“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.”
King James Version (KJV)
25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven - That is, the candidates for it, be like ten virgins - The bridemaids on the wedding night were wont to go to the house where the bride was, with burning lamps or torches in their hands, to wait for the bride groom's coming. When he drew near, they went to meet him with their lamps, and to conduct him to the bride.
25:3 The foolish took no oil with them - No more than kept them burning just for the present. None to supply their future want, to recruit their lamp's decay. The lamp is faith. A lamp and oil with it, is faith working by love.
25:4 The wise took oil in their vessels - Love in their hearts. And they daily sought a fresh supply of spiritual strength, till their faith was made perfect.
Mt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. The quality that made the difference between them was prudent forethought on the part of the wise. Compare Mt 7:21-27.