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Explanation for:
Matthew
25
:
8
And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Individuals whose lamps are dimming indicate that their illumination is only partial; they lack a steady light and consistent acts of righteousness. Consequently, anyone possessing a pure spirit and valuing humility should not settle for a life of mediocrity that quickly fades away, especially when trials arise. Instead, they should strive for exemplary virtue to attain everlasting light."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Look, the bridegroom approaches. Then all the maidens rose and prepared their lamps. The martyrs appealed to the prudent ones, saying, “Supply us with your oil, for our lamps are going out” (Matthew 25:7-8). The Savior calls them foolish to illustrate that there is no greater folly than accumulating wealth here while neglecting what is essential for the realm where both humanity and an abundance of oil are desperately necessary. They are unwise not only for this reason but also because they expected to receive oil from the prudent maidens at an inappropriate time, despite the fact that these maidens were renowned for their exceptional humanity. The foolish did not request everything from them—instead, they simply said, “Give us some of your oil,” highlighting their dire situation by lamenting, “for our lamps are going out.” Nevertheless, they were denied, and neither the virtue of those they appealed to, their compassionate request, nor the urgency of their need enabled them to receive what they sought. What lesson does this impart? It teaches us that if our actions transform us, no one can assist us—not from a lack of desire, but due to their inability. The maidens indicated this impossibility. This was echoed by the blessed Abraham when he remarked, “A great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us” (Luke 16:26).\\n\\nThe maidens were not condemned for fornication, adultery, envy, enmity, drunkenness, or injustice, but rather for the absence of oil, which signifies the failure to perform acts of charity; this is what is represented by oil."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"As their lamps started to flicker, the unwise virgins approached the wise ones, pleading, \\"Share your oil with us, for our lamps are dimming.\\" They sought what they were familiar with—relying on the light provided by others and seeking the admiration of those around them."},{"author-name":"Romanos Melodos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89774ed5fa62ff880bee5_Romanos%20Melodos.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"Like them, others rose as well, but their expressions were bleak and their faces forlorn, for their lamps had gone out, and their containers were depleted. They attempted to borrow oil from the wise, who were preparing for the glorious celebration."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"It is unwise to expect to find oil for the decoration of their lamps that has been acquired by others. This oil has lost its brightness, overshadowed by the lack of compassion. Those who show no mercy are often referred to as being in darkness by numerous voices."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The bridesmaids demonstrated their folly by attempting to obtain oil after the time for its acquisition had passed."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Yet the opportunity was limited, and the wise quickly prepared their lamps; to their less fortunate companions, they offered the only counsel feasible in such a situation:"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"All ten maidens awaited the arrival of the bridegroom, their lamps lit, but eventually succumbed to slumber while their lamps continued to shine. Abruptly at midnight, a cry rang out: the bridegroom is approaching, go out to meet him. The maidens awoke and hurried to their lamps, tending to them only to discover that the oil had run dry. The prudent, whom Jesus referred to as wise, began to pour their reserve oil into their lamps, while the foolish, realizing their lamps were extinguishing, requested oil from the wise, but were denied. The lamp of faith alone cannot suffice; without righteous deeds, it will dim. Thus, it is crucial that we remain vigilant, consistently strive to fulfill God's will, and amass a reserve of good works that will allow us to depart in tranquility and meet Jesus Christ without fear at His Second Coming. We should seize every opportunity to build this reserve and do so to the best of our capability. The righteous Creator does not impose burdens that are unreasonable or unattainable upon humanity; He has endowed each person with different abilities and resources to accomplish His will, and He will not demand more from someone who has received little. However, when we seek God's mercy, we must not excuse our inactivity by lamenting our lack of wealth or particular talents that others possess. If you have been entrusted with little, your accountability will be less, but you will still be held accountable if you come before the Judgment lacking good deeds, no matter how small. The poor widow who possessed merely two mites did not justify her circumstances but contributed all she had to the temple offering, and according to the words of Jesus, she gave more than all the wealthy individuals; had she done this in all her actions, she would have built a reserve of small deeds, which would indeed open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven for her."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Then all the individuals stood up and tended to their lamps to ensure they were prepared. However, the foolish maidens realized for the first time that their lamps were extinguishing because their oil had been depleted, prompting them to ask the wise ones to share some of their oil. The wise replied, “If we share, there may not be enough for either of us; you should go to those who sell oil and purchase some for yourselves.” While they went off to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and the five who were prepared entered the wedding hall with him, at which point the door was shut. Subsequently, the other five arrived, knocking on the door and pleading, “Lord! Lord, open for us.” But he responded, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. You are not among the other maidens of the wedding procession, and thus you are strangers to Me, excluded from My wedding banquet.” The disciples should have gleaned from this parable the vital importance of vigilance for believers, and Christ concluded with a pivotal teaching, saying, “Therefore, stay alert: for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.”"},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"It is essential to engage in meaningful action at the appropriate time. When the Son of Man arrives, it will be too late to concern ourselves with the preparations required for His return. Instead of emulating the foolish virgins, strive to be like the wise ones."}]}
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