Matthew 25:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wise refuse, lest the oil run out for everyone, and send the foolish to buy their own.
What Does Matthew 25:9 Mean?
The answer of the wise is not stinginess but sober realism: oil divided ten ways means every lamp dies before the feast, and the procession fails entirely. Within the story their counsel is the only honest option left — go to the sellers, however late the hour has grown.
The parable presses a solemn truth: what makes a person ready to meet the Lord must finally be their own. Faith, repentance, and love cannot be loaned; each heart must hold them firsthand. The errand at midnight is desperate precisely because it could have been an errand at noon. Christ gives the warning now so that no one is left shopping for oil while the door is closing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:9
What does Matthew 25:9 mean?
The wise refuse, lest the oil run out for everyone, and send the foolish to buy their own.