And the five wise maids rose at once, and went to work to trim their lamps.
The five who were not wise, stood by and said, Give us of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.
But the wise ones said, Not so; for we have no more than we need. Go ye and buy of those who have oil to sell.
And while they went out to buy, the bride-groom came, and those who were in trim went in with him, and the door was shut.
THE FOOL-ISH VIR-GINS.
Then the five maids who had been out to buy oil came to the door, and cried out, Lord, Lord, let us in. But he said, I do not know you; and would not let them in.
The bride-groom means Je-sus, who is to come at the last day. The ten maids are those who claim to love him, and who set out to meet him on that day. The oil is the love in our hearts, which burns and keeps our faith bright. We are to watch and wait for him, for we know not the day nor the hour when he will come.
Je-sus came to the town of Beth-a-ny, and they made a sup-per for him there. In those days they did not sit at their meals on chairs as we do, but lay down on a couch, or lounge, as high as the ta-ble, so that they could rest on the left arm, and have the right hand and arm free to use.