Matthew 25:1-22

Context

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 Five¹ of the virgins² were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3 When³ the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra⁴ olive oil⁵ with them. 25:4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 25:5 When⁶ the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 25:6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’⁷ 25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 The⁸ foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 25:9 ‘No,’ they replied.⁹ ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 25:10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then¹⁰ the door was shut. 25:11 Later,¹¹ the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’¹² 25:12 But he replied,¹³ ‘I tell you the truth,¹⁴ I do not know you!’ 25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.¹⁵

The Parable of the Talents

25:14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves¹⁶ and entrusted his property to them. 25:15 To¹⁷ one he gave five talents,¹⁸ to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 25:16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work¹⁹ and gained five more. 25:17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 25:18 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. 25:19 After²⁰ a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 25:20 The²¹ one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir,²² you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 25:21 His master answered,²³ ‘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.’ 25:22 The²⁴ one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’

[25:2] ¹tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:2] ²tn Grk “Five of them.”

[25:3] ³tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[25:3] ⁴tn 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.

[25:3] ⁵tn On the use of olive oil in lamps, see L&N 6.202.

[25:5] ⁶tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:6] ⁷tc ‡ 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.

[25:8] ⁸tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:9] ⁹tn Grk “The wise answered, saying, ‘No.’”

[25:10] ¹⁰tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[25:11] ¹¹tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:11] ¹²tn Grk “Open to us.”

[25:12] ¹³tn Grk “But answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[25:12] ¹⁴tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[25:13] ¹⁵tc Most later mss (C³ Ë¹³ 1424^c 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.

[25:14] ¹⁶tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[25:15] ¹⁷tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:15] ¹⁸sn A talent was equal to 6000 denarii. See the note on this term in 18:24.

[25:16] ¹⁹tn Grk “traded with them.”

[25:19] ²⁰tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:20] ²¹tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:20] ²²tn Grk Or “Lord; or “Master” (and so throughout this paragraph).

[25:21] ²³tn Grk “His master said to him.”

[25:22] ²⁴tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.