Mateo 25

1 Entonces el reino de los cielos será semejante a diez vírgenes que tomando sus lámparas, salieron a recibir al novio.

2 Y cinco de ellas eran insensatas, y cinco prudentes.

3 Porque las insensatas, al tomar sus lámparas, no tomaron aceite consigo,

4 pero las prudentes tomaron aceite en frascos junto con sus lámparas.

5 Al tardarse el novio, a todas les dio sueño y se durmieron.

6 Pero a medianoche se oyó un clamor: "¡Aquí está el novio! Salid a recibirlo."

7 Entonces todas aquellas vírgenes se levantaron y arreglaron sus lámparas.

8 Y las insensatas dijeron a las prudentes: "Dadnos de vuestro aceite, porque nuestras lámparas se apagan."

9 Pero las prudentes respondieron, diciendo: "No, no sea que no haya suficiente para nosotras y para vosotras; id más bien a los que venden y comprad para vosotras."

10 Y mientras ellas iban a comprar, vino el novio, y las que estaban preparadas entraron con él al banquete de bodas, y se cerró la puerta.

11 Después vinieron también las otras vírgenes, diciendo: "Señor, señor, ábrenos."

12 Pero respondiendo él, dijo: "En verdad os digo que no os conozco."

13 Velad, pues, porque no sabéis ni el día ni la hora .

14 Porque el reino de los cielos es como un hombre que al emprender un viaje, llamó a sus siervos y les encomendó sus bienes.

15 Y a uno le dio cinco talentos , a otro dos, y a otro uno, a cada uno conforme a su capacidad; y se fue de viaje.

16 El que había recibido los cinco talentos, enseguida fue y negoció con ellos y ganó otros cinco talentos.

17 Asimismo el que había recibido los dos talentos ganó otros dos.

18 Pero el que había recibido uno, fue y cavó en la tierra y escondió el dinero de su señor.

19 Después de mucho tiempo vino<***> el señor de aquellos siervos, y arregló<***> cuentas con ellos.

20 Y llegando el que había recibido los cinco talentos, trajo otros cinco talentos, diciendo: "Señor, me entregaste cinco talentos; mira, he ganado otros cinco talentos."

21 Su señor le dijo: "Bien, siervo bueno y fiel; en lo poco fuiste fiel, sobre mucho te pondré; entra en el gozo de tu señor."

22 Llegando también el de los dos talentos, dijo: "Señor, me entregaste dos talentos; mira, he ganado otros dos talentos."

23 Su señor le dijo: "Bien, siervo bueno y fiel; en lo poco fuiste fiel, sobre mucho te pondré; entra en el gozo de tu señor."

24 Pero llegando también el que había recibido un talento, dijo: "Señor, yo sabía que eres un hombre duro, que siegas donde no sembraste y recoges donde no esparciste,

25 y tuve miedo, y fui y escondí tu talento en la tierra; mira, aquí tienes lo que es tuyo."

26 Pero su señor respondió, y le dijo: "Siervo malo y perezoso, sabías que siego donde no sembré, y que recojo donde no esparcí.

27 "Debías entonces haber puesto mi dinero en el banco, y al llegar yo hubiera recibido mi dinero con intereses.

28 "Por tanto, quitadle el talento y dádselo al que tiene los diez talentos."

29 Porque a todo el que tiene, más se le dará, y tendrá en abundancia; pero al que no tiene, aun lo que tiene se le quitará.

30 Y al siervo inútil, echadlo en las tinieblas de afuera; allí será el llanto y el crujir de dientes.

31 Pero cuando el Hijo del Hombre venga en su gloria, y todos los ángeles con El, entonces se sentará en el trono de su gloria;

32 y serán reunidas delante de El todas las naciones; y separará a unos de otros, como el pastor separa las ovejas de los cabritos.

33 Y pondrá las ovejas a su derecha y los cabritos a su izquierda.

34 Entonces el Rey dirá a los de su derecha: "Venid, benditos de mi Padre, heredad el reino preparado para vosotros desde la fundación del mundo.

35 "Porque tuve hambre, y me disteis de comer; tuve sed, y me disteis de beber; fui forastero, y me recibisteis;

36 estaba desnudo, y me vestisteis; enfermo, y me visitasteis; en la cárcel, y vinisteis a mí."

37 Entonces los justos le responderán, diciendo: "Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento, y te dimos de comer, o sediento, y te dimos de beber?

38 "¿Y cuándo te vimos como forastero, y te recibimos, o desnudo, y te vestimos?

39 "¿Y cuándo te vimos enfermo, o en la cárcel, y vinimos a ti?"

40 Respondiendo el Rey, les dirá: "En verdad os digo que en cuanto lo hicisteis a uno de estos hermanos míos, aun a los más pequeños, a mí lo hicisteis."

41 Entonces dirá también a los de su izquierda: "Apartaos de mí, malditos, al fuego eterno que ha sido preparado para el diablo y sus ángeles.

42 "Porque tuve hambre, y no me disteis de comer, tuve sed, y no me disteis de beber;

43 fui forastero, y no me recibisteis; estaba desnudo, y no me vestisteis; enfermo, y en la cárcel, y no me visitasteis."

44 Entonces ellos también responderán, diciendo: "Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento, o sediento, o como forastero, o desnudo, o enfermo, o en la cárcel, y no te servimos?"

45 El entonces les responderá, diciendo: "En verdad os digo que en cuanto no lo hicisteis a uno de los más pequeños de éstos, tampoco a mí lo hicisteis."

46 Y éstos irán al castigo eterno, pero los justos a la vida eterna.

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Mateo 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

The parable of the ten virgins. (1-13) The parable of the talents. (14-30) The judgment. (31-46)

Verses 1-13 The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ's coming. See the nature of Christianity. As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to honour him, also to be waiting for his coming. Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones. Those are the truly wise or foolish that are so in the affairs of their souls. Many have a lamp of profession in their hands, but have not, in their hearts, sound knowledge and settled resolution, which are needed to carry them through the services and trials of the present state. Their hearts are not stored with holy dispositions, by the new-creating Spirit of God. Our light must shine before men in good works; but this is not likely to be long done, unless there is a fixed, active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ, and love to God and our brethren. They all slumbered and slept. The delay represents the space between the real or apparent conversion of these professors, and the coming of Christ, to take them away by death, or to judge the world. But though Christ tarry past our time, he will not tarry past the due time. The wise virgins kept their lamps burning, but they did not keep themselves awake. Too many real Christians grow remiss, and one degree of carelessness makes way for another. Those that allow themselves to slumber, will scarcely keep from sleeping; therefore dread the beginning of spiritual decays. A startling summons was given. Go ye forth to meet Him, is a call to those prepared. The notice of Christ's approach, and the call to meet him, will awaken. Even those best prepared for death ( 2 Peter. 3:14 ) day of search and inquiry; and it concerns us to think how we shall then be found. Some wanted oil to supply their lamps when going out. Those that take up short of true grace, will certainly find the want of it one time or other. An outward profession may light a man along this world, but the damps of the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light. Those who care not to live the life, yet would die the death of the righteous. But those that would be saved, must have grace of their own; and those that have most grace, have none to spare. The best need more from Christ. And while the poor alarmed soul addresses itself, upon a sick-bed, to repentance and prayer, in awful confusion, death comes, judgment comes, the work is undone, and the poor sinner is undone for ever. This comes of having oil to buy when we should burn it, grace to get when we should use it. Those, and those only, shall go to heaven hereafter, that are made ready for heaven here. The suddenness of death and of Christ's coming to us then, will not hinder our happiness, if we have been prepared. The door was shut. Many will seek admission into heaven when it is too late. The vain confidence of hypocrites will carry them far in expectations of happiness. The unexpected summons of death may alarm the Christian; but, proceeding without delay to trim his lamp, his graces often shine more bright; while the mere professor's conduct shows that his lamp is going out. Watch therefore, attend to the business of your souls. Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

Verses 14-30 Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of their visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions.

Verses 31-46 This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked and godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches, families, and are not always to be known the one from the other; such are the weaknesses of saints, such the hypocrisies of sinners; and death takes both: but in that day they will be parted for ever. Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; he will shortly distinguish between those that are his, and those that are not. All other distinctions will be done away; but the great one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. The happiness the saints shall possess is very great. It is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth; yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for them in the greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased it for them; and the blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the kingdom, is preparing it for them. It is prepared for them: it is in all points adapted to the new nature of a sanctified soul. It is prepared from the foundation of the world. This happiness was for the saints, and they for it, from all eternity. They shall come and inherit it. What we inherit is not got by ourselves. It is God that makes heirs of heaven. We are not to suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal happiness. Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, are here noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the Spirit of Christ, and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them. The wicked in this world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest, but they turned from his calls; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not come to him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment; their state cannot be altered. Thus life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.