Matthew 25:1-46, NLT
Matthew 25
Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids*25:1 Or virgins; also in 25:7, 11. who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.
12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Parable of the Three Servants
14“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
16“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.
19“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
21“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!*25:21 Greek Enter into the joy of your master [or your Lord]; also in 25:23.’
22“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.
26“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,
28“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.
The Final Judgment
31“But when the Son of Man*25:31 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
37“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
40“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,*25:40 Greek my brothers. you were doing it to me!’
41“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.*25:41 Greek his angels.
44“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”