Matthew 25
25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. of the virgins#tn Grk “Five of them.” were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When#tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated. the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra#tn The word “extra” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The point is that the five foolish virgins had only the oil in their lamps, but took along no extra supply from which to replenish them. This is clear from v. 8, where the lamps of the foolish virgins are going out because they are running out of oil. olive oil#tn On the use of olive oil in lamps, see L&N 6.202. with them. 4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 5 When#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’#tc ‡ Most witnesses have αὐτοῦ (autou, “[with] him”) after ἀπάντησιν (apanthsin, “meeting”), a reading which makes explicit what is already implied in the shorter text (as found in א B 700). The translation likewise adds “him” for clarity’s sake even though the word is not considered part of the original text. NA27 has αὐτοῦ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity. 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ they replied.#tn Grk “The wise answered, saying, ‘No.’” ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then#tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. the door was shut. 11 Later,#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’#tn Grk “Open to us.” 12 But he replied,#tn Grk “But answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. ‘I tell you the truth,#tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.” I do not know you!’ 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.#tc Most later mss (C3 Ë13 1424c Ï) also read here “in which the Son of Man is coming” (ἐν ᾗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται, en |h Jo Juio" tou anqrwpou ercetai), reproducing almost verbatim the last line of Matt 24:44. The longer reading thus appears to be an explanatory expansion and should not be considered authentic. The earlier and better witnesses ({Ì35 א A B C* D L W Δ Θ Ë1 33 565 892 1424* lat co}) lack this phrase.
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves#tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9. and entrusted his property to them. 15 To#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. one he gave five talents,#sn A talent was equal to 6000 denarii. See the note on this term in 18:24. to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work#tn Grk “traded with them.” and gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 19 After#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 20 The#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir,#tn Grk Or “Lord; or “Master” (and so throughout this paragraph). you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master answered,#tn Grk “His master said to him.” ‘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.’ 22 The#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 23 His 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.’ 24 Then 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, 25 so#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered,#tn Grk “But answering, his master said to him.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers,#tn For the translation “deposited my money with the bankers,” see L&N 57.216. and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!#sn That is, “If you really feared me you should have done a minimum to get what I asked for.” 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.#tn Grk “the ten talents.” 29 For the one who has will be given more,#tn Grk “to everyone who has, he will be given more.”sn The one who has will be given more. Faithfulness yields great reward (see Matt 13:12; also Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18, 19:26). and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.#sn The one who has nothing has even what he seems to have taken from him, ending up with no reward at all (see also Luke 8:18). The exact force of this is left ambiguous, but there is no comfort here for those who are pictured by the third slave as being totally unmoved by the master. Though not an outright enemy, there is no relationship to the master either. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Judgment
31 “When#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then 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. 35 For 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, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him,#tn Grk “answer him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the king will answer them,#tn Grk “answering, the king will say to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. ‘I tell you the truth,#tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.” just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters#tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). In this context Jesus is ultimately speaking of his “followers” (whether men or women, adults or children), but the familial connotation of “brothers and sisters” is also important to retain here. of mine, you did it for me.’
41 “Then he will say#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I 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.’ 44 Then they too will answer,#tn Grk “Then they will answer, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. ‘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?’ 45 Then he will answer them,#tn Grk “answer them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. ‘I tell you the truth,#tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.” just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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Matthew 25: NET
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Matthew 25
25
1Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins that having taken their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were prudent and five foolish. 3They that were foolish took their torches and did not take oil with them; 4but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their torches. 5Now the bridegroom tarrying, they all grew heavy and slept. 6But in the middle of the night there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom; go forth to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their torches. 8And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, for our torches are going out. 9But the prudent answered saying, We cannot, lest it might not suffice for us and for you. Go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10But as they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ones that were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterwards come also the rest of the virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; 12but he answering said, Verily I say unto you, I do not know you. 13Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
14For it is as if a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance. 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his particular ability, and immediately went away out of the country. 16And he that had received the five talents went and trafficked with them, and made five other talents. 17In like manner also he that had received the two, he also gained two others. 18But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his lord. 19And after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes and reckons with them. 20And he that had received the five talents came to him and brought five other talents, saying, My lord, thou deliveredst me five talents; behold, I have gained five other talents besides them. 21His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord. 22And he also that had received the two talents came to him and said, My lord, thou deliveredst me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents besides them. 23His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast 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 coming to him said, My lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sowed, and gathering from where thou hadst not scattered, 25and being afraid I went away and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast that which is thine. 26And his lord answering said to him, Wicked and slothful bondman, thou knewest that I reap where I had not sowed, and gather from where I had not scattered; 27thou oughtest then to have put my money to the money-changers, and when I came I should have got what is mine with interest. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten talents: 29for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall be in abundance; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him. 30And cast out the useless bondman into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
31But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit down upon his throne of glory, 32and all the nations shall be gathered before him; and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33and he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 34Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the world's foundation: 35for I hungered, and ye gave me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; 36naked, and ye clothed me; I was ill, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink? 38and when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee? 39and when saw we thee ill, or in prison, and came to thee? 40And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me. 41Then shall he say also to those on the left, Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42for I hungered, and ye gave me not to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me not to drink; 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; ill, and in prison, and ye did not visit me. 44Then shall they also answer saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not ministered to thee? 45Then shall he answer them saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have not done it to one of these least, neither have ye done it to me. 46And these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.