Matthew — Chapter 25
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1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:
4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
9But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10And 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.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
14For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
16Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.
17In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.
18But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord`s money.
19Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
20And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
21His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;
25and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.
26But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;
27thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.
29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
30And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
31But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
32and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;
33and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
36naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
38And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
42for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.
46And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise.
3When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.
4But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.
5When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’
7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut.
11Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’
12But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’
13Therefore stay alert because you do not know the day or the hour.
14“For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.
15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.
17In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.
18But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it.
19After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them.
20The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’
23His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,
25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter?
27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!
28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10.
29For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34Then 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.
35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?
39When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.
43I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’
45Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’
46And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
11Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
18But he who received the one talent 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 reconciled accounts with them.
20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’
21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’
23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
36I was 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 will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
39When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
42for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Summary
Jesus teaches three parables of readiness and accountability — the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and Goats — revealing that the kingdom demands faithful stewardship and genuine compassion toward "the least of these."
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- The Mount of Olives: Jesus continues His Olivet Discourse (begun in ch.24), still seated on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem and the Temple.
- "All nations" (v.32): The final judgment encompasses all peoples from every geographic location — the scope is universal.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the oil as representing the Holy Spirit's work, the meaning of the talents, the identity of "the least of these," and the nature of eternal punishment.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Parable of the Talents" on vv.14-30 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1295) "Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant. Not 'successful' servant. Not 'brilliant' servant. Faithful. The five-talent man and the two-talent man received the same commendation — because faithfulness, not quantity, is what God rewards. The one-talent man's sin was not failure; it was fear that led to inaction." Sermon: "The Sheep and the Goats" on vv.31-46 (MTP Vol. 37, No. 2215) "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these — unto Me. Christ identifies Himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned. When you serve them, you serve Him. When you ignore them, you ignore Him."
Reflection
- 1. The foolish virgins had lamps but no oil — the appearance of readiness without the reality. Is your faith genuine and personal, or are you coasting on someone else's faith — your parents', your spouse's, your church's? Oil cannot be borrowed.
- 2. "Well done, good and faithful servant" (v.21). These are the words you want to hear. What has God entrusted to you — abilities, resources, time, influence, relationships? Are you investing them for His kingdom, or burying them in fear?
- 3. The one-talent servant's problem was fear (v.25) — "I was afraid." Fear of failure, fear of risk, fear of the master's expectations. Is fear keeping you from stepping out in faith? What would you do for God if you weren't afraid?
- 4. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these" (v.40). Jesus identifies with the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Who are "the least of these" in your world? What are you doing for them?
- 5. The wise and foolish virgins looked identical until the moment of testing (v.5 — "they all slumbered and slept"). The difference was internal, not external. How do you know your faith is genuine and not just external conformity? What is the "oil" in your life?
- 6. The master gave "to every man according to his several ability" (v.15) — different amounts to different people. God doesn't compare you to others; He evaluates your faithfulness with what He gave you. Are you faithful with YOUR talents, or are you envying someone else's?
- 7. The one-talent servant said "I knew thee that thou art an hard man" (v.24) — he had a wrong view of the master. His theology was wrong, and it produced fear and inaction. How does your view of God affect your willingness to take risks for Him?
- 8. The sheep were surprised — "Lord, when saw we thee hungry?" (v.37). They served without realizing they were serving Christ. Genuine compassion doesn't calculate — it just acts. Is your service motivated by reward or by genuine love?
- 9. Jesus says the eternal fire was "prepared for the devil and his angels" (v.41) — not originally for humans. Hell was not God's desire for people. How does this truth affect your urgency in sharing the Gospel with those who don't know Christ?