092. Cruse of Oil

Cruse of Oil (1 Kings 17:12; Matthew 25:4) A small jar with a rounded bottom, at hand in every house in case of going out at night to a neighbor’s house. The little lamp soon consumes what it contains, and it would be necessary to replenish it before returning home. The light of a lamp is not extinguished; it would be left burning during the visit if its oil permitted. The cruse contains a supply to replenish the lamp. The foolish virgins were unwise to go out without their cruse of oil.