Matthew 25

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet #(Eph. 5:29, 30; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9)the bridegroom. 2#Matt. 13:47; 22:10Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5But while the bridegroom was delayed, #1 Thess. 5:6they all slumbered and slept.

6“And at midnight #(Matt. 24:31; 1 Thess. 4:16)a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7Then all those virgins arose and #Luke 12:35trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and #(Matt. 7:21); Luke 13:25the door was shut.

11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, #(Matt. 7:21–23; Luke 13:25–30)‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, #(Ps. 5:5; Hab. 1:13; John 9:31)I do not know you.’

13#Mark 13:35; (Luke 21:36); 1 Thess. 5:6“Watch therefore, for you #Matt. 24:36, 42know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Parable of the Talents

14#Luke 19:12–27“For the kingdom of heaven is #Matt. 21:33like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, #(Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 29; Eph. 4:11)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were #(Luke 16:10; 1 Cor. 4:2; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8)faithful over a few things, #(Matt. 24:47; 25:34, 46; Luke 12:44; 22:29, 30; Rev. 3:21; 21:7)I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into #(2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 1:8)the joy of your lord.’ 22He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23His lord said to him, #Matt. 24:45, 47; 25:21‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into #(Ps. 16:11; John 15:10, 11)the joy of your lord.’

24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You #Matt. 18:32; Luke 19:22wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29#Matt. 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; (John 15:2)‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the unprofitable servant #Matt. 8:12; 22:13; (Luke 13:28)into the outer darkness. #Matt. 7:23; 8:12; 24:51There will be weeping and #Ps. 112:10gnashing of teeth.’

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31#(Zech. 14:5); Matt. 16:27; Mark 8:38; Acts 1:11; (1 Thess. 4:16); 2 Thess. 1:7; (Jude 14); Rev. 1:7“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. 32#(Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12)All the nations will be gathered before Him, and #Ezek. 20:38He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33And He will set the #Ps. 79:13; 100:3; (John 10:11, 27, 28)sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, #(Rom. 8:17; 1 Pet. 1:4, 9; Rev. 21:7)inherit the kingdom #Matt. 20:23; Mark 10:40; 1 Cor. 2:9; Heb. 11:16prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35#Is. 58:7; Ezek. 18:7, 16; (James 1:27; 2:15, 16)for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; #Job 31:32; (Heb. 13:2); 3 John 5I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36I was #Is. 58:7; Ezek. 18:7, 16; (James 2:15, 16)naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; #2 Tim. 1:16I 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 drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, #Prov. 14:31; Matt. 10:42; Mark 9:41; Heb. 6:10inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, #Ps. 6:8; Matt. 7:23; Luke 13:27‘Depart from Me, you cursed, #Matt. 13:40, 42into the everlasting fire prepared for #(2 Pet. 2:4); Jude 6the devil and his angels: 42for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44“Then they also will answer Him, 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?’ 45Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, #Prov. 14:31; Zech. 2:8; Acts 9:5inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46And #(Dan. 12:2; John 5:29; Acts 24:15; Rom. 2:7)these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Currently Selected:

Matthew 25: NKJV

Highlight

Copy