Matthew 25

1 “At that time [then, at a specific point in the future] the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] of heaven [the sky and God’s home] will be like [compared to, similar to] ten virgins [unmarried women, pure and chaste] who took [received, accepted] their lamps [torches that shine bright, often fueled by oil] and went out [came forth, departed] to meet [encounter, greet] the bridegroom [the husband in a newly formed marriage, Jesus as the heavenly bridegroom]. word study 2 Five [a specific number] of them were [existed as] foolish [dull or stupid], and five [a specific number] were wise [thoughtful and discreet]. word study 3 The [they who were] foolish [dull or stupid] ones took their lamps [torches that shine bright] but did not take along [with them] any extra [none] oil [olive oil for anointing and light]. word study 4 But the wise [thoughtful, prudent] ones took [received, accepted] oil [olive oil] in flasks [vessels, jars] along with [accompanied by, in addition to] their lamps [light sources, beacons of truth]. word study 5 When the bridegroom [the husband in a newly formed marriage, the groom] was delayed [tarried, took a long time], they all [every single one, all together] became drowsy [slumbered, nodded off] and fell asleep [into a deep sleep, slept soundly]. word study 6 At [in the middle of, during] midnight [the time of darkness] the cry [shouting, outcry] rang out: ‘Here is [behold, look] the bridegroom [the husband in a newly formed marriage]! Come out [go forth, exit] to meet [encounter, greet] him [the one who is arriving]!’ word study 7 Then [at that specific point in time] all [every one of them] the virgins [unmarried women] woke up [arose, stood up] and trimmed [arranged, made ready] their lamps [torches]. word study 8 The [unwise] foolish ones said to the [thoughtful] wise, ‘Give us [bestow upon us, grant to us] some of your [olive] oil [for anointing and light]; our [own] lamps [torches] are [in the process of being] going out.’ word study 9 ‘No,’ said the wise [thoughtful, prudent] ones, ‘or [lest, in case] there may not be enough [sufficient, adequate] for both us [we, ourselves] and you [yourselves, personally]. Instead, go [travel, journey] to those who sell [trade, exchange] oil and buy [purchase, acquire] some for yourselves [your own, personally].’ word study 10 But while they were on their way [to go away, depart] to buy [purchase, acquire] it, the bridegroom [husband in a newly formed marriage] arrived. Those who were ready [prepared, made suitable] went in [entered, came into] with him to the wedding banquet [marriage feast, celebration], and the door [entrance, gate] was shut [closed, locked]. word study 11 Later [after a time, afterward] the other [remaining] virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord [master], lord, open [make accessible] the door for us [to us, for our benefit]!’ word study 12 But he replied [answered and said], ‘Truly [verily, most certainly] I tell you [say to you, speak to you], I do not know [have no knowledge of, do not recognize] you [as my own, personally].’ word study 13 Therefore [then, as a consequence] keep watch [stay alert, be vigilant], because [since, for the reason that] you do not know [are unaware, have no knowledge of] the day [a 24-hour period, a time of opportunity] or [nor, neither] the hour [a specific time, a moment of crisis] [when the Son of Man comes, at the time of my return]. word study 14 For [as a reason, to explain] it is just like [exactly, precisely] a man [human being, person] going on a journey [travelling to a far country, abroad], who called [invited, summoned] his servants [slaves, attendants] and entrusted [delivered, handed over] them with [to, for] his possessions [goods, wealth, property]. word study 15 To one he gave five talents [a large sum of money or gold], to another two talents, and to another one talent—each [according to his own ability, as he was able] according to his own [private, personal] ability [power, strength]. And he went on his journey [travels]. word study 16 The servant [who had been entrusted] who had received the five talents [units of money or weight, large sums] went at once [immediately, without delay] and put them to work [traded with them, invested] and gained [made, produced] five more [additional, other]. word study 17 Likewise [in the same way, similarly], the one with the two [a pair, dual] talents gained [acquired, earned] two more [additional, further]. word study 18 But the servant [who had been entrusted] who had received the one [single, sole] talent went off [away, departed], dug [excavated, made a hole] a hole in the ground [earth, soil], and hid [concealed, kept secret] his master’s [lord’s, owner’s] money [silver, treasure]. word study 19 After [a long season, much time] a long time the master [lord, one in authority] of those servants [slaves, ones subject to another] returned [came, arrived] to settle accounts [reckon, compute together] with [among, in the company of] them. word study 20 The servant [who was entrusted with a great responsibility] who had received the five talents [large sums of money or units of weight] came and presented [brought to, offered] five more [additional, extra]. ‘Master [Lord, God, one in authority],’ he said, ‘you entrusted [delivered, handed over] me with five talents [a significant amount of wealth or resources]. See [look, behold], I have gained [acquired, earned] five more [additional, extra].’ word study 21 His master [lord, ruler] replied, ‘Well done [you have done well, good job], good [morally excellent, virtuous] and faithful [trustworthy, dependable] servant! You have been faithful [loyal, dedicated] with a few things [small responsibilities, limited resources]; I will put you in charge of many things [greater responsibilities, abundant resources]. Enter into [experience, participate in] the joy [deep happiness, heavenly delight] of your master [lord, ruler]!’ word study 22 The servant [also, in addition] who had received the two [a pair of] talents [large sums of money, units of weight] also came and said, ‘Master [Lord, one in authority], you entrusted [delivered, handed over] me with two talents [units of weight or money]. See [look, behold], I have gained [acquired, earned] two more [additional, extra].’ word study 23 His master [lord, ruler] replied, ‘Well done [you have done well, good job], good [morally excellent, benevolent] and faithful [trustworthy, dependable] servant! You have been faithful [loyal, dedicated] with a few things [a small amount, limited resources]; I will put you in charge of many things [a large amount, abundant resources]. Enter into [come into, participate in] the joy [happiness, delight] of your master [lord, ruler]!’ word study 24 Finally, the servant [who had been entrusted with a responsibility] who had received the one talent [a large sum of money, a unit of weight] came and said, ‘Master [Lord, God, the one in authority], I knew that you are a hard [severe, harsh, demanding] man, reaping [harvesting, gathering] where you have not sown [planted, scattered seed] and gathering [collecting, assembling] where you have not scattered [dispersed, spread out] seed. word study 25 So I was afraid [and filled with reverence] and went out [and departed from your presence] and hid [concealed and protected] your talent [a large sum of money, a valuable resource] in the ground [in the earth, for safekeeping]. See [look and behold], you have [possess and hold] what belongs to you [that which is yours, your own possession].’ word study 26 ‘You wicked [evil, morally wrong], lazy [slothful, idle] servant!’ replied his master [lord, one in authority]. ‘You knew that I reap [harvest, gather in] where I have not sown [planted seed, scattered] and gather [collect, assemble] where I have not scattered [dispersed, spread out] seed [the word of God, spiritual nourishment]. word study 27 Then you [the one being addressed] should have deposited my [belonging to me] money [silver coins or wealth] with the [the specific] bankers [money lenders], and on my return [coming or arrival] I would have received it back [been repaid or rewarded] with [together] interest [profit from lending]. word study 28 Therefore [then, as a consequence] take [lift up, remove] the talent [a unit of weight or money, a large sum] from him and give [bestow, grant] it to the one [is holding] who has ten [a decade] talents [units of weight or money, large sums]. word study 29 For everyone [all people, every individual] who has [possesses, holds] will be given [bestowed, granted] more, and he will have [possess, enjoy] an abundance [a surplus, more than enough]. But the one who does not have [lacks, is without], even what he has [possesses, holds] will be taken away [removed, withdrawn] from him. word study 30 And throw that [unprofitable, useless] worthless servant [a slave or bondservant] into the outer [utter] darkness [the absence of spiritual light], where there will be [intense] weeping [lamentation] and [angry] gnashing [grinding] of teeth.’ word study 31 When [at an uncertain future time, whenever] the Son [a son or child, specifically the Messiah] of Man [a human, the descendant of Adam] comes [arrives, appears] in His [belonging to Him, emphasizing His divinity] glory [honor, praise, the admiration and respect given to God], and all [every, the entirety of] the angels [messengers, heavenly beings] with [accompanied by, in the presence of] Him, He will sit [be seated, take His place] on His [belonging to Him, emphasizing His authority] glorious [full of glory, majestic] throne [the seat of power]. word study 32 All [every single one, the entire world] the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] will be gathered [assembled, brought together] before Him [in His presence, face to face], and He will separate [set apart, divide] the people [individuals, humanity] one from another [from each other, mutually], as [just like, in the same way] a shepherd [one who cares for and guides] separates [divides, distinguishes] the sheep [those who follow, obedient ones] from the goats [those who rebel, disobedient ones]. word study 33 He will place [set, position] the sheep [followers, believers] on His right [side of favor, blessing] and the goats [those who reject, unbelievers] on His left [side of judgment, rejection]. word study 34 Then the King [sovereign ruler, monarch] will say to those on His right [side of honor, place of favor], ‘Come [draw near, approach], you who are blessed [highly favored, praised] by My Father [eternal Parent, heavenly Dad], inherit [receive as a gift, possess] the kingdom [royal power, dominion] prepared [made ready, established] for you from the foundation [beginning, creation] of the world [earth]. word study 35 For I was hungry [in need of food] and you gave Me something to eat [food to sustain Me], I was thirsty [had a strong desire for drink] and you gave Me something to drink [a refreshing beverage], I was a stranger [foreign] and you took Me in [welcomed Me into your home, syneagagate Me], word study 36 I was naked [without clothes, unclothed] and you clothed Me [invested Me with garments], I was sick [weak, feeble] and you looked after Me [visited, cared for Me], I was in prison [a place of confinement, guard] and you visited Me [came to Me, relieved My distress].’ word study 37 Then [at that specific point in time] the righteous [just, fair, and innocent] will answer [respond, speak] Him, ‘Lord [God, Master], when [at what time] did we see [perceive, behold] You hungry [in need of food] and feed [nourish, provide for] You, or [as an alternative] thirsty [in need of drink] and give [provide, offer] You something to drink [a cup of water]? word study 38 When [at what specific time] did we see You [directly, face to face] a stranger [foreign, in a new place] and take You in [welcome, receive], or naked [without clothes] and clothe You [provide covering]? word study 39 When [at what specific time] did we see You [directly] sick [weak] or [as an alternative] in prison [a place of confinement] and visit [come to] You [personally]?’ word study 40 And the King [the sovereign ruler, Christ] will reply, ‘Truly [verily, in truth] I tell you, whatever you did [performed, showed compassion] for one of the least [smallest, humblest] of these brothers [fellow believers, disciples] of Mine, you did [acted, ministered] for Me [to My honor, on My behalf].’ word study 41 Then He will say to those on His left [the unbelievers, the unrighteous], ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed [under God’s judgment, doomed], into the eternal [everlasting, age-during] fire prepared [made ready, specifically designed] for the devil [the adversary, Satan] and his angels [messengers, spiritual beings]. word study 42 For I was hungry [in need of food, to hunger] and you gave Me nothing [no food, not a thing] to eat, I was thirsty [had a strong desire for drink, to thirst] and you gave Me nothing [no drink, not a drop] to drink, word study 43 I was a stranger [without a home, foreign] and you did not take Me in, I was naked [without clothing, exposed] and you did not clothe Me, I was sick [weak, infirm] and in prison [a place of confinement, guard] and you did not visit Me [care for, look after].’ word study 44 And they too will reply, ‘Lord [Master, the One in authority], when did we see You [as a person in need] hungry [in need of food, starving] or thirsty [craving drink, parched] or a stranger [foreign, without a home] or naked [without clothes, exposed] or sick [weak, infirm] or in prison [imprisoned, confined], and did not minister [serve, care for] to You [as a neighbor, a fellow human]?’ word study 45 Then [at that specific point in time] the King will answer [respond], ‘Truly [verily] I tell you [say to you], whatever you did not do [failed to act] for one [even a single individual] of the least [smallest] of these [my people], you did not do [nor did you act] for Me [toward me].’ word study 46 And they will go away [depart, follow] into eternal [lasting forever, age-during] punishment [penalty, condemnation], but the righteous [just, innocent] into eternal [forever, everlasting] life [existence, spiritual being].” word study