Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Kingdom: Matthew 3:2, 13:24, 22:2, Titus 2:13. Parallel theme: Isaiah 54:5, John 3:29, Revelation 14:4, 19:7, 21:2, 21:9 +5
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 24:2, Jude 1:5
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: Parallel theme: Isaiah 58:2, 2 Timothy 3:5, Revelation 3:1
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Parallel theme: Psalms 45:7, John 3:34, Romans 8:9, 1 John 2:20, 2:27
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Parallel theme: Matthew 24:48, 25:19, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 12:45, 20:9
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Parallel theme: Matthew 24:31, 24:44, 25:1, 25:31, Psalms 98:9, Isaiah 25:9, Luke 12:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:15 +5
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. Parallel theme: Luke 12:35, 2 Peter 3:14
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But 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.
10 And 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. Parallel theme: Matthew 24:44, 25:6, Genesis 7:16, Psalms 95:11, Luke 13:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 1:13, Revelation 22:20 +3
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Parallel theme: John 10:27, 1 Corinthians 8:3, 2 Timothy 2:19
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The Parable of the Talents
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And 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. Parallel theme: Matthew 18:24
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Parallel theme: Isaiah 23:18, Acts 13:36, 2 Timothy 2:6
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. Parallel theme: Ephesians 5:16
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And 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.
21 His 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.
22 He 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.
23 His lordLord: Κύριος (Kurios). The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint. 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.
24 Then 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: References Lord: Jeremiah 2:31. Parallel theme: Luke 15:29
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 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 have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For 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. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:12, 21:41, Lamentations 2:6, Hosea 2:9, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18, 10:42, John 11:48, 15:2, Revelation 2:5 +5
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Final Judgment
31 When 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:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Parallel theme: Matthew 3:12, 13:49, Psalms 1:5, 96:13, 98:9, Malachi 3:18, John 10:14, Romans 2:12, 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10 +5
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdomKingdom: βασιλεία (Basileia). The Greek basileia (βασιλεία) means kingdom—both the realm ruled and the exercise of royal authority. The 'kingdom of God' is central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's saving rule breaking into history. prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Kingdom: Isaiah 6:5, Luke 12:32, 1 Corinthians 15:50, James 2:5. Parallel theme: Matthew 20:23, Hebrews 4:3, 11:16, Revelation 13:8, 17:8, 21:7 +5
35 For 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: Parallel theme: Job 31:32, Ezekiel 18:7, 18:16, Acts 10:31, 16:15, Romans 12:13, 12:20, Hebrews 6:10, 13:16, James 1:27 +5
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? References Lord: Proverbs 15:33. Righteousness: Isaiah 64:6. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:3, 1 Chronicles 29:14, 1 Corinthians 15:10
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And 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.
41 Then 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: Eternal Life: 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Evil: John 8:44. Parallel theme: Matthew 3:12, 7:23, 13:40, 13:42, 13:50, Isaiah 66:24, Hebrews 6:8, 2 Peter 2:4 +5
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: Parallel theme: Matthew 12:30, 25:35, Amos 6:6, John 5:23, 14:21, 1 Corinthians 16:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 John 4:20 +3
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, LordLord: Κύριος (Kurios). The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint., when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then 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. Parallel theme: Matthew 25:40, Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:9, Psalms 105:15, Proverbs 14:31, 17:5, 21:13, Zechariah 2:8, Acts 9:5 +4
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteousRighteous: δίκαιος (Dikaios). The Greek dikaios (δίκαιος) means righteous or just—conforming to God's standard. Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers through faith (Romans 4:5), making them legally righteous before God. into life eternal. Eternal Life: Matthew 25:41, Daniel 12:2, John 3:36, Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Righteousness: Romans 5:21. Parallel theme: John 5:29, Revelation 20:10, 20:15, 21:8 +5