Chapter 41
Persecutions Foretold
Verse 1: Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all the nations because of what my name means. | Matthew 24:9
2 Then in those troubling times, many will stumble and fall away from my message, and they will betray one another and hate one another. | Matthew 24:10
3 And many false prophets will appear and deceive and then lead many astray. | Matthew 24:11
4 And because of the multiplication of wickedness and evil, the kindness and love of many will grow cold. | Matthew 24:12
5 But the one who endures and toils for their neighbour to the end will be saved. | Matthew 24:13
6 And this good news of my father's kingdom will be proclaimed to all nations in the world. As for the end, only my father knows.” | Matthew 24:14
The Faithful or the Unfaithful servant
7 Every day Jesus taught in the temple, but every night he would depart and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. | Luke 21:37
8 And all the people came early in the morning to the temple courts and listen to him. | Luke 21:38
9 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, who has been placed in charge of the household by his master, to give the others their food at the proper time? | Matthew 24:45
10 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find hard at work when he returns. | Matthew 24:46
11 In truth I say to you, he will place them in charge of all his possessions. | Matthew 24:47
12 But what if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master will be delayed,’ | Matthew 24:48
13 and begins to punish and beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, | Matthew 24:49
14 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect and at an hour that he does not anticipate or know and will cut him in pieces and cast him out with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Matthew 24:50, Matthew 24:51
15 That servant who knew what his master's will but did not prepare himself or did according to his will, shall be given a severe beating. | Luke 12:47
16 But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much shall be required, and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded. | Luke 12:48
17 The angels and the prophets will come to you and give you what already belongs to you. And you too, give them those things which you have, and ask yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'” | Gospel of Thomas 88
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
18 Jesus then told them another parable: “If anyone becomes a 'son of the bridechamber', he will receive the light and the kingdom of heaven can be compared to this.
19 Ten young women, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. | Matthew 25:1
20 Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. | Matthew 25:2
21 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil, | Matthew 25:3
22 but the wise also took jars of oil with their lamps. | Matthew 25:4
23 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. | Matthew 25:5
24 But at midnight there was a loud cry, ‘The bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ | Matthew 25:6
25 And then all those young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. | Matthew 25:7
26 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Quick! Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ | Matthew 25:8
27 But the wise answered, ‘No! there will not be enough for the both of us. You should go to the marketplace and buy some for yourselves.’ | Matthew 25:9
28 And while they went to buy more oil, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready accompanied him inside into the wedding banquet, and the door was then shut. | Matthew 25:10
29 Later the other young women came and began knocking on the door, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open the door to us.’ | Matthew 25:11
30 But he replied, ‘In truth I say to you, I do not know you.’ | Matthew 25:12
31 Keep awake and stay alert, because you do not know neither the day nor the hour.” | Matthew 25:13
The Parable of the Talents
32 Jesus continued with another parable: “For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his harvest to them, | Matthew 25:14
33 to one he gave five bushels, to another two, to another one and each according to their ability. Then he went away. | Matthew 25:15
34 At once the one who had received five bushels went out and sowed them, and when the harvest came he had five bushels more. These he sold and gave the money to the poor. | Matthew 25:16
35 In the same way the one who had received two bushels sowed them, and when the harvest came he had two bushels more. These he baked bread with and fed the poor. | Matthew 25:17
36 But the one who had received one bushel brewed it into beer and called his friends together, and they drank and were merry until there was nothing left. | Matthew 25:18
37 Now after a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. | Matthew 25:19
38 Then the servant who had received five bushels came forward saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five bushels; see, I have grown five more, sold them, and given all to the poor.' | Matthew 25:20
39 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things; come and share in the joy of your master.' | Matthew 25:21
40 And the servant with two bushels also came forward and said, ‘Master, you handed over to me two bushels; see, I have grown two more, baked bread, and fed the poor.' | Matthew 25:22
41 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things; come and share in the joy of your master.’ | Matthew 25:23
42 Finally, the servant who had received one bushel also came forward and said, ‘Master, I have nothing to show and nothing to say.' | Matthew 25:24
43 ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘The hungry could have been fed. The poor could have been clothed. What was given to you was not yours to consume. You heard my word and choked on the pleasures of this world, and it came to nothing. | Matthew 25:26
44 For everyone who gives, more will be given to them, but from those who consume what is not theirs, even what they have will be taken away.' | Matthew 25:29
45 And then master ordered that he be thrown into the outer darkness, where there shall be a weeping and gnashing of teeth.” | Matthew 25:30