The parable of the ten virgins, 1-13, and of the talents, 14-30. Also the description of the last judgment, 31-46.
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so, lest there not be enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the marriage. Then the door was shut. 11 Afterward, the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Therefore, watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he immediately took his journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same and gained another five talents. 17 And likewise, he who had received two, he also gained another two. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money.
19 "After a long time, the lord of those servants comes and settles accounts with them. 20 And he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained besides them five more talents.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22 "He also who had received two talents came, and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
24 "Then he who had received the one talent came, and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not strewed. 25 I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, there you have what is yours.'
26 "His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not strewed. 27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest. 28 Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 'For to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, he will sit upon the throne of his glory. 32 And before him all nations shall be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of 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 drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, since you have done it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you have done it to me.'
41 "Then he will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was 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, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, since you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."
Matthew Henry Commentary - Matthew, Chapter 25[➚]
[v.14-29] - Gospel Link: Luke 19:12-26.
[v.34] - Reference, Ephesians 1:4.