Matthew 25 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Matthew 25

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps¹ and went to meet the bridegroom.² 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy 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 feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants³ and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,⁴ to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.⁵ You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Final Judgment

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 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 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 welcomed me, 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 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,⁶ you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal 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 welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 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 minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Footnotes

[1] 25:1 Or torches
[2] 25:1 Some manuscripts add and the bride
[3] 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19
[4] 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer
[5] 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30
[6] 25:40 Or brothers and sisters

Commentary

v1-13: The wise and foolish virgins, a parable to encourage readiness. The kingdom of heaven "will be like" this; hence the importance is future, although it is not without relevance for all ages.

v1: All ten virgins are initially ready to meet the bridegroom; they belong, or claim to belong.

v2-4: The difference between the wise and the foolish is the oil, picturing the Holy Spirit; the true follower of Jesus Christ knows the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.

The "jars" were actually part of the lamp, rather than something separate. Thus the foolish virgins did not fail to bring a separate vessel, but failed to keep additional oil in the separate compartment.

v5-7: All ten slumber and sleep, for the bridegroom delays his coming. Such delay is spoken of elsewhere; "after a long time," v19; "My master is delaying His coming," 24.48. The non-appearance of Christ must not make us neglect our spiritual responsibilities, 2 Pet 3.4, 9. Although the time of His coming is not known, the fact of His coming is without question.

v8-13: The parable is concerned with our personal responsibility to be ready for the Lord. Thus, the refusal of the wise virgins to give oil to the foolish is clear.

v14-15: The master gives his servants "each according to his ability," Rom 12.6. Such gifts are given that we might serve God, for such gifts are not earned or merited. The emphasis here is on personal accountability.

v16-17: The first two servants demonstrate faithfulness an fruitfulness in their service.

v18: The third servant hid "his master's money," and even this phrase indicates that his action was wrong.

v19: The master came to settle accounts with each servant, again indicating responsibility and accountability. This is important: all followers of Jesus Christ must given an account to Him (Romans 14.12).

v20-23: The reward from the master, compare 24.47; their faithfulness is rewarded, although of course the reward is delayed while the master is delayed. Even so the servant see fruitfulness immediately, in their service, and later, in their reward. Such is the double blessing of serving God.

v24-25: The third servant's excuse, which is inconsistent and poor. "I was afraid," when he should have trusted his master. He misunderstood his master’s character – was he really a “hard man”? The lazy believer begins to think that God is difficult to please.

v26-27: The master's rebuke; dismissing his excuses for his laziness; Prov 6.6; 18.9; 19.25; 2 Thess 3.11-12; Heb 6.10-12. Although the servant described himself as "afraid," the master calls him lazy and wicked.

The command for God's people is that we bring glory to Him. It is not enough to say that we have simply not done certain wrong things, see 19.17-20. God expects that we invest what He has given us. In 21.18-19, and Luke 13.6-9 the barren trees are cursed.

v28-29: As a consequence, even what the servant did have is taken from him.

v30: The wicked servant is judged; 18.34; 21.41; 22.13; 24.51. Such words are addressed primarily to Jewish people who think God accepts them solely because they are Jews.

v31-32: Another parable about Christ's coming, and the purpose of His coming, although it is not introduced as a parable. He will come to judge "all the nations."

v33: Mixed herds were common in first century Middle East, so the illustration has immediate impact.

v34: The inheritance for the righteous, a kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the earth. This was always God's plan and intention, just as He invites many to His wedding (v10), and invites His servants to share "your master's happiness" (v21, 23; the 'joy of your Lord' in RAV); such describe God's plans for His own. Although Heaven cannot be earned, it is prepared and promised.

v35-36: The proof of real faith is practical godliness.

v37-39: The righteous keep no record of their good works; such is their humility.

v40: "These brothers of mine;" 10.40-42; 2 Cor 11.22-33; doing good to others at personal cost; willing, spontaneous, generous, sacrificial; James 2.15-16. The recipients are also God's people, suffering perhaps for their faith.

Notice the emphasis on God as King, a typical Jewish concept.

John Calvin comments in this verse: (Sermons on Job): 'When then, our Lord descends so far that He subjects Himself to a condition of mortal and corruptible man, and says that He receives what we do to our brothers although we can bring Him nothing, and He voluntarily obligates Himself to us without being in debt to us; on our part, seeing all this, must we not be ravished in admiration that the Lord shows such humaneness towards us?'

v41: Everlasting fire is prepared not for men, but for the devil and his angels; but men will share it. The implication is that God is not willing that any should perish, Ezek 33.11.

v42-43: Those cursed are judged for failing to do good; just like the wicked, lazy, worthless servant (v26, 30). Someone wrote this poem (quoted by John Stott in Issues Facing Christians Today);

I was hungry, and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.

I was imprisoned, and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.

I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless, and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me.

You seem so holy, so close to God.

But I am still very hungry - and lonely - and cold.

v44: They claim faithfulness, and ignorance of their omissions. Man's heart is indeed deceptive.

v45: The King's clear statement that they simply omitted to do good.

v46: The condemnation; eternal punishment. There seems little doubt that these three parables are aimed at those who claim faith in God, but demonstrate little or no evidence of such faith.