RETURN TO JESUS,OUR VIEW
Matthew 25
1.
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who
took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2. Five
of them were foolish and five were wise.
3. The
foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4. The
wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5. The
bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell
asleep.
6.
"At
7.
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8. The
foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going
out.'
9.
"`No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you.
Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10.
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom
arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.
And the door was shut.
11.
"Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door
for us!'
12.
"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
14.
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them.
15. To
one he gave five talents of money, to
another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.
Then he went on his journey.
16. The
man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work
and gained five more.
17. So
also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18. But
the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and
hid his master's money.
19.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and
settled accounts with them.
20. The
man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he
said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21.
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!'
22.
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you
entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23.
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!'
24.
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he
said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and
gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25. So
I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what
belongs to you.'
26.
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I
harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27.
Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so
that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28.
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten
talents.
29. For
everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever
does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30. And
throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
32. All
the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one
from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33. He
will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since
the creation of the world.
35. For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36. I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.'
37.
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38.
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you?
39.
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40.
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41.
"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are
cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42. For
I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink,
43. I
was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44.
"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help
you?'
45.
"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for
one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46.
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to
eternal life."
RETURN TO JESUS,OUR VIEW