Matthew 25

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But 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.’

While 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.

Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’

But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

“For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.

He 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.’

“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.’

“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.’

“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.’

“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.

I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’

“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.

You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For 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.

Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“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.

Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then 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;

for 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.

I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?

When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

“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.’

Then 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;

for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

I 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.’

“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?’

“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.’

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter presents three parables and a final judgment scene that collectively emphasize watchfulness, faithfulness, and the moral implications of divine accountability at the coming of the Son of Man. Situated toward the end of Jesus’ eschatological discourse, it sharpens the ethical demand of readiness for the end, portraying both the suddenness of divine judgment and the necessity of active, obedient stewardship.

Flow.

Begins with the parable of the ten virgins, contrasting preparedness and unpreparedness for the bridegroom’s arrival, underscoring the need to be spiritually ready for the unexpected hour of Christ’s return (vv. 1–13).
Continues with the parable of the talents, illustrating how believers are entrusted with resources according to their ability and are expected to use them faithfully in service until the master’s return (vv. 14–30).
Concludes with the vision of the final judgment, where the Son of Man separates the nations based on whether they cared for “the least of these,” equating service to the vulnerable with service to Christ himself (vv. 31–46).

Connections. Following chapter 24’s warnings about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of the end, this chapter applies those teachings to the life of discipleship, showing what faithful endurance looks like in practice. The call to vigilance in chapter 24 is now illustrated through concrete imagery: lamps kept burning, talents put to work, and hungry brothers fed. The emphasis on judgment according to works prepares for the events of chapter 26, where Jesus’ own betrayal and passion unfold, revealing the cost of redemption that makes such faithful living possible.

What it teaches. The chapter teaches that entrance into the kingdom requires both personal readiness and active obedience. The virgins’ parable warns that profession without spiritual preparation is futile (WCF 17.3), while the talents emphasize that God gifts individuals according to his purpose, expecting fruitful stewardship (WCF 15.3; LC 97). The final judgment scene does not justify by works but reveals that genuine faith produces love in action, as the righteous unknowingly serve Christ through their care for others (HC LD 44, Q&A 114; WCF 16.2). All are accountable to the coming King, whose judgment distinguishes between appearance and reality.

Apply. Live each day as one entrusted with both time and gifts, investing them in ways that reflect confidence in Christ’s return and love for his people.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.