Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1–13)
1 “Then the kingdom of the heavens will be comparable to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 However, the wise ones, took oil in their jars along with their lamps. 5 But since the bridegroom was late, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, 8 and the foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 However, the wise replied, saying, ‘Never! Otherwise, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the others also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
The Parable of the Talents (25:14–30)
14 “Similarly, a traveler called his own servants and entrusted them with his wealth. 15 To one he entrusted five talents [large ingots of metal, such as copper, silver, iron, or gold]; to another, two; and to another, one—to each servant according to his individual managerial abilities. Then he went on his journey. 16 The servant who had received five talents put his assigned money to work and gained another five talents. 17 The one who had received two talents, gained another two. 18 But the servant 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 these servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The servant who had received five talents came and brought another five, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents; see, I gained another five talents.’ 21 His master replied to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master’s joy!’ 22 The servant who had received two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents; see, I gained another two talents.’ 23 His master replied to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master’s joy!’ 24 Then the servant who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a harsh man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed, 25 and I was afraid, so I went out and hid your talent in the ground. Here is what is yours.’ 26 His master replied, ‘You derelict and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed, 27 therefore you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so when I returned, I would have received my money with interest. 28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.’ 29 More will be given to everyone who has, and he will have an abundance. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken. 30 Send that worthless servant out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Separating the Sheep and the Goats, Rewarding Compassion (25:31–46)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in. 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘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 invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 The King will reply and say to them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did for me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in; I needed clothes and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 Then they will also answer and the same will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not serve you?’ 45 Then he will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go away into eternal life.”
