Matthew 25
25"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.G5119G932G3772G3666G1176G3933G3748G2983G846G2985G1831G529G1519G35662Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.G1161G4002G1537G846G2258G5429G2532G4002G34743The five who were foolish didn't take enough olive oil for their lamps,G3748G3474G2983G846G1438G2985G2983G3756G1637G3326G14384but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.G1161G5429G2983G1637G1722G846G30G3326G846G29855When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.G1161G3566G5549G3956G3573G2532G25186"At midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!'G1161G3319G3571G2906G1096G2400G3566G2064G1831G1519G529G8467"All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.G5119G3956G1565G3933G1453G2532G2885G846G29858Then the five foolish ones asked the others, 'Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.'G1161G3474G2036G5429G1325G2254G1537G5216G1637G3754G2257G2985G45709"But the others replied, 'We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.'G1161G5429G611G3004G3379G714G3756G714G2254G2532G5213G1161G4198G3123G4314G4453G2532G59G143810"But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.G1161G846G565G59G3566G2064G2532G2092G1525G3326G846G1519G1062G2532G2374G280811Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, 'Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!'G1161G5305G2064G2532G3062G3933G3004G2962G2962G455G225412"But he called back, 'Believe me, I don't know you!'G1161G611G2036G281G3004G5213G1492G5209G375613"So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.G1127G3767G3754G1492G3756G2250G3761G5610G1722G3739G5207G444G206414"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.G1063G5618G444G589G2564G2398G1401G2532G3860G846G846G522415He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.G2532G3739G3303G1325G4002G5007G1161G3739G1417G1161G3739G1520G1538G2596G2398G1411G2532G2112G58916"The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.G1161G2983G4002G5007G4198G2038G1722G846G2532G4160G243G4002G500717The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.G2532G5615G3588G1417G846G2532G2770G243G141718But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money.G1161G2983G1520G565G3736G1722G1093G2532G613G846G2962G69419"After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.G1161G3326G4183G5550G2962G1565G1401G2064G2532G4868G3056G3326G84620The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, 'Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.'G2532G2983G4002G5007G4334G4374G243G4002G5007G3004G2962G3860G3427G4002G5007G2396G2770G1909G846G4002G5007G24321"The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'G1161G846G2962G5346G846G2095G18G2532G4103G1401G2258G4103G1909G3641G2525G4571G2525G1909G4183G1525G1519G5479G4675G296222"The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.'G1161G2532G2983G1417G5007G4334G2036G2962G3860G3427G1417G5007G2396G2770G1417G243G5007G1909G84623"The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'G846G2962G5346G846G2095G18G2532G4103G1401G2258G4103G1909G3641G2525G4571G2525G1909G4183G1525G1519G5479G4675G296224"Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate.G1161G2532G2983G1520G5007G4334G2036G2962G1097G4571G3754G1488G4642G444G2325G3699G4687G3756G4687G2532G4863G3606G1287G3756G128725I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.'G2532G5399G565G2928G4675G5007G1722G1093G2396G2192G467426"But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate,G1161G846G2962G611G2036G846G4190G2532G3636G1401G1492G3754G2325G3699G4687G3756G2532G4863G3606G1287G3756G128727why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.'G4571G1163G3767G906G3450G694G5133G2532G2064G1473G302G2865G1699G4862G511028"Then he ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.G142G3767G5007G575G846G2532G1325G2192G1176G500729To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.G1063G3956G2192G1325G2532G4052G1161G575G846G2192G3361G142G575G2532G3739G219230Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'G2532G1544G888G1401G1519G1857G4655G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G359931"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.G1161G3752G5207G444G2064G1722G846G1391G2532G3956G40G32G3326G846G5119G2523G1909G2362G846G139132All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.G2532G1715G846G4863G3956G1484G2532G873G846G240G575G240G5618G4166G873G4263G575G205633He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.G2532G2476G3303G4263G1537G846G1188G1161G2055G1537G217634"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.G5119G935G2046G1537G846G1188G1205G2127G3450G3962G2816G932G2090G5213G575G2602G288935For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.G1063G3983G2532G1325G3427G5315G1372G2532G4222G3165G4222G2252G3581G2532G4863G3165G486336I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'G1131G2532G4016G3165G770G2532G1980G3165G2252G1722G5438G2532G2064G4314G316537"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?G5119G1342G611G846G3004G2962G4219G1492G4571G3983G2532G5142G2228G1372G2532G422238Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?G1161G4219G1492G4571G3581G2532G4863G2228G1131G2532G401639When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'G1161G4219G1492G4571G772G2228G1722G5438G2532G2064G4314G457140"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'G2532G935G611G2046G846G281G3004G5213G1909G3745G4160G1520G1646G5130G3450G80G4160G169841"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.G5119G2046G2532G1537G2176G4198G575G1700G2672G1519G166G4442G2090G1228G2532G846G3242For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink.G1063G3983G2532G1325G3427G3756G5315G1372G2532G4222G3165G3756G422243I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'G2252G3581G2532G4863G3165G3756G4863G1131G2532G4016G3165G3756G772G2532G1722G5438G2532G1980G3165G375644"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'G5119G846G2532G611G846G3004G2962G4219G1492G4571G3983G2228G1372G2228G3581G2228G1131G2228G772G2228G1722G5438G2532G1247G3756G1247G467145"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'G5119G611G846G3004G281G3004G5213G1909G3745G4160G3756G1520G1646G5130G4160G3761G169846"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."G2532G3778G565G1519G166G2851G1161G1342G1519G2222G166
Matthew 26
26When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,G2532G1096G3753G2424G5055G3956G5128G3056G2036G846G31012"As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."G1492G3754G3326G1417G2250G1096G3957G2532G5207G444G3860G1519G47173At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,G5119G4863G749G2532G1122G2532G4245G2992G1519G833G749G3588G3004G25334plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.G2532G4823G2443G2902G2424G1388G2532G6155"But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot."G1161G3004G3361G1722G1859G3363G1096G2351G1722G29926Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.G1161G2424G1096G1722G963G1722G3614G4613G30157While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.G4334G846G1135G2192G211G927G3464G2532G2708G1909G846G2776G3458The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said.G1161G846G3101G1492G23G3004G1519G5101G3778G6849"It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."G1063G5124G3464G1410G4097G4183G2532G1325G443410But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?G1161G2424G1097G2036G846G5101G2873G3930G1135G1063G2038G2570G2041G1519G169111You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.G1063G2192G4434G3842G3326G1438G1161G1691G2192G3756G384212She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.G1063G3778G846G906G5124G3464G1909G3450G4983G4160G4314G3165G177913I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."G281G3004G5213G3699G1437G5124G2098G2784G1722G3650G2889G2532G3739G3778G846G4160G2980G1519G3422G84614Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priestsG5119G1520G1427G3004G2455G2469G4198G4314G74915and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.G2036G5101G2309G1325G3427G2504G3860G846G5213G1161G2476G846G5144G69416From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.G2532G575G5119G2212G2120G2443G3860G84617On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"G1161G4413G106G3101G4334G2424G3004G846G4226G2309G2090G4671G5315G395718"As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'"G1161G2036G5217G1519G4172G4314G1170G2532G2036G846G1320G3004G3450G2540G2076G1451G4160G3957G4314G4571G3326G3450G310119So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.G2532G3101G4160G5613G2424G4929G846G2532G2090G395720When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples.G1161G3798G1096G345G3326G142721While they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."G2532G846G2068G2036G281G3004G5213G3754G1520G1537G5216G3860G316522Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one, Lord?"G2532G4970G3076G756G1538G846G3004G846G2962G1510G3385G147323He replied, "One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.G1161G611G2036G1686G5495G3326G1700G1722G5165G3778G3860G316524For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"G3303G5207G444G5217G2531G1125G4012G846G1161G3759G1565G444G1223G3739G5207G444G3860G2258G2570G1565G846G1487G444G1080G3756G108025Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Rabbi, am I the one?" And Jesus told him, "You have said it."G1161G2455G3588G3860G846G611G2036G4461G1510G3385G1473G3004G846G4771G203626As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body."G1161G846G2068G2424G2983G740G2532G2127G2806G2532G1325G3101G2532G2036G2983G5315G5124G2076G3450G498327And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it,G2532G2983G4221G2532G2168G1325G846G3004G4095G3956G1537G84628for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.G1063G5124G2076G3450G129G2537G1242G3588G1632G4012G4183G1519G859G26629Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."G1161G3004G5213G4095G3754G3364G4095G575G737G1537G5127G1081G288G2193G1565G2250G3752G4095G846G2537G3326G5216G1722G3450G3962G93230Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.G2532G5214G1831G1519G3735G163631On the way, Jesus told them, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, 'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'G5119G3004G2424G846G3956G5210G4624G1722G1722G1698G5026G3571G1063G1125G3960G4166G2532G4263G4167G128732But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."G1161G3326G3165G1453G4254G5209G1519G105633Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you."G4074G611G1161G2036G846G1499G3956G4624G1722G4671G1473G3763G462434Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me."G2424G5346G846G281G3004G4671G3754G1722G5026G3571G4250G220G5455G533G3165G515135"No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.G4074G3004G846G2579G3165G1163G599G4862G4671G3364G533G3364G533G4571G3668G2532G2036G3956G310136Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray."G5119G2064G2424G3326G846G1519G5564G3004G1068G2532G3004G3101G2523G847G2193G3739G565G4336G156337He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.G2532G3880G4074G2532G1417G5207G2199G756G3076G2532G8538He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."G5119G3004G846G3450G5590G2076G4036G2193G2288G3306G5602G2532G1127G3326G170039He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."G2532G4281G3397G4281G4098G1909G846G4383G2532G4336G3004G3450G3962G1487G2076G1415G3928G5124G4221G3928G575G1700G4133G3756G5613G1473G2309G235G5613G477140Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you watch with me even one hour?G2532G2064G4314G3101G2532G2147G846G2518G2532G3004G4074G3779G2480G3756G1127G3326G1700G3391G561041Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"G1127G2532G4336G3363G1525G3363G1519G3986G4151G3303G4289G1161G4561G77242Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done."G565G3825G1537G1208G4336G3004G3450G3962G1487G5124G4221G1410G3756G3928G575G1700G3362G4095G846G4675G2307G109643When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open.G2532G2064G2147G846G2518G3825G1063G846G3788G2258G91644So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.G2532G863G846G565G3825G4336G1537G5154G2036G846G305645Then he came to the disciples and said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.G5119G2064G4314G846G3101G2532G3004G846G2518G3063G2532G373G2400G5610G1448G2532G5207G444G3860G1519G5495G26846Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here!"G1453G71G2400G1448G3860G316547And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.G2532G2089G846G2089G2980G2400G2455G1520G1427G2064G2532G3326G846G4183G3793G3326G3162G2532G3586G575G749G2532G4245G299248The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss."G1161G3860G846G1325G846G4592G3004G3739G302G5368G846G2076G846G2902G846G290249So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.G2532G2112G4334G2424G2036G5463G4461G2532G2705G84650Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.G1161G2424G2036G846G2083G1909G3739G3918G5119G4334G1911G5495G1909G2424G2532G2902G84651But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.G2532G2400G1520G3326G2424G1614G5495G645G846G3162G2532G3960G1401G749G851G846G562152"Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will die by the sword.G5119G3004G2424G846G654G4675G3162G1519G846G5117G1063G3956G2983G3162G622G1722G316253Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?G2228G1380G3754G3756G1410G737G3870G3450G3962G2532G3936G3427G4119G2228G1427G3003G3254But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"G4459G3767G1124G4137G3754G3779G1163G109655Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.G1722G1565G5610G2036G2424G3793G1831G5613G1909G3027G3326G3162G2532G3586G4815G3165G2516G2250G2596G4314G5209G1321G1722G2411G2532G2902G3756G2902G316556But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.G1161G3650G5124G1096G2443G1124G4396G4137G5119G3956G3101G863G846G534357Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered.G1161G2902G2424G520G4314G2533G749G3699G1122G2532G4245G486358Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest's courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.G1161G4074G190G846G575G3113G2193G749G833G2532G1525G2080G2521G3326G5257G1492G505659Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.G1161G749G2532G4245G2532G3650G4892G2212G5577G2596G2424G3704G2289G846G228960But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone's testimony. Finally, two men came forwardG2532G2147G3756G2532G4183G5575G4334G2147G3756G1161G5305G4334G1417G557561who declared, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"G2036G3778G5346G1410G2647G3485G2316G2532G3618G846G1223G5140G225062Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?"G2532G749G450G2036G846G611G3762G5101G3778G2649G467563But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."G1161G2424G4623G2532G749G611G2036G846G1844G4571G2596G2198G2316G2443G2036G2254G1487G4771G1488G5547G5207G231664Jesus replied, "You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven."G2424G3004G846G4771G2036G4133G3004G5213G737G575G3700G5207G444G2521G1537G1188G1411G2532G2064G1909G3507G377265Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.G5119G749G1284G846G2440G3004G3754G987G5101G2089G5532G2192G3144G2396G3568G191G846G98866What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He deserves to die!"G5101G1380G5213G611G1161G2036G2076G1777G228867Then they began to spit in Jesus' face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him,G5119G1716G1519G846G4383G2532G2852G846G1161G447468jeering, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"G3004G4395G2254G5547G5101G2076G3817G457169Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean."G1161G4074G2521G1854G1722G833G2532G3391G3814G4334G846G3004G4771G2532G2258G3326G2424G105770But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.G1161G720G1715G3956G3004G1492G3756G5101G300471Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."G1161G846G1831G1519G4440G243G1492G846G2532G3004G1563G3778G2258G2532G3326G2424G348072Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said.G2532G3825G720G3326G3727G3754G1492G3756G1492G44473A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent."G1161G3326G3397G4334G2476G2036G4074G230G4771G2532G1488G1537G846G1063G2532G4675G2981G1212G4571G416074Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying—I don't know the man!" And immediately the rooster crowed.G5119G756G2653G2532G3660G3754G1492G3756G444G2532G2112G220G545575Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away, weeping bitterly.G2532G4074G3415G4487G2424G3588G2046G846G3754G4250G220G5455G533G3165G5151G2532G1854G1831G2799G4090
Dublin, OH
who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.G5119
