavour. Dieying to self and reflecting Christ's character in the midst of temptation is a core of Christianity. May God help us !!
Never temba sokisi (Sunday, 17 March 2024 23:09)
Am very blessed by the information, of the oil representing the character of Christ ,as in Gal.5;22 which we should aquire while there's is time.
Lam Keay Keat (Sunday, 17 March 2024 23:14)
Glad to hear this wonderful news!
I pray that, Holy Spirit fill out my soul, heart and mind as well as everyone who's also interested to be filled out by the Holy Spirit.
Winnie Otieno (Sunday, 17 March 2024 23:35)
May we strive to be righteous before the Lord blessings be upon you for sharing
Melany Marthinus (Monday, 18 March 2024 00:06)
Lord mould me daily according your charachter so i can be an instrument for you ..a light and the salt to a lost World ..I commit myself daily to your divine purpose ..Amen
Pimpa Malumbe (Monday, 18 March 2024 00:08)
Thank you so much
Herbert Dembe (Monday, 18 March 2024 00:13)
May the good LORD bless us to over come our secret faults, the small foxes that spoil the vine. And to brat this body and bring it to subjection.
Thanx for sharing.
Amanda (Monday, 18 March 2024 01:55)
Now I too understand better, thank you so much.
Sir Abraham (Monday, 18 March 2024 01:59)
Amen and thank you so much for such enriching devotions, may our God bless you
AHOTOR BOBIEH (Monday, 18 March 2024 03:29)
Glad to hear this good news this morning may good God richly bless us all. Amen and Amen
Jolezya (Monday, 18 March 2024 03:30)
Thank you for this message. It has helped in understand it in a different aspect that has more weight. I am encouraged to invite the Holy spirit to take control of my heart and mind. And I want to have the fruits of the spirit in me
So help me Lord
eva (Monday, 18 March 2024 04:29)
God bless you for the enlightenment.
Sinothile mtombeni (Monday, 18 March 2024 05:01)
Thank you very much for the lesson.
May God bless us all and for you too
Simina (Monday, 18 March 2024 05:17)
AMEN. Thank you dear Jesus ❤️.
Habibi chilobe (Monday, 18 March 2024 15:40)
I have been revived thanks for the sharing
Kesten Nyson (Monday, 18 March 2024 16:30)
Amen. Thanks for the clear clarification with Spirit of Prophecy references
Mweetwa Muunyu (Monday, 18 March 2024 23:54)
Amen�.
Matanibukalevu (Tuesday, 19 March 2024 03:28)
Amen.
Patricia (Tuesday, 19 March 2024 13:58)
Amen
Niwael (Wednesday, 20 March 2024 23:43)
Powerful message
Marek (Saturday, 23 March 2024 02:25)
For those who are still confused what the oil symbolises, is it Holy Spirit, Christ's character, truth, his Righteousness? Study for yourselves with prayer and concirdance, and God will reveal the truth to you. BTW, all those terms in this context are synonymous. Holy Spirit is the spirit of Christ. Jesus is in you through his Spirit. 'flesh profiteth nothing, the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life' Blesisings
Mason Yoke (Saturday, 06 April 2024 17:06)
Thank you. God bless.