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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Matthew 25
25
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride.
2 But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them.
4 Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps.
5 Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping.
6 But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: 'Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.'
7 Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps.
8 But the foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give to us from your oil, for our lamps are being extinguished.'
9 The prudent responded by saying, 'Lest perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you, it would be better for you to go to the vendors and buy some for yourselves.'
10 But while they were going to buy it, the groom arrived. And those who were prepared entered with him to the wedding, and the door was closed.
11 Yet truly, at the very end, the remaining virgins also arrived, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
12 But he responded by saying, 'Amen I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 And so you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour.
14 For it is like a man setting out on a long journey, who called his servants and delivered to them his goods.
15 And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, yet to another he gave one, to each according to his own ability. And promptly, he set out.
16 Then he who had received five talents went out, and he made use of these, and he gained another five.
17 And similarly, he who had received two gained another two.
18 But he who had received one, going out, dug into the earth, and he hid the money of his lord.
19 Yet truly, after a long time, the lord of those servants returned and he settled accounts with them.
20 And when he who had received five talents approached, he brought another five talents, saying: 'Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have increased it by another five.'
21 His lord said to him: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.'
22 Then he who had received two talents also approached, and he said: 'Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained another two.'
23 His lord said to him: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.'
24 Then he who had received one talent, approaching, said: 'Lord, I know that you are a hard man. You reap where you have not sown, and gather where you have not scattered.
25 And so, being afraid, I went out and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
26 But his lord said to him in response: 'You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered.
27 Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and then, at my arrival, at least I would have received what is mine with interest.
28 And so, take the talent away from him and give it the one who has ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have in abundance. But from him who has not, even what he seems to have, shall be taken away.
30 And cast that useless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31 But when the Son of man will have arrived in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit upon the seat of his majesty.
32 And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 And he shall station the sheep, indeed, on his right, but the goats on his left.
34 Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: 'Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;
36 naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'
37 Then the just will answer him, saying: 'Lord, when have we see you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink?
38 And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you?
39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?'
40 And in response, the King shall say to them, 'Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.'
41 Then he shall also say, to those who will be on his left: 'Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me to drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not cover me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they will also answer him, saying: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
45 Then he shall respond to them by saying: 'Amen I say to you, whenever you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.'
46 And these shall go into eternal punishment, but the just shall go into eternal life."
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