The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 25:1-46

The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 25:1-46

 

Matthew 25:1 "Then  the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

 

Matthew 25:2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

 

Matthew 25:3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,

 

Matthew 25:4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

 

Matthew 25:5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 

Matthew 25:6 At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

 

Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

 

Matthew 25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

 

Matthew 25:9 But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'

 

Matthew 25:10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.

 

Matthew 25:11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'

 

Matthew 25:12 But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'

 

Matthew 25:13 Therefore, stay awake,  for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

Matthew 25:14 "It will be as when a man who was going on a journey  called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

 

Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents;  to another, two; to a third, one - to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately

 

Matthew 25:16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.

 

Matthew 25:17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

 

Matthew 25:18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

 

Matthew 25:19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

 

Matthew 25:20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.  He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.'

 

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

 

Matthew 25:22 (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.'

 

Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

 

Matthew 25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter;

 

Matthew 25:25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.'

 

Matthew 25:26 His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?

 

Matthew 25:27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

 

Matthew 25:28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

 

Matthew 25:29 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

Matthew 25:30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'

 

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,

 

Matthew 25:32 and all the nations 15 will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

 

Matthew 25:33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 

Matthew 25:34 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.

 

Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,

 

Matthew 25:36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

 

Matthew 25:37 Then the righteous  will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

 

Matthew 25:38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

 

Matthew 25:39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

 

Matthew 25:40 And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

 

Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

Matthew 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

 

Matthew 25:43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

 

Matthew 25:44 Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'

 

Matthew 25:45 He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'

 

Matthew 25:46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."