THE K I N G ’S BUS I NES S readiness, a need, of adjustment to fut ure emergencies? Oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. If every believer was filled with the Spirit, could not the risen Lord manifest his mighty power in ways that he has never been able to do be fore? TUESDAY, Feb. 22. I Thess. 5:10. The Times and the Seasons. The first word in the parable of the ten virgins gives the key to its applica tion. “Then.” It is of great importance in Bible study to locate the time where a passage really belongs. This enhances the value of studying dispensational truth. Some Scripture applies to one age and not to another. It leads to hope less confusion to make indiscriminate applications. Error may arise from a mis-appl'ication, e. g. 1 Cor. 15:54— “then.”. If this point of time be ignored, it might be supposed that a glorified body could be obtained in the present age. Our Lord is speaking of his second coming and locates the parable of the ten virgins in the particular period just prior to that event. Obviously it has no relation to the first coming although spoken at that time. The parable is in troduced by “then” and closed by “therefore,” vs. 13. Both applicati n and inference are unmistakable. WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23. Rom. 14:1-12. Character Untransferable. In studying Scripture care should al ways be taken to interpret its language if possible so as not to conflict with sound philosophy, matters of fact, the nature of things and immutable justice. In pondering the parable of the ten vir gins, one may be inclined at first to crit icise the refusal of the wise to share their oil as out of keeping with the benevolence and generosity which the Gospel enjoins. They seem to be as stingy as they were prudent. The par able however speaks of character and that must be labelled “non transfer able.” We may pray, counsel and sym pathize with one another. We may do much to form the character of a friend, but we can not impart qualities which we possess to another who does not pos sess them. You can not give your, dear est friend your patience to support him in time of trial. He can not give you his courage to fortify you in the dis charge of duty. There are no proxies in the kingdom of God. Character can not be passed from hand to hand.
180 He has. placed all authority in the pierced hands of His beloved Son. The second Psalm is a transcript of history and a forecast of prophecy. The high way of the past is strewn with the frag ments of nations shattered under the stroke of Divine judgment. Mightier nations than ours have gone to the serap-heap. What shall be the future of America, “land of the Pilgrim’s pride?”- SUNDAY, Feb. 20. Matthew 25:1-13. The Ten Virgins. The Syriac version adds three sig nificant words to the first verse of Matt. 25, which suggest an interpretation of * the parable. ‘‘Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride.” It was an Oriental custom for the bride groom to take the bride from her father’s house to their future home. On the way the procession would form and proceed to the home of the wedded part ies where the festivities would take place. If the parable is to be explained in view of this local coloring and his toric background, we may consider the bride to be the church and the five wise virgins the faithful remnant in Israel who will come into prominence at the second advent. It is an important rule in hermeneutics that a parable must be self-consistent. Obviously the same woman can not be a bride and a brides maid at the same wedding. If the ten virgin’s represent the church, who is the bride? MONDAY, Feb. 21. Matt. 25:14-80. The Test of Service. The twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew presents the return of the Lord as test ing profession in the parable of the vir gins and as testing service in the parable of the servants. What was the real dif ference between the wise and foolish virgins? They were all virgins, they all had lamps, they all slumbered and slept, they all trimmed their lamps, they all had oil. The only difference is that the wise had oil enough to last them. The foolish, must have had some oil or they could not have lighted their lamps. “Our lamps are going out,” vs. 8 margin. A glance at an ancient Oriental lamp confirms this view. It was an open ves sel, the wick floating in oil. Does this not speak of a lack of forethought, and
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