Matthew 25 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

Mat 25:1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids[fn] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2

Mat 25:2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Mat 25:3

Mat 25:3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,

Mat 25:4

Mat 25:4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.

Mat 25:5

Mat 25:5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Mat 25:6

Mat 25:6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

Mat 25:7

Mat 25:7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.

Mat 25:8

Mat 25:8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

Mat 25:9

Mat 25:9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

Mat 25:10

Mat 25:10“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.

Mat 25:11

Mat 25:11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

Mat 25:12

Mat 25:12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

Mat 25:13

Mat 25:13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Parable of the Three Servants

(Luk 19:11–27 )

Mat 25:14

Mat 25:14“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.

Mat 25:15

Mat 25:15He gave five bags of silver[fn] to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

Mat 25:16

Mat 25:16“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.

Mat 25:17

Mat 25:17The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.

Mat 25:18

Mat 25:18But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

Mat 25:19

Mat 25:19“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.

Mat 25:20

Mat 25:20The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

Mat 25:21

Mat 25:21“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![fn]’

Mat 25:22

Mat 25:22“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.’

Mat 25:23

Mat 25:23“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!’

Mat 25:24

Mat 25:24“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.

Mat 25:25

Mat 25:25I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

Mat 25:26

Mat 25:26“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,

Mat 25:27

Mat 25:27why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

Mat 25:28

Mat 25:28“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.

Mat 25:29

Mat 25:29To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Mat 25:30

Mat 25:30Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Final Judgment

Mat 25:31

Mat 25:31“But when the Son of Man[fn] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.

Mat 25:32

Mat 25:32All the nations[fn] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Mat 25:33

Mat 25:33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

Mat 25:34

Mat 25:34“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.

Mat 25:35

Mat 25:35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

Mat 25:36

Mat 25:36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Mat 25:37

Mat 25:37“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?

Mat 25:38

Mat 25:38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?

Mat 25:39

Mat 25:39When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

Mat 25:40

Mat 25:40“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,[fn] you were doing it to me!’

Mat 25:41

Mat 25:41“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.[fn]

Mat 25:42

Mat 25:42For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.

Mat 25:43

Mat 25:43I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

Mat 25:44

Mat 25:44“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?’

Mat 25:45

Mat 25:45“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.’

Mat 25:46

Mat 25:46“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”