Matthew 25

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 25

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

2‹And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.›

3‹They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:›

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

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

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

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

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.›

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.›

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

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.›

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

17‹And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.›

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 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.›

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:›

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.›

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

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:›

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 kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:›

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:›

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?›

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:›

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

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, 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?›

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.›

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Matthew 25 presents three distinct teachings concerning the Kingdom of Heaven and the Son of Man's return. It begins with the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing vigilance and preparedness for the bridegroom's unexpected arrival. Next, the parable of the talents illustrates the importance of diligently using entrusted resources. Finally, the chapter describes the final judgment, where nations are separated based on their compassionate service to others.

Medium Summary

Matthew chapter 25 contains three significant parables and a description of the final judgment, all pertaining to the coming of the Son of Man and the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the ten virgins highlights the necessity of constant readiness, as five wise virgins had extra oil for their lamps, while five foolish ones did not and were excluded from the marriage feast upon the bridegroom's sudden arrival. This is followed by the parable of the talents, where a master entrusts varying sums of money to his servants according to their abilities. Two servants wisely invested their talents and doubled them, receiving praise and reward, while the third servant, out of fear, buried his single talent and was condemned as wicked and slothful. The chapter concludes with a vivid depiction of the Son of Man's glorious return to judge all nations. He will separate them as a shepherd divides sheep from goats, commending the righteous for their acts of mercy and service to "the least of these," and condemning the unrighteous for their neglect.

Long Summary

Matthew chapter 25 unfolds with three profound teachings from Jesus, each illuminating aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven and the ultimate return of the Son of Man. The chapter commences with the parable of the ten virgins, likening the kingdom to five wise and five foolish virgins awaiting a bridegroom. The wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps, anticipating a delay, while the foolish neglected to do so. When the bridegroom arrived at midnight, the foolish virgins' lamps went out, and they were sent to buy oil, missing the entrance to the marriage feast, whose door was then shut. This parable concludes with the admonition to "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Next, the parable of the talents illustrates the principle of stewardship and accountability. A man traveling abroad entrusted his goods to three servants: five talents to one, two to another, and one to a third, "according to his several ability." The first two servants diligently traded and doubled their talents, receiving commendation and greater responsibility upon their lord's return. However, the servant with one talent, out of fear, buried his lord's money, earning severe rebuke as a "wicked and slothful servant" and being cast into "outer darkness." This parable underscores the expectation of faithful and productive use of divine gifts. The chapter culminates with a majestic description of the final judgment, where the Son of Man, accompanied by all holy angels, will sit upon "the throne of his glory." Before him, all nations will be gathered, and he will separate them as a shepherd divides sheep from goats. The "sheep" on his right hand, the blessed, will inherit the kingdom for their acts of mercy—feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned—which they unknowingly rendered unto the Son of Man himself through "the least of these." Conversely, the "goats" on his left, the cursed, will be cast into "everlasting fire" for their neglect of these same acts of compassion, having failed to minister to Christ by neglecting the needy. Thus, the chapter emphasizes both readiness for Christ's return and active, compassionate service as hallmarks of true discipleship.

Core Concepts

  • Vigilance and PreparednessThe parable of the ten virgins stresses the need for constant readiness for the unexpected return of the Son of Man, symbolized by having sufficient oil for one's lamp.
  • Stewardship of TalentsThe parable of the talents teaches that individuals are entrusted with gifts and resources by God, and are expected to use them diligently and productively, not to hide or neglect them.
  • AccountabilityBoth parables highlight the principle that individuals will be held accountable for their actions and the use of what they have been given when the Lord returns.
  • Compassionate ServiceThe final judgment scene reveals that true righteousness is demonstrated through practical acts of mercy and service to the poor, sick, imprisoned, and marginalized, which are seen as service to Christ himself.
  • Divine JudgmentThe chapter vividly portrays a future judgment where the Son of Man will separate all nations, assigning eternal destinies based on their deeds and character.
  • Exclusion from the KingdomThe foolish virgins and the slothful servant illustrate the consequence of unpreparedness and idleness, resulting in exclusion from the joy and reward of the Lord.
  • Eternal DestiniesThe chapter concludes by clearly delineating two ultimate outcomes: "life eternal" for the righteous and "everlasting punishment" for the unrighteous.