Parables of Jesus Table

25:1 virgins Refers to young women who are guests at a wedding, possibly as attendants to the bride.

to meet the bridegroom To escort him to the wedding banquet (v. 10).

25:4 the wise ones took olive oil All 10 women are expecting the bridegroom, but only five are fully prepared.

25:10 bridegroom arrived Refers to the long-expected day of the Lord and the arrival of the Messiah at the end of the age—Jesus’ Second Coming (the Parousia).

wedding celebration A possible allusion to the messianic banquet at the end of the age (compare 8:11 and note).

door was shut Compare Isa 22:22; Luke 13:25; Rev 3:7–8.

25:12 I do not know you Compare Matt 7:23.

25:13 be on the alert Jesus’ repeated teaching that the disciples must always be ready. See 24:42, 44.

the day or the hour Compare 24:36, 44, 50; 25:6.

The Parable of the Talents Devotional

25:15 five talents The Greek text indicates an amount equal to 75 years’ wages (see note on 18:24).

25:18 hid his master’s money Rather than making money and gaining a profit, this slave merely preserved what the master entrusted to him (compare 13:44; Luke 19:20).

25:19 after a long time Three parables in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:1–25:46) involve a delay (24:48; 25:5). Jesus drives home the point that, since no one knows the time of His return, people must always be ready (see note on vv. 1–13).

25:21 Well done, good and faithful slave Faithful stewardship pleases the master more than the actual return on his investment (v. 23; compare 11:26–27).

25:24 because I knew Rather than present his master with the results of his assignment (compare vv. 20, 22), this slave tries to justify his inaction.

reaping where you did not sow Refers to the shrewdness of the master.

25:27 deposited my money with the bankers See v. 24 and note.

25:29 to everyone who has, more will be given Faithfulness results in blessing and reward (see 13:12; Prov 9:9). The inverse of this statement also is true.

25:30 weeping and gnashing of teeth See note on Matt 8:12.

25:31 Son of Man See 8:20 and note.

and all the angels with him See 24:30–31.

25:32 a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats When shepherds brought in their flocks at the end of the day, they typically put the goats in a sheltered area while leaving the sheep in an open-air pen.

25:34 Inherit the kingdom prepared for you The Jewish worldview of Jesus’ day envisioned the present age ending with a time of tribulation, followed by divine judgment. Then God’s kingdom—the age to come—would be fully inaugurated. This schema also is reflected in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

Understanding John’s Revelation

25:35 For I was hungry The actions described here (and in the next verse) reflect obedience to the command to love one’s neighbor—and thereby demonstrate love for God, as well (22:37–39).

25:40 the least of these Jesus’ remarks here call for Christian care to reach all the way to the bottom of the social structure, thus inverting earthly values.

25:41 eternal fire Refers to divine wrath. See note on Luke 3:9.

25:45 to one of the least of these See Matt 25:40 and note.