Matthew 25
1 [Jesus continued by saying, “I will tell you something else about the time when I return from] heaven as king [MET]. [What will happen to many people who say that they know me will be] like [what happened to] ten virgins who took their lanterns and went to the place where they would meet a bridegroom [and go to his wedding celebration].
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of the virgins were foolish and five of them were wise.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The [virgins] who were foolish took their lanterns, but they did not take any [extra olive] oil [for] the lantern.
For when the foolish virgins took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them.
4 But the [virgins] who were wise took oil in their flasks as well as in their lanterns.
But the wise virgins took containers of oil along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was delayed, [and it became late at night]. So all the virgins became sleepy and fell asleep.
Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all got sleepy and slept.
6 In the middle of the night someone [woke them up by] shouting, ‘Hey! The bridegroom [is arriving]! Go outside and meet him!’
But at midnight there was a cry, 'Look, the bridegroom! Go out and meet him.'
7 So all the virgins got up and trimmed their lantern wicks [so that they would burn properly].
Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish virgins said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your [olive] oil, because our lanterns are about to go out!’
The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.'
9 The wise virgins replied, ‘[No, because] there might not be enough oil for our lanterns and for yours. Go to a store and buy some for yourselves!’
But the wise answered and said, 'Since there will not be enough for us and you, go instead to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.'
10 But while [the foolish virgins] were going to buy [some oil], the bridegroom arrived. So the [wise virgins], who were ready, went with the bridegroom to the wedding hall [where the bride was waiting]. Then the door was closed {someone closed the door [of that hall]}.
While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
11 Later, the rest of the virgins came [to the hall] and they called [to the bridegroom], ‘Sir, open [the door] for us!’
Afterward the other virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open for us.'
12 But he said [to them], ‘The truth is that I do not know you, so I [will not open the door for you]!’”
But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 [Then Jesus continued by saying], “So, in order that [this will not happen to you], keep expecting [that I will return], because you do not know when [MTY] [it will be].”
Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour.
14 “[When I return from heaven as king, I will deal with those who say that they have been serving me like] a man who was about to go on a long journey dealt with his servants. He called them together and gave them each some of his wealth [to invest and gain more money for him].
For it is like when a man was about to go into another country. He called his own servants and gave over to them his wealth.
15 He gave them money according to their ability [to take care of it]. [For example], he gave one servant 5,000 dollars, he gave another servant 2,000 dollars, and he gave another servant 1,000 dollars. Then he left on his journey.
To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to yet another he gave one talent. Each one received an amount according to his own ability, and that man went on his journey.
16 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.
The one who received the five talents went at once and invested them and made another five talents.
17 Similarly, the servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars gained two [thousand dollars] more.
Likewise the one who had received two talents made another two.
18 But the servant who had received one [thousand dollars] went and dug a hole in the ground and hid the money there [to keep it safe].
But the servant who had received one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
19 After a long time the servants’ boss returned. He [called them together to] find out what they had done with his money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
20 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars brought two [bags, each containing] 5,000 dollars. He said, ‘Boss, you gave me 5,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 5,000 more!’
The servant who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five talents more.'
21 His boss replied, ‘[You are a very] good and faithful servant! [You have] done [very] well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 The servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars also came and said, ‘Boss, you gave me 2,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 2,000 more!’
The servant who had received two talents came and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more talents.'
23 His boss replied, ‘You are a [very] good and faithful servant! You have done very well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'
24 Then the servant who had received 1,000 dollars came. He said, ‘Boss, I [was afraid of you]. I knew that you are a man who does not do foolish things with his money. [You even] take [from others money] that does not really belong to you, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where he did not even plant [the seeds].
Then the servant who had received one talent came and said, 'Master, I know that you are a strict man. You reap where you did not sow, and you harvest where you did not scatter.
25 So because I was afraid [of what you would do to me if I did not make a profit from my business], I went out and hid your 1,000 dollars in the ground [to keep it safe]. Here, this is [the money] that belongs to you!’
I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have here what belongs to you.'
26 His boss replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! (You knew that I take [from others money] that does not really belong to me, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]!/Did you not know that I [take from others money that does not really belong to me, like a farmer] who harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]?) [RHQ]
But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed and harvest where I have not scattered.
27 So then, you should have put my money [on deposit] in a bank, so that when I returned I would get it back with the interest [it earned]!’
Therefore you should have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 [Then the boss said to his other servants], ‘Take the 1,000 dollars from him, and give it to [the servant] who has the 10,000 dollars!
Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the servant who has ten talents.
29 To those who [use well what] they have [received, God] will give more, and they will have plenty. But from those who [do] not [use well what they have received], even what they [already] have will be taken away.
For to everyone who possesses, more will be given—even more abundantly. But from anyone who does not possess anything, even what he does have will be taken away.
30 Furthermore, throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where he will be [with those who are] wailing and gnashing their teeth [because they are in much pain].’”
Throw the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'
31 “When I, the one who came from heaven, come again, I will be very radiant and [bring] all my angels with me. Then I will sit as a king on my wonderful throne [to judge people].
When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 People from all nations [MTY] will be gathered in front of me {[The angels] will gather in front of me people from all nations}. Then I will separate them, one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats.
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 I will put [the righteous people] on my right and [the unrighteous ones on my left, as a] shepherd puts sheep [on one side] and goats [on the other side].
He will place the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.
34 Then I will say to those on my right, ‘You people who have been blessed by my Father {whom my Father has blessed}, come! From the time he created the world, he has been preparing to allow you to [receive the blessings that he will give to all those] who let him rule their lives. [Now is the time for] you to receive [those blessings]
Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 [They belong to you], because you gave me something to eat when I was hungry. (OR, [They belong to you]. It is as though you gave me something to eat when I was hungry.) You gave me something to drink when I was thirsty. When I was a stranger [in your town], you invited me [to stay] in [your houses].
For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;
36 When I needed clothes [MTY], you gave me some. When I was sick, you took care of me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’
I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you cared for me; I was in prison and you came to me.'
37 Then the righteous people will reply, ‘Lord, when were you hungry and we saw you and gave you something to eat? When were you thirsty and we gave you something to drink?
Then the righteous will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you a drink?
38 When were you a stranger [in our town] and we invited you [to stay] in [our houses]? When did you need clothes and we gave you some?
When did we see you a stranger and take you in? Or naked and clothe you?
39 When were you sick or in prison and we went to visit you?’ [We do not remember doing any of these things for you].
When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?'
40 I will reply, ‘The truth is that whatever you did for any one of your fellow believers, even an unimportant one, [it was as though] you did it for me.’
Then the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, what you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'
41 Then I will say to those on my left, ‘You people who have been cursed [by God] {whom God has cursed}, leave me! Go into the eternal fire that God has prepared for (the devil/Satan) and his angels! (aiōnios g166)
Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels, (aiōnios g166)
42 [It is right for you to go there], because you did not give me anything to eat when I was hungry. You did not give me anything to drink when I was thirsty.
because I was hungry, but you did not give me food; I was thirsty, but you did not give me a drink;
43 You did not invite me into [your homes] when I was a stranger [in your town]. You did not give me any clothes when I needed them [MTY]. You did not take care of me when I was sick or in prison.’
I was a stranger, but you did not take me in; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not care for me.'
44 They will answer, ‘Lord, when were you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and we did not help you?’
Then they will also answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you?'
45 I will reply, ‘The truth is that whenever you did not do anything to help any one of [my people], [even if they were] unimportant people, [it was as though] you did not do anything [to help] me.’
Then he will answer them and say, 'Truly I say to you, what you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 Then those people [on my left] will go away to the place where [they] will be punished {[God] will punish them} eternally, but the righteous people will go to where they will live forever [with God].” (aiōnios g166)
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (aiōnios g166)
