The parable of the ten bridesmaids1"This future revelation of the Kingdom of heaven can be likened to ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.2Five were foolish and five were wise.3Although the foolish ones took their lamps they did not take any spare oil with them.4However, the wise took jars of oil as well as their lamps.5"Now because the bridegroom was such a long time in coming, they all became tired and fell asleep.6Then at midnight they heard a shout, 'Here comes the bridegroom! Come and meet him.'7"All the bridesmaids awoke and prepared their lamps.8But the foolish ones said to the wise, 'Our lamps are going out. Give us some of your oil.'9"But the wise ones replied, 'No, there is not enough for all of us. You must go and buy some oil for yourselves.'10But while on their way to the store, the bridegroom arrived. The wise bridesmaids were ready and followed him into the wedding feast. Then the doors were shut.11"Later the foolish ones arrived. 'Sir! Sir!' they pleaded, 'Open the door so we can come in.'12But the bridegroom responded: 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you!'13"So be on the alert because you do not know the day or the time when the Bridegroom will come for you!The parable of the faithful servants14"You can also compare the Kingdom of heaven to a man who, because he was going to be away on a long journey, called his servants together and gave them various sums of money to put to use.15To one he gave five thousand, to another two thousand and to a third one thousand, knowing they had different abilities.16"The man who had been entrusted with five thousand used the money well and doubled the amount, making a further five thousand.17The servant who had been given two thousand also doubled the amount and made a further two thousand profit.18"However, the man with the one thousand merely found a safe place and hid his master's money.19"The master returned after a long time and called the servants to account for how they had used the money.20The man who had received five thousand brought the further five thousand profit he had made, saying, 'Master, I have doubled the five thousand you entrusted to me.'21"His master replied, 'You have done well. You are a good and faithful servant! You have proved your faithfulness in a small way; now I will give you much more responsibility. Come and share in your master's joy!'22"Then the man who had been given two thousand came forward and said, 'Master, I have doubled the two thousand you gave me to use.'23"His master replied, 'You also have done well and are a good and faithful servant. You have proved your faithfulness so now I can promote you. Come and share in my delight!'24"Then the man who had been entrusted with one thousand came forward and said, 'Master, I regarded you as a hard man, expecting to gather a harvest where you have not sown the seed yourself.25So in fear I went and put your money in a safe place. So here it is. I return what belongs to you.'26-27"His master replied, 'You are a wretched lazy servant! If you knew that I expected to gather a harvest where I have not sown personally, then you should at least have deposited my money in the bank, where it would have gained some interest by the time I returned.'28"Then he ordered, 'Take the thousand from him and give it to the one who now has ten thousand.29For everyone who is faithful in using what he has received will be given more, so much more that he will have an abundance. But those who are unfruitful in the way they use the little they have will end up with nothing; everything will be taken from them.30Throw this useless servant out into the spiritual darkness, where there will be continual mourning and eternal suffering.'The sheep and the goats31"When the Son of Man returns He will come in glory attended by angels; and He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.32All the nations will be gathered before Him and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so He will divide the people into two groups.33Those who are His sheep He will place on His right; the goats will be on His left.34"The King will say to the sheep on His right, 'You are blessed by My Father. So come and claim your inheritance, the Kingdom He prepared for you since creation began.35For you fed Me when I was hungry and you satisfied My thirst. When I came to you in the form of a stranger, you invited Me in to stay.36When I needed clothing you gave Me clothes. When I was sick you cared for Me. And when I was in prison you came and visited Me.'37"Then the righteous, the sheep, will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You or when did we satisfy Your thirst?38When did we invite You in as a stranger or clothe You?39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?'40"The King will then reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for another person who I regard as My brother, you actually did for Me.'41"But then the King will say to the goats on His left, 'Go away from Me into the eternal fire made ready for the devil and his angels, for you are cursed.42I was hungry but you gave Me nothing, I was thirsty and you did not care.43I was a stranger and you ignored Me. I was cold and you gave Me nothing to wear. I was sick and in prison and you avoided Me.'44"Then the goats will answer, 'Lord when did we see You hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or cold, sick or in prison, and did nothing to help You?'45"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, when you failed to do any of these things for other people who I regard as My brothers, you refused to do them for Me.'46"Then the goats will suffer eternal punishment, but the righteous sheep will enjoy eternal life."
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)