rd

Matthew 25

1 By the similitude of the virgins Jesus teacheth every man to watch. 14 And by the talents to be diligent. 31 The last judgement. 32 The sheep and the goats. 35 The works of the faithful.
1.Then the akingdom of heaven shalbe likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went to bmeet the bridegroom.
2.And five of them were wise, and five foolish.
3.The foolish took their lamps, but took none oil with them.
4.But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5.Now while the bridegroom tarried long, all slumbered and slept.
6.And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go out to meet him.
7.Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8.And the foolish said to the wise, cGive us of your oil, for our lamps are ^out.
9.But the wise answered, saying, we fear lest there will not be enough for us and you: but dgo ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your selves.
10.And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.
11.Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12.But he answered, and said, Verily I say unto you, eI know you not.
13.*Watch therefore: for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, when the Son of man will come.
14.*fFor as a man that going into a strange country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods.
15.And unto one he gave five gtalents, and to another two, and to another one, to every man after his own ability, and straight way went from home.
16.Then he that had received the five talents, went and occupied with them, and ^gained other five talents.
17.Likewise also, he that received two, he also gained other two.
18.But he that received that one, went and digged it in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19.But after a long season, the master of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
20.Then came he that had received five talents, and brought other five talents, saying, Master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained with them other five talents.
21.Then his master said unto him, It is well done good servant and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: henter in into thy master’s joy.
22.Also he that had received two talents, came and said, Master, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents with them.
23.His master said unto him, It is well done good servant, and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter in into thy master’s joy.
24.Then he which had received the one talent, came and said, Master, I knew that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not:
25.I was therefore afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine own.
26.And his master answered, and said unto him, Thou evil servant, and ^slothful, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.
27.Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming should I have received mine own with vantage.
28.Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29.*For unto every man that hath, it shalbe given, and he shall have abundance, and ifrom him that hath not, even that he hath, shalbe taken away.
30.Cast therefore that unprofitable servant into utter *darkness: there shalbe weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
31.¶ And when the Son of man cometh in his glory, & all the holie Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.
32.And before him shalbe gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats.
33.And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left.
34.Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come ye kblessed of my Father: inherit ye the kingdom prepared for you from the lfoundations of the world.
35.*For mI was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye lodged me:
36.I was naked, and ye clothed me, I was *^sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, & fed thee? or a thirst, and gave thee drink?
38.And when saw we thee a stranger, and lodged thee? or naked, and clothed thee?
39.Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40.And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
41.Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, *Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.
42.For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink:
43.I was a stranger, and ye lodged me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44.Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45.Then shall he answer them, and say, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me
46.*And these nshall go into everlasting pain, and the righteous into life eternal.

Notes

1-a.
This similitude teaches us, that it is not sufficient to have once given ourselves to follow Christ, but that we must continue.
1-b.
To do him honour, as the manner was.
8-^.
Or, quenched.
8-c.
Many seek that which they have contemned, but it is too late.
9-d.
This was spoken in reproach, because they made not provision in time.
12-e.
I will not open to you because you have failed in the mid way.
13-*.
Chap 24.43, Mar. 13.33.
14-*.
Luk. 19.12.
14-f.
This similitude teaches how we ought to continue in the knowledge of God, and do good with those graces that God has given us.
15-g.
Every talent commonly made threescore pound. Read chap. 18.24.
16-^.
Or, made.
21-h.
The master received him into his house to give him part of his goods and commodities.
26-^.
Or, lingerer.
29-*.
Chap. 13.12, Mar. 4.25, Luk. 8.18 and 19.26.
29-i.
The graces of God shall be taken away from him that doth not bestow them for God’s glory and his neighbour’s profit.
30-*.
Chap. 8.12 and 22.13.
34-k.
For our salvation comes of the blessing and favour of God.
34-l.
Hereby God declares the certainty of our predestination, whereby we are saved because we were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world. Eph. 1.4.
35-*.
Isa. 58.7, Eze. 18.7.
35-m.
Christ means not that our salvation depends on our works or merits, but teaches what it is to live justly according to godliness, and charity, and that God recompenses his of his free mercy, likewise as he does elect them.
36-*.
Eccl. 7.35.
36-^.
Or, infirmed.
41-*.
Psal. 6.8, Chap. 7.23, Luk. 13.27
46-*.
Dan. 12.1, John 5.29.
46-n.
We must therefore only do that, which God requires of us, and not follow men’s foolish fantasies.