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Matthew 25

Commentary · verses 1-13

Verses 1-13: the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Commentary · verse 6

The "bridegroom" showed up at an unexpected time.

7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Commentary · verse 7

The virgins trimmed their lamps. "Trimmed" meant "to make ready."

8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.

9But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.

8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9But 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.

10And 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.

Commentary · verse 10

The virgins who were not ready missed the bridegroom. Notice, Jesus did not say the wise virgins should have given their oil to the foolish virgins. When it came to Salvation, Jesus motivated people with rational self-interest: Jesus showed the individual what they would gain in the long term for themselves, and themselves alone, if they made the right decision in the short term.

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Commentary · verse 13

Watch (have integrity) for we do not know when Jesus will return.

Doctrines on this passage

Commentary · verses 14-30

Verses 14-30: the Parable of the Talents.

14For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15And 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.

Commentary · verse 15

"Talents" were given to the servants according to their own ability (uniqueness). The talents came from the master.

16Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.

17In like manner he also that received the two gained other two.

18But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Commentary · verse 18

Two servants gained more by trading: interacting with others according to their uniqueness. The servant with one talent went and hid it; he did not interact with anyone.

19Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.

20And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.

21His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20And 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.

21His 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.

Commentary · verse 21

The servant with five talents gained five more. He was profitable. The lord called him good and faithful.

Doctrines on this passage

22And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.

23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22He 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.

23His lord 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.

Commentary · verse 23

Likewise, the same things were stated about the servant with two talents. The servants who were profitable were made rulers over many things.

24And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; 25and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.

26But 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 did not scatter; 27thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.

24Then 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:

25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26His 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:

27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Commentary · verse 27

The servant who hid his talent stated that he thought the master was a hard man and reaped where he did not sow. This was not true. The talents came from the master. He did sow. However, the master stated he would judge the servant by the servant's own words. The servant was told he should have at least gained interest on the talent (which still would have been profitable) by giving it to the bankers. Notice, this would have required one interaction. Remember, the master was gone a very long time. Getting exactly what he sowed back after a long time was the same as getting back less. Just like in America's economy, a dollar fifty years ago was worth more than a dollar today.

28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.

29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

30And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29For 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.

30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Commentary · verse 30

The talent was taken away from the unprofitable servant and he was cast into "outer darkness." Notice, the talent was given to the servant who was most profitable. That was a wise investment by the master. Also, the unprofitable servant would have avoided being cast into "outer darkness" if he had one interaction with the banker. This parable was both a Salvation and Reward parable. The parable ended with Salvation: people either entered into the joy of the lord or outer darkness. However, how many talents each had was different, and became more different. This was Reward. The one with the most got even more. If the one who had less got more, then it would be possible that everyone could end up with the same amount of Reward in heaven.

Commentary · verses 31-46

Verses 31-46: the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.

31But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: 32and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; 33and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

31When 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:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Commentary · verse 33

The sheep were set on the right hand (honor) and the goats were set on the left hand (dishonor). Jesus will come into His glory at the final judgment after the Millennium.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Commentary · verse 34

The sheep will inherit God's Kingdom.

35for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; 36naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?

38And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.

35For 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:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And 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.

Commentary · verse 40

These people did good works to other people as an effect of God working through them.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: 42for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.

46And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

41Then 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:

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45Then 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.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Commentary · verse 46

These people did not do good works because they did not allow God to work through them in grace, which would have resulted in Righteousness. The Righteousness (or unrighteousness) of the "sheep" (or "goats") is the deciding factor of where they go: "eternal punishment" or "eternal life."

Doctrines on this passage

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