But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
But the wise ones were like, 'We can't do that, if we share our oil with you, none of us will have enough. You need to go find someone who's selling oil and get your own.'
Sometimes being wise means knowing when you can't save everyone, including yourself.
📚 Historical Context
In the first-century Jewish culture, weddings often involved a bridegroom arriving late at night, with virgins carrying oil lamps to light the way and escort him to the bride. Jesus told this parable of the ten virgins to illustrate the importance of spiritual readiness for the coming Kingdom of Heaven, where the wise virgins had extra oil to keep their lamps burning. This story draws from everyday customs to warn listeners about the consequences of unpreparedness.
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