Matthew 25
CHAPTER 25
Jesus’ parable of 10 virgins
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were foolish and five were wise; 3 for the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delayed they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry: Look! The bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered: Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you. Instead, you should go to them that sell oil and buy some for yourselves. 10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came- and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said: Truly I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know the day nor the hour.
Jesus’ parable about the servants and the talents
14 For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants and delivered to them his goods. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one- to each according to his abilities; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he that received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. 17 In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. 18 But he that received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money. 19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants came and made a reckoning with them. 20 And he that received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying: Lord, you gave me five talents. Look, I have gained another five talents. 21 His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord! 22 And also he that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, you gave me two talents. Look, I have gained another two talents. 23 His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord! 24 And also he that had received the one talent came and said: Lord, I knew you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 And I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Here, have what is yours. 26 But his lord answered and said to him: You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. 27 You should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that on my return I would have collected my own money with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away. 30 And cast out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There, shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Jesus’ parable about the sheep and goats
31 But when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the Angels with him, then he shall sit on the throne of his glory. 32 And before him shall be gathered all the nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King shall say to those on his right hand: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 Naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. 37 Then the righteous shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty and gave you drink? 38 And when did we see you as a stranger and welcome you? Or naked and clothed you? 39 And when did we see you sick, or in prison and came to you? 40 And the King shall answer and say to them: Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of these my brothers, even the least, you did it to me. 41 Then he shall also say to them on the left hand: You who are cursed, depart from me, to the perpetual fire which is prepared for the Devil and his messengers. 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me. Naked and you did not clothe me. Sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they shall also answer, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then he shall answer them, saying: Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of these least, you did not do it to me. 46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into eternal life.
Commentary
25:4 Again there are two groups in the parable- the weak, who knew their weakness and took extra oil with them, knowing they’d likely not stay awake; and the arrogant self-assured, who didn’t think they would fail.
25:5 There is a delay in Christ’s return- see on 24:14.They all fell asleep- but we should be awake and watching when Christ returns (1 Thess. 5:6-8). The last generation before Christ returns will be spiritually weak and sleepy saved only by their recognition of their weakness and lack of oil [a symbol of spirituality?].
25:6 Midnight- an element of unreality in the parable. The bridegroom comes at a most unlikely time- as Christ will.
25:11 Some who call Jesus “Lord” will be rejected. Nobody will be passive in that day- all will wish to be accepted by Jesus.
25:15 Each of us have different abilities given us to use in His service. We all have something. Pray that God shows you what abilities He has given you, what is His hope and expectation for you.
25:22 The Greek word translated “gained” is elsewhere used about gaining people for Christ.
25:27 Under the Law of Moses, Jews weren’t supposed to lend their money for interest. But Jesus is saying that the man should’ve done at least something, even if it wasn’t the best. He will explain to the rejected how they could’ve entered His Kingdom- but it will be too late. Hence the gnashing of teeth.
25:31 The throne of Jesus is the throne which God promised to give David’s great descendant, i.e. Jesus. This throne or place of rulership was literally in Jerusalem, on this earth (Lk. 1:32).
25:37 The righteous did their good works unconsciously, and so totally can’t remember them that they disagree with Jesus about these things- they really will be genuinely persuaded they hadn’t done them!
25:40 The least of Christ’s brethren may refer to the spiritually weakest. Our attitude to them is our attitude to Christ- see too 1 Cor. 12:23.
