Matthew Chapter 25
A Story About Ten Virgins
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins that took their lamps to meet the groom. 2 Five were foolish, five were wise. 3 The foolish didn’t take any oil along. 4 The wise took some along in flasks with their lamps. 5 The groom was delayed, and they all got drowsy and fell sleep. 6 At midnight the shout came, ‘The groom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 The virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 “The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “The wise said, ‘No, there won’t be enough for all of us. Go to the dealers and get your own.’ 10 While they were gone, the groom came. The ones that were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, the rest of the virgins came, ‘Sir, let us in.’ 12 But he answered, ‘I don’t know you.’ 13 So be alert; you don’t know the day or the hour.”
Mt 25:1-13
A Story About Talents
14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted them with things he owned. 15 He gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to another—according to their abilities—and left. Right away 16 the one with five talents went and traded with them and earned five more. 17 The one with two talents did the same thing and earned two more. 18 But the servant with one talent dug a hole and hid it.
19 “After a long time, the master came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The one he gave five talents came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents; I’ve earned five more.’
21 “‘Well done, good, dependable servant. You were dependable in handling a few things; I’ll put you in charge of many. Enjoy my approval.’
22 “The one he gave two talents came up, ‘You entrusted me with two talents; I’ve earned two more.’ Mt 25: 14-22
23 “‘Well done, good, reliable servant. You were reliable in handling a few things; I’ll put you in charge of many. Enjoy my approval.’
24 “But the servant he gave one talent came up, ‘Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25 I was afraid and hid your talent in the ground. You have what’s yours.’
26 “‘You wicked, lazy servant. You knew, did you, that I reap where I don’t sow and gather where I don’t scatter? 27 You should’ve taken my money to the bankers. When I came back, I would’ve received it back plus interest. 28 Take the talent away from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 Everybody that has will receive more; but the one that doesn’t have will lose what he does have. 30 Throw the worthless servant out into the dark. There’ll be crying and chattering of teeth out there.
Mt 25:23-30
Discussion of the Final Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory with the angels, he’ll sit on his glorious throne. 32 The nations will stand in front of him, and he’ll separate them like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33 He’ll put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 The king will tell the sheep, ‘Come, my Father’s blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you gave me a place to stay. 36 I needed clothes, and you gave me some. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Mt 25:31-36
37 “Those good people will say, ‘When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and give you a place to stay, or needing clothes and give you some? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and take care of you.’
40 “The king will answer, ‘When you did it for the of least of these friends of mine, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he’ll say to the people on the left, ‘Go away, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 I was hungry, and you didn’t give me anything to eat. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t give me a place to stay. I needed clothes, and you didn’t give me any. I was sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’
44 ”They’ll say, ‘When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “He’ll answer, ‘Since you didn’t do it for the least of these friends of mine, you didn’t do it for me either.’ 46 Those will go away into eternal punishment, but the good people will go into eternal life.”
Mt 25:37-46