Matthew 25

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

1 “Jesus said, ‘When the kingdom of heaven comes, it will be like ten bridesmaids who grabbed their lamps and went to meet the groom.’”

2 “‘Five of them were smart, but the other five, Straight foolish.’”

3 “‘The foolish ones brought their lamps, but no extra oil.’”

4 “‘The smart ones, though, had flasks full of extra oil.’”

5 “‘The groom took his sweet time, so they all got sleepy and knocked out.’”

6 “‘At midnight, someone shouted, “Listen, the groom is here! Go meet him!”’”

7 “‘The bridesmaids woke up, grabbed their lamps, and started getting ready.’”

8 “‘The foolish ones said to the smart ones, “Let us get some of your oil, our lamps are dying!”’”

9 “‘But the smart ones said, “Nah, there is not enough for all of us. Go buy some for yourselves.”’”

10 “‘While they were out buying oil, the groom showed up. The ones who were ready went into the wedding party, and the door got locked.’”

11 “‘Later, the other bridesmaids came back and said, “Lord, open the door for us!”’”

12 “‘But he said, “I do not know you all.”’”

13 “‘So stay woke, because you do not know the day or the hour.’”

The Parable of the Talents

14 “‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and trusted them with his money.’”

15 “‘To one, he gave five bags of silver; to another, two bags; and to the last one, one bag. Each got what they could handle. Then he bounced.’”

16 “‘The one with five bags got straight to work and doubled it, now he had ten.’”

17 “‘The one with two bags did the same, he ended up with four.’”

18 “‘But the one who got one bag, He dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.’”

19 “‘After a long time, the master came back to settle accounts with them.’”

20 “‘The one with five bags said, “Master, you trusted me with five bags, and look, I made five more!”’”

21 “‘The master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a little, so I will put you in charge of much more. Come celebrate with me!”’”

22 “‘The one with two bags said, “Master, you gave me two bags, and look, I made two more!”’”

23 “‘The master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a little, so I will give you more. Come celebrate with me!”’”

24 “‘Then the one with one bag said, “Master, I knew you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not sow.’”

25 “‘I was scared, so I hid your money in the ground. Here is your bag back.’”

26 “‘The master said, “You lazy and wicked servant! You knew I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not sow,’”

27 “‘You should have at least put my money in the bank so I would get some interest!”’”

28 “‘Then he said, “Take the bag from him and give it to the one with ten bags.”’”

29 “‘To everyone who has, more will be given. But whoever does not have, even what they got will be taken away.’”

30 “‘Throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness, where there is crying and grinding of teeth.’”

The Final Judgment

31 “‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, with all the angels, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.’”

32 “‘All the nations will gather in front of Him, and He will separate them like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.’”

33 “‘He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.’”

34 “‘Then the King will say to the ones on His right, “Come on in, you all who are blessed by My Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the world began.’”

35 “‘I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.’”

36 “‘I needed clothes, and you hooked Me up. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was locked up, and you came to visit.’”

37 “‘Then the righteous will say, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink,’”

38 “‘When did we see You as a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and dress You?’”

39 “‘When did we see You sick or in jail and visit You?’”

40 “‘The King will reply, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’”

41 “‘Then He will say to the ones on His left, “You all are cursed, get outta here! Go to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his crew.’”

42 “‘I was hungry, and you did not feed Me. I was thirsty, and you did not give Me a drink.’”

43 “‘I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in. I needed clothes, and you did not help. I was sick and in jail, and you did not visit.’”

44 “‘They will say, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in jail, and not help You,’”

45 “‘He will reply, “Whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for Me.’”

46 “‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’”