Matthew 25

Parable of Ten Virgins

1“Then 1the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their 2lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were 3prudent. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the 4prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the 5prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were 6ready went in with him to 7the wedding feast; and 8the door was shut. 11Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘9Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 1310Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Parable of the Talents

14“11For it is just like a man 12about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five 1314talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he 15went on his journey. 16Immediately the one who had received the five 16talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his 17master’s money.

19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and 18settled accounts with them. 20The one who had received the five 19talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 20faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will 21put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your 22master.’

22“Also the one who had received the two 23talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 24faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24“And the one also who had received the one 25talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27Then you ought to have put my money 26in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29“27For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30Throw out the worthless slave into 28the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Judgment

31“But when 29the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then 30He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be 31gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, 32as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33and He will put the sheep 33on His right, and the goats 34on the left.

34“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, 35inherit the kingdom prepared for you 36from the foundation of the world. 35For 37I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; 38I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 3639naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you 40visited Me; 41I was in prison, and you came to 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? 38And when 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 come to You?’ 4042The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, 43to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘44Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the 45eternal fire which has been prepared for 46the 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 invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not 47take care of You?’ 45Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46These will go away into 48eternal punishment, but the righteous into 49eternal life.”