Matthew 25: The ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus goes on speaking. He tells a story about ten virgins who go out to meet a bridegroom, five wise and five foolish, and what happens when he comes at midnight. He tells a second story about a man who gives five, two and one talents to his servants before a journey, and what each does with them. Then he speaks of the Son of Man coming in his glory, all the nations gathered before him, and the King separating the sheep from the goats.
Who is speaking?
Jesus speaks in all 46 verses, and this is the same speech that began in chapter 24. Inside his stories others speak: the cry at midnight (verse 6), the foolish and wise virgins (verses 8, 9 and 11), the bridegroom (verse 12), the servants and their lord (verses 20 to 30), and, in the last part, the King, the righteous and the others (verses 34 to 45). No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
In plain English: Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps (or: torches) and went out to meet the bridegroom.
The Greek words: "Virgins" is parthenoi. The dictionary gives parthenos as "a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter". In Matthew it is in 4 verses: , here, and . "Lamps" is lampades. The dictionary gives "a "lamp" or flambeau", and a flambeau is a torch. It is in 5 verses of Matthew, all in this story: verses 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8.
How it is translated: This Bible has "virgins" and "lamps".
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2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
In plain English: Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
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3Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
In plain English: The foolish ones took their lamps but took no oil with them,
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4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
In plain English: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
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5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
In plain English: While the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
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6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
In plain English: But at midnight there was a cry: 'Look! The bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him!'
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7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
In plain English: Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
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8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
In plain English: The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'
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9But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
In plain English: But the wise answered, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
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10While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
In plain English: While they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
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11Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
In plain English: Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
Good to know: "Lord, Lord" is kyrie, kyrie, from kyrios, the same word as the "Lord" of . The same double address is in : "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven", and in .
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12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
In plain English: But he answered, 'I tell you truly, I do not know you.'
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13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
In plain English: So keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man is coming.
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14“For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.
In plain English: For it is like a man going to another country, who called his own servants and handed his possessions over to them.
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15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
In plain English: To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
The Greek word: "Talents" is talanton. The dictionary gives "a balance (as supporting weights), i.e. (by implication) a certain weight (and thence a coin or rather sum of money)". It is in 8 verses of Matthew: and verses 15 to 28 here. The text gives no value for a talent in coins.
Good to know: The Greek word for "immediately", eutheos, stands at the end of this verse in the Greek text this page follows. This Bible puts it at the start of verse 16. Read with this verse, the man went away at once. Read with verse 16, the first servant went to trade at once.
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16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
In plain English: Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
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17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
In plain English: In the same way, the one who had the two gained another two.
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18But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
In plain English: But the one who had received the one talent went away, dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money (literally: silver).
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19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.
In plain English: After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
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20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
In plain English: The one who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you handed over five talents to me. Look, I have gained another five talents on top of them.'
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21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
In plain English: His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
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22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
In plain English: The one who had the two talents also came and said, 'Lord, you handed over two talents to me. Look, I have gained another two talents on top of them.'
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23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
In plain English: His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
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24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.
In plain English: The one who had received the one talent also came and said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter.
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25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
In plain English: I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.'
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26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
In plain English: But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and lazy (this Bible: slothful) servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter.
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27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
In plain English: Then you should have put my money with the bankers, and when I came I would have received back my own with interest.
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28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
In plain English: So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
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29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
In plain English: For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
Good to know: has almost the same saying: "For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he has."
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30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In plain English: And throw the worthless (this Bible: unprofitable) servant out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Greek words: "The outer darkness" is to skotos to exoteron. The dictionary gives exoteros as "exterior". It is in 3 verses of Matthew: , and here. For "weeping and gnashing of teeth", see the note at .
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31“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
In plain English: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
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32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
In plain English: All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
The Greek word: "Nations" is ethnos. The dictionary gives "a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)". It is in 14 verses of Matthew. This Bible prints "nation" in 10 of them and "Gentile" in 4. "All the nations" is also in , and .
What changes: Read as "all the nations", all the peoples are gathered. Read as "all the Gentiles", all the non-Jewish peoples are gathered. The verse says only "all the nations" and does not say more about who they are.
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33He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
In plain English: He will set the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
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34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
In plain English: Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father (literally: blessed of my Father). Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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35for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
In plain English: For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
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36I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
In plain English: I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.'
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37“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
In plain English: Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
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38When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
In plain English: And when did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
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39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
In plain English: And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?'
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40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
In plain English: The King will answer them, 'I tell you truly, as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Good to know: The verse does not say who "these my brothers" are. In Jesus stretches out his hand toward his disciples and says "Behold, my mother and my brothers!", and in he says "Go tell my brothers".
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41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
In plain English: Then he will say also to those on the left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
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42for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
In plain English: For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.
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43I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
In plain English: 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.'
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44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
In plain English: Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve (this Bible: help) you?'
The Greek word: "Help" is diakoneo. The dictionary gives "to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher)". It is in 5 verses of Matthew. In the other 4 (, , and ) this Bible has "served", "serve" or "serving". It belongs to the same family as diakonos, the "servant" of .
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45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
In plain English: Then he will answer them, 'I tell you truly, as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
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46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
In plain English: These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
The Greek words: "Eternal" is aionios. The dictionary gives "perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)". It comes from aion, "an age" (see the note at ). It is in 5 verses of Matthew, and this Bible prints "eternal" in all 5: , , , and here. In this verse the same word is used for the punishment and for the life. "Punishment" is kolasis, which the dictionary gives as "penal infliction". It is in 2 verses of the New Testament: here and .
What changes: Read as "lasting for an age", the word describes both the punishment and the life as lasting for an age. Read as "perpetual", it describes both as perpetual. The same word is used for both, so the reading applies to both. The verse does not describe the punishment further and does not say which reading is meant.
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