Matthew 25
The Parable of the 10 Virgins
1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins ▼▼Or bridesmaids
who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. b 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. c 3When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’ 10“When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. d 11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘ ▼▼I assure you: This is a phrase used only by Jesus to testify to the certainty and importance of His words; in Mt, Mk and Lk it is literally Amen, I say to you, and in Jn it is literally Amen, amen, I say to you.
I assure you: I do not know you!’ 13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour. ▼▼Other mss add in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it is just like a man going on a journey. g He called his own ▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.
slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five talents; ▼▼Worth a very large sum of money; a talent = 6,000 denarii
to another, two; and to another, one – to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. j Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ k 22 “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ 24“Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. l 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! m If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then ▼▼Or So you knew . . . scattered? Then (as a question)
you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money ▼▼Lit received what is mine
back with interest. 28 “‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. p 30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. q In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the ▼▼Son of Man: The most frequent title Jesus used for Himself; Dn 7:13
Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels ▼▼Other mss read holy angels
,
t with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. u 32 All the nations ▼▼Or the Gentiles
,
w will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. x 33He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom y prepared for you from the foundation of the world. z 35 For I was hungryand you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’ aa
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these ▼
▼brother(s): The Greek word adelphoi can be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that determines the proper meaning.
brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ ac 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! ad 42 For I was hungryand you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ ae 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” af
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