7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (Matthew 25:7-8 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
The virgins’ arising and trimming their lamps, doth denote, their actual preparation for Christ’s coming and appearance, and their putting themselves into a posture of readiness to receive him.
Thence learn, That a believing apprehension of the certainty and suddenness of our Lord’s coming and approach will rouse us out of our spiritual slumber, and prepare us to meet him with joy and assurance. Then they arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
Observe here, 1. A request made, Give us of your oil. There is a time when the neglecters of grace will be made sensible of the worth of grace by the want of it. Such as now undervalue, yea, vilify the grace of God, will be heard to say, O give us of your oil.
Observe, 2. The reason of the request, For our lamps are gone out.
Thence learn, That the lamp of profession will certainly go out, which has not a stock of grace to feed and maintain it.