Frameworks: Matthew's Gospel, chapter 25

 

(The objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)

      

FRAMEWORKS: Matthew, chapter 25

v.1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins

v.14-30 The Parable of the Bags of Gold

v.31-46 The Sheep and the Goats

    

     

v.1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

v.1 ([continuing from previous chapter] near the end it will be like waiting for a wedding) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

v.2 ([our equivalent] ten bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

v.3 (foolish ones carried lamps but without oil) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

v.4 (wise oens made sure their lamps had oil) The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

v.5 (the bridegroom was delayed) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

v.6 (eventually he arrived) “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

v.7 (each girl got her lamp ready) “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

v.8 (the lights of the foolish ones kept going out) The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

v.9 (the wise couldn't help them) “‘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.'

v.10 (so they missed the bridegroom coming when they went to get oil) “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.

v.11 (thus they were shut out from the celebration) “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,' they said, ‘open the door for us!'

v.12 (he denies knowing such unprepared people) “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don't know you.'

v.13  (the call is, therefore, to be alert and ready) “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

    

   

v.14-30 The Parable of the Bags of Gold

 

v.14  (also nearing the end will be like a man leaving home for a while) “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

v.15  (to one servant he gave five resources, to another two and another one – according to their ability/need) To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

v.16 (the one with five made five more) The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

v.17 (the one with two made two more) So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

v.18 (the one with one hid it and did nothing with it) But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

v.19 (the master returned with expectations) “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

v.20 (the five-man reported) The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.'

v.21 (.. and was praised and rewarded) “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!'

v.22 (the two-man similarly reported) “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.'

v.23 (he too was praised and rewarded) “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!'

v.24 (the one-man made excuses for doing nothing, blaming the master) “Then the man who had received one bag of gold 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.

v.25 (so handed back the one resource untouched) So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

v.26 (the master berated him, you should know me better) “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?

v.27 (you should have earned some interest at least on it) 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.

v.28  (take it away from him) “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

v.29 (he who has will be given more and more [I expect them to use it) For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

v.30 (the self-concerned one will be thrown out) And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

   

   

v.31-46 The Sheep and the Goats

 

v.31 (when I return it will be to reign publicly) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

v.32 (everyone will appear before me [to answer to me] and be judged) 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.

v.33 (he will put the sheep on one side, the goats on the other) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

v.34 (the sheep will thus be rewarded with their inheritance) “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.

v.35,36 (rewarded for blessing Jesus in the way they lived) 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, 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.'

v.37-39 (they may wonder how they did that) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

v.40 (you did it to me as you did it to the poor and needy) “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

v.41  (the goats will be consigned to destruction) “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.

v.42,43 (… for you didn't bless me when I looked for it) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 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.'

v.44 (how come, they will ask) “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?'

v.45 (by the way you ignored the weak and needy) “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

v.46 (they will go to total exclusion, the sheep to total blessing that lasts for ever) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”