Matthew 25
Summary. The Lord wants us to understand some aspects of heaven and the final judgment day. The Lord portrays heaven for us to let us know how He sees humans fitting into the holy place He has prepared. We must keep life on Earth in a certain way to feel and understand the heaven that we will enter. Each individual has their own imagination about heaven, but the Lord wants to tell us what He wants humans to be like to fit His heaven, not what humans wish heaven to be like. It is for humans to think and compare what the Lord tells us and what the mind thinks, compare them, and see that the Lord is above all. It is not the same way of thinking; the Lord looks down to see, but humans need to look up to see. The Lord gives us the Bible; read and meditate on the Word to see what the Bible is telling us. The chapter presents the parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the talents, and the teaching about the final judgment day. 1) The parable of the ten virgins teaches us that we do not know the time or the hour of the Lord’s return, but we must always be ready. No one knows the time and the hour; only the Father knows. No one can impersonate the Father and know the time; not even the Lord Jesus Himself does. The Lord Jesus never portrayed Himself as knowing all, and in the Bible, He tells us that only the Father knows. Trinity, but the Lord Jesus humbles Himself and accepts His role to be under the Father’s authority. 2) The parable of the talents teaches us that each one of us has knowledge about the Creator in our souls from the beginning, and each one of us is responsible for searching and building up our faith and using the gifts the Lord has given us. When someone comes to tell us about the Bible, we need to listen, link what we hear, and always compare it to what the Bible says. 3) The final judgment day is the Lord’s time, not twenty-four-hour earthly time. The Lord Jesus will sit on His glorious throne, and He will separate all souls that call Him Lord into two groups. One group that calls Him Lord by name and heart will go for eternal life, and another group that calls Him Lord only by mouth will go for eternal punishment.
[1]
Then the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who having taken their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom.
Comments Matthew 25:1
The parable just wants to let us know to be ready and to prepare ourselves as the Bible instructs. This parable will literally happen during a short period of time just before the marriage feast. Specifically, the parable applies strictly to the waiting period of time from the Lord Jesus’ return in the air until the marriage feast itself. During the marriage feast, that is the time when the Lord Jesus comes down to Earth; for the rest of the time, He is above and watching. Before the marriage feast starts, many things will happen at the same time (imagine overlapping of times); before the marriage feast starts, there will be many, many things happening, including the coming down of the temple.
“Ten” as a value here does not have a special meaning; wise and foolish, that is what the number represents. As the Bible uses these terms, the world is represented as wise and foolish.
“Virgins.” The term “virgins” represents those who have accepted the Lord and have been baptized in the water to be cleansed as virgins. When you come out of the water baptism, you are clean inside, not the body itself that goes in the water, but the soul that goes in the water. And when you come up out of the water baptism, you are clean, the inner that is clean; all the sins the Lord has washed away and left them in the water. Accept the Lord’s cleansing, be baptized in the water, and be ready for the wedding of the life to come.
“Their lamps.” The lamp is the knowledge of who the Lord Jesus is; that knowledge, in the heart, will be as a bright lamp to lead the way to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.
“And went.” This action represents the journey of believers walking on Earth.
“The bridegroom” is the Lord Jesus.
“Ten” as a value here does not have a special meaning; wise and foolish, that is what the number represents. As the Bible uses these terms, the world is represented as wise and foolish.
“Virgins.” The term “virgins” represents those who have accepted the Lord and have been baptized in the water to be cleansed as virgins. When you come out of the water baptism, you are clean inside, not the body itself that goes in the water, but the soul that goes in the water. And when you come up out of the water baptism, you are clean, the inner that is clean; all the sins the Lord has washed away and left them in the water. Accept the Lord’s cleansing, be baptized in the water, and be ready for the wedding of the life to come.
“Their lamps.” The lamp is the knowledge of who the Lord Jesus is; that knowledge, in the heart, will be as a bright lamp to lead the way to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.
“And went.” This action represents the journey of believers walking on Earth.
“The bridegroom” is the Lord Jesus.
[2]
Now five of them were foolish, and five wise.
Comments Matthew 25:2
The foolish ones are the ones who did not give value to water baptism; they did not consider it important to their faith. The wise ones are the ones who, when they look at the water, before going in to be baptized, put their hearts ahead and accept the cleansing of the Lord by normal water, not special water. They believe that the Lord makes that water fit to clean from the inside out. The wise ones know the meaning of that water baptism and relate the water baptism to the mercy of the Lord.
“Five” in this verse means just that some are foolish and some are wise; five and five doesn’t give us a ratio.
“Five” in this verse means just that some are foolish and some are wise; five and five doesn’t give us a ratio.
[3]
For the foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them;
[4]
but the wise took oil in the vessels, with their lamps.
Comments Matthew 25:3-4
The oil here represents the faith, simple faith in the One who gives the light for walking. The foolish ones are Christians by name, not by heart, just by the name. So many people in the world call themselves Christians but have no idea what the meaning of Christian is.
“The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps”. These followers take the teaching of the Lord, by faith, into their hearts with them.
“The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps”. These followers take the teaching of the Lord, by faith, into their hearts with them.
[5]
Then the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.
Comments Matthew 25:5
“Then the bridegroom tarrying.” Because we don’t know the time, we are waiting, and we feel it takes too long to walk along on this Earth and wait for the Lord to return; but because of the promise the Lord has given, He will return. He has promised His return, but remember that the time of the Lord is not the same as human time for life; many generations pass away, still waiting for the Lord’s return; nobody knows the time; only the Father knows.
“They all became drowsy and were sleeping.” This is the term to use for relaxation; a similar human term is ‘lazy’ and ‘lost excitement’ of waiting to receive the King.
“They all became drowsy and were sleeping.” This is the term to use for relaxation; a similar human term is ‘lazy’ and ‘lost excitement’ of waiting to receive the King.
[6]
Then at middle of the night there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.
Comments Matthew 25:6
Q: When will these events here in this verse happen as it is written? A: These events will happen on Earth prior to the Lord Jesus’ return (touching the Earth); all these happen in a very, very short time (twinkling of an eye in the spiritual time) before the Lord Jesus will touch the Earth.
“Then, at middle of the night, there is a cry.” Remember, at midnight, the time turns out to be the next day. It is a period of time when no one knows what will happen the next day: the time changes from the day you already know to the day you don’t know what will happen. At this time, as the Bible tells us, the Lord will send His angels to collect His elect from all four winds for the marriage feast; the rest of the people do not know, still sleep in their way, but the elect, the Lord comes to take.
“Behold the bridegroom.” When it says “behold,” it means always be alert; the Lord Jesus can come at any moment. Here, “behold” does not mean that some will identify the exact hour and minute when the Lord returns. From the rapture in the air until the marriage feast, that is the time which the Lord has prepared to save most of the people who still walk in circles searching for the Lord.
Additional Notes on Timeline Events Related to the Second Coming of the Lord and End Time
See also Comments Matthew 13:30 – Brief Notes on the Second Coming of the Lord. Combining the understanding from the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-33) and the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-12), we can give an enhanced timeline of the events related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth.
There are two eras before the end-time judgment. First is the church time era, which started with the Lord Jesus’ first coming to Earth (the Lord Jesus’ birth on Earth) and will end with the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth; then, the second era is the harvest time era or the millennium time era, which will start with the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth and will end with the final destruction of this Earth. At the end time, the Lord will gather the wheat into His barn, and the judgment will start. Before the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth, there will be the tribulation period. The tribulation period itself begins with the seven years of tribulation on Earth (as described in Daniel 9), which we call the primary tribulation period. Then, the tribulation time will continue until the marriage feast takes place. This stage, following the primary tribulation period, we call the waiting period. The entire tribulation period is a time of judgment coming from the Lord upon this Earth before the Lord Jesus returns.
The coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth will happen in three stages.
Stage 1: The first stage is when the Lord is still in heaven, and the beginning of this stage is marked by the start of the primary tribulation period on Earth.
Stage 2: The second stage is when the Lord comes in the air, and the beginning of this stage is marked by the rapture of the church. The rapture of the true believers occurs during this second stage of the Lord Jesus’ coming in the air and will take place sometime in the middle of the primary tribulation period itself. This rapture is the first rapture when the first group of the elect is taken directly from the Earth into the air to meet the Lord.
Stage 3: The third stage will begin when the Lord Jesus Himself touches the Earth. The Lord Jesus will touch the Earth sometime shortly after the waiting period. This waiting period starts after the primary tribulation period, and the Bible does not specify a time duration; the waiting period will end when the Lord Jesus touches the Earth (the Second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth).
Before the marriage feast starts, there will be the second rapture of the church when the second group of the elect will meet the Lord Jesus in the air before He touches the Earth. After the marriage feast, the millennium time era on Earth will begin. The Lord will select from the first group of the elect taken in the first rapture and the second group of the elect taken in the second rapture a group of chosen ones for service on Earth. This group will join other saints from before (from the Old Testament times) to do work on Earth. These chosen groups will serve the Lord on Earth. The rest of the raptured souls will go to a specific waiting place that the Lord has prepared until the final Judgment Day comes. During the millennium time era, the group of the elect who are in the waiting place, plus those souls that pass through the millennium era, will be selected, and this selection will be part of the stage called “gathering of the wheat” during the final Judgment Day.
Complementary Comments about the Marriage Feast, Rapture, and Tribulation
The marriage feast: When the Lord Jesus returns to Earth, the marriage feast will take place. After the marriage feast, nobody can be saved anymore; the door is shut (see verse 10); that is when the chance of salvation ends. The Lord Jesus returns to collect what is His first; the Father’s time starts out from this point: the thousand-year reign. The time will return to the Old Testament way, when the Holy Spirit uses the prophets to speak to the people; it will be a kingdom of heaven on Earth: Earth upon Earth, the heavenly Earth overlaps with the physical Earth (see Comments Matthew 24:29). Those who go there, to the parallel Earth, will be saved from whatever is happening around them.
The parallel earth: Imagine how humans will react when they see the parallel Earth. That will be the time of confusion; everyone will want to go to the parallel Earth, but not everyone will be chosen. When you see the parallel Earth, the wedding will be happening soon.
Understanding: The Lord Jesus will return in the air with His army of angels to gather the elect from the four winds of the Earth. Everyone will see His return in the air through a vision; then He will touch Earth, and the marriage feast will take place shortly after, when His elect ones will see Him face to face (represented by the five wise virgins).
The rapture: The Lord will receive the first elect ones when He comes in the air (at the beginning of Stage 2). His angels will go first to bring the chosen ones who have been waiting patiently without doubting. Those with no doubt in their minds are those who will be taken first, and the lukewarm (the majority of them) will be left behind at this point. If you are lukewarm, “He will spit you out from His mouth”, this is why they were left behind. Before the marriage feast starts (at the beginning of Stage 3), there will be the second rapture of the church when the second group of the elect will meet the Lord Jesus in the air before He touches the Earth.
This parable applies strictly to the waiting period of time from the Lord’s return in the air until the wedding feast. The parable applies before the wedding feast takes place; there is a length of time while this parable unfolds, and then the wedding feast will begin. When the Lord returns in the air, He will leave some of His elect ones on Earth to continue His work until the marriage feast begins. They will see the big group of people; when they notice that some have been taken up (at the rapture of the believers), then they will realize and start looking to themselves, asking what they did wrong not to be taken up; then repentance will come.
The tribulation time: The tribulation time, as described in the Bible, is not the same as human time. You can think back from when they crucified the Lord Jesus until His return; this length of time for the Lord is not as humans would measure it; this time in the Lord’s time is like a dot of time (point of time), not long, but for humans, the length is so long. When the Lord was crucified, the Father stopped the time of heaven: it was a time of grief in heaven. No human words can describe the feeling in heaven at that time; that is why the Lord Jesus was sad in His prayer on the cross (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), for the Lord was almost like He had been forgotten. Remember the Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus, when on the cross, says, “My God, My God, why have Thou forsaken Me?” And that is when the time of heaven was stopped.
Q: Why were the wise virgins not taken up at the first catch-up (the first rapture)? A: This event (“Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”) will physically happen for the Christians who will be on Earth when the Lord returns to Earth. The elect ones are already taken up: the first rapture has taken place, the Lord came in the air for His elect. There are two types of elect. The faithful ones are the first group of elect. The second group of elect are those who have accepted the Lord but are still wobbly in their walk of faith; their walk is not firm; they are still wobbly, not strong in faith. The Lord has His elect who are taking care of people on Earth. He leaves some of His elect after His return in the air to have duty among people to lead them until the marriage feast.
“Then, at middle of the night, there is a cry.” Remember, at midnight, the time turns out to be the next day. It is a period of time when no one knows what will happen the next day: the time changes from the day you already know to the day you don’t know what will happen. At this time, as the Bible tells us, the Lord will send His angels to collect His elect from all four winds for the marriage feast; the rest of the people do not know, still sleep in their way, but the elect, the Lord comes to take.
“Behold the bridegroom.” When it says “behold,” it means always be alert; the Lord Jesus can come at any moment. Here, “behold” does not mean that some will identify the exact hour and minute when the Lord returns. From the rapture in the air until the marriage feast, that is the time which the Lord has prepared to save most of the people who still walk in circles searching for the Lord.
Additional Notes on Timeline Events Related to the Second Coming of the Lord and End Time
See also Comments Matthew 13:30 – Brief Notes on the Second Coming of the Lord. Combining the understanding from the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-33) and the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-12), we can give an enhanced timeline of the events related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth.
There are two eras before the end-time judgment. First is the church time era, which started with the Lord Jesus’ first coming to Earth (the Lord Jesus’ birth on Earth) and will end with the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth; then, the second era is the harvest time era or the millennium time era, which will start with the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth and will end with the final destruction of this Earth. At the end time, the Lord will gather the wheat into His barn, and the judgment will start. Before the second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth, there will be the tribulation period. The tribulation period itself begins with the seven years of tribulation on Earth (as described in Daniel 9), which we call the primary tribulation period. Then, the tribulation time will continue until the marriage feast takes place. This stage, following the primary tribulation period, we call the waiting period. The entire tribulation period is a time of judgment coming from the Lord upon this Earth before the Lord Jesus returns.
The coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth will happen in three stages.
Stage 1: The first stage is when the Lord is still in heaven, and the beginning of this stage is marked by the start of the primary tribulation period on Earth.
Stage 2: The second stage is when the Lord comes in the air, and the beginning of this stage is marked by the rapture of the church. The rapture of the true believers occurs during this second stage of the Lord Jesus’ coming in the air and will take place sometime in the middle of the primary tribulation period itself. This rapture is the first rapture when the first group of the elect is taken directly from the Earth into the air to meet the Lord.
Stage 3: The third stage will begin when the Lord Jesus Himself touches the Earth. The Lord Jesus will touch the Earth sometime shortly after the waiting period. This waiting period starts after the primary tribulation period, and the Bible does not specify a time duration; the waiting period will end when the Lord Jesus touches the Earth (the Second coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth).
Before the marriage feast starts, there will be the second rapture of the church when the second group of the elect will meet the Lord Jesus in the air before He touches the Earth. After the marriage feast, the millennium time era on Earth will begin. The Lord will select from the first group of the elect taken in the first rapture and the second group of the elect taken in the second rapture a group of chosen ones for service on Earth. This group will join other saints from before (from the Old Testament times) to do work on Earth. These chosen groups will serve the Lord on Earth. The rest of the raptured souls will go to a specific waiting place that the Lord has prepared until the final Judgment Day comes. During the millennium time era, the group of the elect who are in the waiting place, plus those souls that pass through the millennium era, will be selected, and this selection will be part of the stage called “gathering of the wheat” during the final Judgment Day.
Complementary Comments about the Marriage Feast, Rapture, and Tribulation
The marriage feast: When the Lord Jesus returns to Earth, the marriage feast will take place. After the marriage feast, nobody can be saved anymore; the door is shut (see verse 10); that is when the chance of salvation ends. The Lord Jesus returns to collect what is His first; the Father’s time starts out from this point: the thousand-year reign. The time will return to the Old Testament way, when the Holy Spirit uses the prophets to speak to the people; it will be a kingdom of heaven on Earth: Earth upon Earth, the heavenly Earth overlaps with the physical Earth (see Comments Matthew 24:29). Those who go there, to the parallel Earth, will be saved from whatever is happening around them.
The parallel earth: Imagine how humans will react when they see the parallel Earth. That will be the time of confusion; everyone will want to go to the parallel Earth, but not everyone will be chosen. When you see the parallel Earth, the wedding will be happening soon.
Understanding: The Lord Jesus will return in the air with His army of angels to gather the elect from the four winds of the Earth. Everyone will see His return in the air through a vision; then He will touch Earth, and the marriage feast will take place shortly after, when His elect ones will see Him face to face (represented by the five wise virgins).
The rapture: The Lord will receive the first elect ones when He comes in the air (at the beginning of Stage 2). His angels will go first to bring the chosen ones who have been waiting patiently without doubting. Those with no doubt in their minds are those who will be taken first, and the lukewarm (the majority of them) will be left behind at this point. If you are lukewarm, “He will spit you out from His mouth”, this is why they were left behind. Before the marriage feast starts (at the beginning of Stage 3), there will be the second rapture of the church when the second group of the elect will meet the Lord Jesus in the air before He touches the Earth.
This parable applies strictly to the waiting period of time from the Lord’s return in the air until the wedding feast. The parable applies before the wedding feast takes place; there is a length of time while this parable unfolds, and then the wedding feast will begin. When the Lord returns in the air, He will leave some of His elect ones on Earth to continue His work until the marriage feast begins. They will see the big group of people; when they notice that some have been taken up (at the rapture of the believers), then they will realize and start looking to themselves, asking what they did wrong not to be taken up; then repentance will come.
The tribulation time: The tribulation time, as described in the Bible, is not the same as human time. You can think back from when they crucified the Lord Jesus until His return; this length of time for the Lord is not as humans would measure it; this time in the Lord’s time is like a dot of time (point of time), not long, but for humans, the length is so long. When the Lord was crucified, the Father stopped the time of heaven: it was a time of grief in heaven. No human words can describe the feeling in heaven at that time; that is why the Lord Jesus was sad in His prayer on the cross (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), for the Lord was almost like He had been forgotten. Remember the Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus, when on the cross, says, “My God, My God, why have Thou forsaken Me?” And that is when the time of heaven was stopped.
Q: Why were the wise virgins not taken up at the first catch-up (the first rapture)? A: This event (“Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”) will physically happen for the Christians who will be on Earth when the Lord returns to Earth. The elect ones are already taken up: the first rapture has taken place, the Lord came in the air for His elect. There are two types of elect. The faithful ones are the first group of elect. The second group of elect are those who have accepted the Lord but are still wobbly in their walk of faith; their walk is not firm; they are still wobbly, not strong in faith. The Lord has His elect who are taking care of people on Earth. He leaves some of His elect after His return in the air to have duty among people to lead them until the marriage feast.
[7]
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Comments Matthew 25:7
“All those virgins arose.” Notice here, they rose up with what? Are they just being alert to the fact that something is happening, or do they arise and know what is happening? There are two types of “virgins who arose” here: the first ones know what is happening, and the second ones just follow what the first ones are doing. All those virgins arose: some knew what was happening, and some of them just did what the ones who knew what happened did, but had no idea why those had done that (why they trimmed the lamps).
“Trimmed.” The trimming; remember the humans use trimming as cutting, but for the Lord, trimming means when the person cleanses their heart, the heart that is holding negative feelings in it; the heart must trim all negative thoughts, not the mind thoughts only, but the heart thoughts as well.
Regarding the time period of this parable, our understanding uses human time to interpret the Lord’s time, and the confusion arises between the two times: the human time and the Lord’s time.
“Trimmed.” The trimming; remember the humans use trimming as cutting, but for the Lord, trimming means when the person cleanses their heart, the heart that is holding negative feelings in it; the heart must trim all negative thoughts, not the mind thoughts only, but the heart thoughts as well.
Regarding the time period of this parable, our understanding uses human time to interpret the Lord’s time, and the confusion arises between the two times: the human time and the Lord’s time.
[8]
And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
Comments Matthew 25:8
“Give us of your oil”. Now is a time when the foolish virgins are asking the wise virgins to explain to them what is happening right now. However, if they are never ready, you can explain it in that moment, but it will not help anymore. You don’t live the life as the Word of God tells you, and when it comes to the point, explain to us, explain to us, the help is too late. There will be a time when people will see the Lord is coming, but it will be too late to repent. You always have to be expecting the Lord’s return and be ready; no one knows the time of His return.
[9]
Then the wise answered, saying, Lest there may not be sufficient for us and you, go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Comments Matthew 25:9
“Lest there will not be sufficient for us and you.” Right now, in this verse itself, the wise virgins do not talk about understanding or explaining; now the wise virgins turn to talk about time; in their understanding, if they keep explaining, they themselves will not have time to glorify the Lord; that is why they told the foolish virgins there is not enough time. In this place, the wise virgins talk about the knowledge. When the foolish virgins ask them to share, in the mind of the wise virgins’ thinking, if they spend their time doing that, they themselves will not have enough time to glorify the Lord. To share the oil, they must turn off their lamps, but it will be dark in that area, and the wise are afraid that there will not be enough time to share. In their mind, time is limited, so they tell the foolish ones to look elsewhere and buy for themselves.
“Go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.” Now you see why the wise virgins are wise, they can’t do but they tell the foolish ones: you can go to another who can teach and ask them to help. That is why they are called wise: if they can’t do it, they can solve it another way; they lead them to someone else who can.
“Those that sell” or “dealers.” In that time, there are people, the ones who have been left behind, who have the duty. This person, the dealer, has the duty to provide, to satisfy those who come to ask for help, which is why the wise send them to them. These dealers here, the duty they have is almost the same as a prophet, but because of the time, the Lord does not give any more prophets; these dealers have been chosen only for that time to do this work, to be as helpers (dealers).
“Go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.” Now you see why the wise virgins are wise, they can’t do but they tell the foolish ones: you can go to another who can teach and ask them to help. That is why they are called wise: if they can’t do it, they can solve it another way; they lead them to someone else who can.
“Those that sell” or “dealers.” In that time, there are people, the ones who have been left behind, who have the duty. This person, the dealer, has the duty to provide, to satisfy those who come to ask for help, which is why the wise send them to them. These dealers here, the duty they have is almost the same as a prophet, but because of the time, the Lord does not give any more prophets; these dealers have been chosen only for that time to do this work, to be as helpers (dealers).
[10]
Then while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.
Comments Matthew 25:10
“Then while they went away to buy” means they walk in their own way of life; but some, when they go away, in their hearts forget what has been told, because the things of the world sometimes act like a curtain for our spiritual eye, making us see blurred. The Lord is always waiting for all; the Lord’s patience is great to all mankind, accepting and forgiving all. When all are trying to go in, because the time of the Lord’s return is taking too long, some who just wake up and separate out from the world walk slowly, but as long as they are trying to go, they will reach the gate in time.
“Marriage feast.” The wedding feast itself is a time when all the hearts that seek and accept what the call has been calling for come together to glorify the Lord in all, as one heart, one goal, and to lift up and glorify the Lord, and to go in and enjoy all that has been prepared for the feast. The feast itself will be a celebration on the parallel Earth, a celebration for the soul, not for the flesh. Then the big celebration will be for the soul world, but it will also be a celebration on the parallel Earth. Imagine it as a city above city (overlapping each other), and those that are ready for the marriage feast, will be transfigured and enter the city above, which all can see. This verse is linked to the verse before: those left behind are looking up and see those taking up, but they couldn’t go up with them. The marriage feast is on the parallel Earth, and it cannot be fully seen on the human Earth; there are two different places, one you can see but not fully see all. A different dimension will come into effect: the heavenly dimension of material. In this dimension, some will have material almost exactly like real human material. (See also Comments Matthew 25:6).
“Marriage feast.” The wedding feast itself is a time when all the hearts that seek and accept what the call has been calling for come together to glorify the Lord in all, as one heart, one goal, and to lift up and glorify the Lord, and to go in and enjoy all that has been prepared for the feast. The feast itself will be a celebration on the parallel Earth, a celebration for the soul, not for the flesh. Then the big celebration will be for the soul world, but it will also be a celebration on the parallel Earth. Imagine it as a city above city (overlapping each other), and those that are ready for the marriage feast, will be transfigured and enter the city above, which all can see. This verse is linked to the verse before: those left behind are looking up and see those taking up, but they couldn’t go up with them. The marriage feast is on the parallel Earth, and it cannot be fully seen on the human Earth; there are two different places, one you can see but not fully see all. A different dimension will come into effect: the heavenly dimension of material. In this dimension, some will have material almost exactly like real human material. (See also Comments Matthew 25:6).
[11]
Afterward then came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us!
Comments Matthew 25:11
This verse alone refers to those who are lukewarm; when the door is shut, it will never open for those who were left out.
[12]
And answering he said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
Comments Matthew 25:12
When the door is shut, the mercy of the Lord is not extended; you will be rejected at this point; the grace time is over.
[13]
Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
[14]
For, like a man going on a journey, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.
Comments Matthew 25:14
“Like a man”. The man in this verse refers to the Lord Jesus Himself. Before He goes back to heaven, and even when He is not on Earth, He gives duty to some servants. He calls some to be His servants, and He talks to them in their hearts. As the Bible tells us, when the apostles were traveling, the Lord Jesus told them not to go to some places. And it was also not the right time, because the Lord Jesus Himself has His own chosen servants to show His mercy to all humans; that is why, in the Bible, there is a passage where the Lord Jesus did not allow the apostle to speak the Word (see Acts 16:6-7).
“Going on a journey or going into another country.” This shows that the Lord Jesus is not on Earth, but He still directs the way; some of His servants have the privilege of having a special connection to the Lord Jesus Himself.
“Called his own servants” refers to the Lord Jesus’ special servants. There is a difference between the Lord Jesus Himself calling and the Holy Spirit calling. The Lord Jesus has His own servants for His work, His special work that He wants to be done. Yes, the Holy Spirit calls, but the Lord Jesus Himself also communicates with specific servants whom He chooses to do His personal work. However, the Lord Jesus connects with His special servants through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, which is why the Bible says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven (see Mark 3:28-30). But also remember that the Bible says the Father Himself is in the Lord Jesus; that the Lord Jesus and the Father are One; and that the Lord Jesus said that what belongs to the Father also belongs to Him (see John 14:10-12). The Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus are not the same. The Holy Spirit is One with the Father, but the Lord Jesus (His Spirit) is between both.
“Delivered to them his goods or entrusted his goods.” When the verse says “delivered to them his goods,” it refers to specific orders the Father gives to the Son. These are specific orders, and that is why the Son has His own specific servants to go out and do the job. The Holy Spirit hovers over the Earth and does His work (the Holy Spirit’s work), which He also receives from the Father. That is why the Bible tells us that the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit are Three in One. The Three have duties, but all have received duty from the Father as One.
“Going on a journey or going into another country.” This shows that the Lord Jesus is not on Earth, but He still directs the way; some of His servants have the privilege of having a special connection to the Lord Jesus Himself.
“Called his own servants” refers to the Lord Jesus’ special servants. There is a difference between the Lord Jesus Himself calling and the Holy Spirit calling. The Lord Jesus has His own servants for His work, His special work that He wants to be done. Yes, the Holy Spirit calls, but the Lord Jesus Himself also communicates with specific servants whom He chooses to do His personal work. However, the Lord Jesus connects with His special servants through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, which is why the Bible says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven (see Mark 3:28-30). But also remember that the Bible says the Father Himself is in the Lord Jesus; that the Lord Jesus and the Father are One; and that the Lord Jesus said that what belongs to the Father also belongs to Him (see John 14:10-12). The Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus are not the same. The Holy Spirit is One with the Father, but the Lord Jesus (His Spirit) is between both.
“Delivered to them his goods or entrusted his goods.” When the verse says “delivered to them his goods,” it refers to specific orders the Father gives to the Son. These are specific orders, and that is why the Son has His own specific servants to go out and do the job. The Holy Spirit hovers over the Earth and does His work (the Holy Spirit’s work), which He also receives from the Father. That is why the Bible tells us that the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit are Three in One. The Three have duties, but all have received duty from the Father as One.
[15]
And to one indeed he gave five talents, then to another two, then to another one; to each according to their own ability; and he went on his journey immediately.
Comments Matthew 25:15
“Talent.” The talent here in this parable refers to the success of staying firm in faith. Another way you can think about it is: the talent is the gift that a person maintains in the soul; for example, the Bible tells us that the disciples could stay in prayer day and night, which is a gift to stay firm in faith. A similar way of thinking about it is: you start working on a Bible commentary, and not every day you enjoy doing it, but in you there is a whispering voice from the Lord telling you to continue, and that is a gift to stay firm in faith. The Holy Spirit, who stays firm inside of us, maintains this gift through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a whispering voice inside us, telling us and pushing us to do what we need to do for the Lord. (Notice that “he went on his journey,” so, in this context, it makes sense for us to understand the talent as the success of staying firm in faith and in connection with the Lord by prayer.)
“… to each according to their own ability.” This man gives the talent according to his own judgment towards his servants. Pay attention: each servant did not receive the same amount; the amount is related to the ability of the servant. If you give more to the one who cannot handle it, regardless of the amount, it makes no meaning for the servant. The talent itself, not the amount, is a gift from the Lord to His servants. Look at it another way: each individual, who receives, does with the thing they receive differently; the first one immediately goes and makes use of it right away, while the last one goes and buries it underground; now, here you see the ability and willingness of each individual. Notice that the meaning of the word talent here does not represent the goods mentioned in verse 14. Here, it talks about gifts; you cannot buy a gift from the Lord. Money has no value for the Lord; the deeds have value for the Lord, not the earthly money.
Questions and Answers Related to the Gift of Talent
Q: Is the talent in this parable given to the soul? A: The talent is given only to the soul.
Q: What about the one who receives one talent and doesn’t do anything with it? A: One word is fit for this person: ignorant. He is ignoring the whispering voice of the Lord within him. Remember one thing: the Lord never forces you to do anything for Him; He gently tells you what to do, and obedience will come into play. Do you have that obedience in you to listen and obey what the Lord tells inside of you? Obedience will keep you going in whatever the Lord has in His plan for you.
Q: Why didn’t each servant get the same amount? A: This question refers to this world; some can make more, some cannot. It is based on the determination and ability of the person. You see, you have more, but you do not see that you have the ability to make more out of it; or you have less, so you are pleased with the less you have; determination plays a big role. This place is where you can refer to your faith. We do not know each person’s heart, but the Lord works in the mind to link the thought to the heart to gain faith. The Lord gives everyone the ability to grow in faith in the Word because the Lord is the Living Word, and the Word can grow.
Q: Is the will of a person a gift from God? A: The person must seek the Lord’s will that the person has received from the Lord. Inside of you, when you find that will, the peace and joy from the Lord will overflow your soul. When you find that will, you will put all your might into doing it, and the things will fall into the right path, and you will succeed in doing it. The will touches the soul, the desire touches the mind. There is a difference between the will and desire: the will comes from above and sinks down into your soul, while desire comes out from the mind to go out to do things. But at this point, be aware of your imagination: don’t use imagination to cover the whispering voice of the Lord that is in you. A person can choose between will and desire, be aware!
“… to each according to their own ability.” This man gives the talent according to his own judgment towards his servants. Pay attention: each servant did not receive the same amount; the amount is related to the ability of the servant. If you give more to the one who cannot handle it, regardless of the amount, it makes no meaning for the servant. The talent itself, not the amount, is a gift from the Lord to His servants. Look at it another way: each individual, who receives, does with the thing they receive differently; the first one immediately goes and makes use of it right away, while the last one goes and buries it underground; now, here you see the ability and willingness of each individual. Notice that the meaning of the word talent here does not represent the goods mentioned in verse 14. Here, it talks about gifts; you cannot buy a gift from the Lord. Money has no value for the Lord; the deeds have value for the Lord, not the earthly money.
Questions and Answers Related to the Gift of Talent
Q: Is the talent in this parable given to the soul? A: The talent is given only to the soul.
Q: What about the one who receives one talent and doesn’t do anything with it? A: One word is fit for this person: ignorant. He is ignoring the whispering voice of the Lord within him. Remember one thing: the Lord never forces you to do anything for Him; He gently tells you what to do, and obedience will come into play. Do you have that obedience in you to listen and obey what the Lord tells inside of you? Obedience will keep you going in whatever the Lord has in His plan for you.
Q: Why didn’t each servant get the same amount? A: This question refers to this world; some can make more, some cannot. It is based on the determination and ability of the person. You see, you have more, but you do not see that you have the ability to make more out of it; or you have less, so you are pleased with the less you have; determination plays a big role. This place is where you can refer to your faith. We do not know each person’s heart, but the Lord works in the mind to link the thought to the heart to gain faith. The Lord gives everyone the ability to grow in faith in the Word because the Lord is the Living Word, and the Word can grow.
Q: Is the will of a person a gift from God? A: The person must seek the Lord’s will that the person has received from the Lord. Inside of you, when you find that will, the peace and joy from the Lord will overflow your soul. When you find that will, you will put all your might into doing it, and the things will fall into the right path, and you will succeed in doing it. The will touches the soul, the desire touches the mind. There is a difference between the will and desire: the will comes from above and sinks down into your soul, while desire comes out from the mind to go out to do things. But at this point, be aware of your imagination: don’t use imagination to cover the whispering voice of the Lord that is in you. A person can choose between will and desire, be aware!
[16]
Having gone, the one having received the five talents traded with them, and made five more.
Comments Matthew 25:16
Practice the trade here is a practice way to increase what you have and what you want to have. In this sense, trade is not about selling or buying; instead, it is about what can bring benefit to what they have. When trading, we start thinking and using human thought to justify the will of the Lord; don’t mix them; try to separate them out; and wish to gain more. Yes, you can go to trade to get more; the Lord has more than anyone wants, but He doesn’t give all to one person.
“… traded with them, and made five more.” Go and do trades for and get more; that is why not everyone gets the same amount. This way is another way to acquire the ability to gain things and to go deeper into the faith itself, which leads to more faith. Not everybody has the same ability; some find an easy way to make more. The trading happens between the one who receives the talent and the Lord’s servants who have the duty of giving. In that place, where the servant who got the talents lives, many have duties and abilities in different ways. This person goes and uses the faith that he has and gains more faith and brings it back to be his own thing; by his own ability, he used what he has received and gained more, a double portion by trading. He received the gift of success in faith; how to increase faith by going to trade to gain more faith; to trade the understanding to gain knowledge. Knowledge, not to explain about the Lord Jesus, but how to be the person who receives mercy and uses what he has received to gain faith that returns to be successful.
Q: How do you increase your faith by going to trade? A: By trading understanding, you will get knowledge on how to be the person who receives mercy and uses what has been received to gain more understanding, which returns to being a success. You understand many things, but knowledge is higher and deeper. You need the knowledge to use understanding, because without knowledge, understanding will stay without growth; knowledge makes understanding grow.
“… traded with them, and made five more.” Go and do trades for and get more; that is why not everyone gets the same amount. This way is another way to acquire the ability to gain things and to go deeper into the faith itself, which leads to more faith. Not everybody has the same ability; some find an easy way to make more. The trading happens between the one who receives the talent and the Lord’s servants who have the duty of giving. In that place, where the servant who got the talents lives, many have duties and abilities in different ways. This person goes and uses the faith that he has and gains more faith and brings it back to be his own thing; by his own ability, he used what he has received and gained more, a double portion by trading. He received the gift of success in faith; how to increase faith by going to trade to gain more faith; to trade the understanding to gain knowledge. Knowledge, not to explain about the Lord Jesus, but how to be the person who receives mercy and uses what he has received to gain faith that returns to be successful.
Q: How do you increase your faith by going to trade? A: By trading understanding, you will get knowledge on how to be the person who receives mercy and uses what has been received to gain more understanding, which returns to being a success. You understand many things, but knowledge is higher and deeper. You need the knowledge to use understanding, because without knowledge, understanding will stay without growth; knowledge makes understanding grow.
[17]
In like manner the one with the two gained two more.
[18]
But the one having received the one, having gone away, dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Comments Matthew 25:18
Q: What can we say about this person and about his actions? A: The one who dug and hid the money is the one who has ignored the duty towards the Lord completely; he has ignored the Lord from inside of the soul itself. When the person goes and hides the talent under the ground, you walk on the ground; you walk all over what the Lord has given you. In human terms, you can call this a blasphemous action; think of what is hidden underground. You take the talent and don't use it, which is bad enough, but you dig the ground and hide it. Who do you think you are? You walk all over it, as you walk all over the one who gives it to you.
[19]
Now after much time, the master of those servants comes and takes up a word with them.
[20]
And having come, the one having received the five talents, brought other five talents, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I have gained five more talents.
[21]
His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things; enter you into the joy of your master!
Comments Matthew 25:21
“You have been faithful over a few things.” This portion refers to small things the Lord has given, and the person rejoices over and appreciates the one who gives, even if it is a small thing. This is the way humans should be, they should appreciate everything the Lord gives.
“Enter you into the joy of your master.” The joy of the master here refers to the joy of the Lord in the world to come. This is the reward when the person acknowledges and comes to glorify the Lord deep from the soul; he will enter to have joy that the Lord prepares, and the joyous feeling of that soul will be beyond what humans can understand.
“Enter you into the joy of your master.” The joy of the master here refers to the joy of the Lord in the world to come. This is the reward when the person acknowledges and comes to glorify the Lord deep from the soul; he will enter to have joy that the Lord prepares, and the joyous feeling of that soul will be beyond what humans can understand.
[22]
And having come, the one with the two talents said, Master, you delivered to me two talents; behold, I have gained two more talents.
[23]
His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things; enter you into the joy of your master!
[24]
Then having come also, the one having received the one talent, he said, Master, I knew you that you are a rough man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering from where you did not scatter;
Comments Matthew 25:24
Q: What can we say about this servant’s answer? A: This parable relates to the servant’s answer and is not about lying; it relates to the heart that the Lord has shown mercy from the beginning. The Lord has given knowledge about Himself from the beginning. That knowledge keeps talking about the Creator, a small whispering voice, whispering, but the person chooses to ignore and hide the ear of hearing even from the voice coming from outside. This is what the person is doing; he shuts his ears and closes his heart, so his perception about his lord is wrong.
The key to understanding the parable is that everyone receives the knowledge about the Creator in their soul from the beginning. Each person is responsible for doing something about that knowledge and is responsible for growing their faith; the Lord has servants wherever we go, and the Lord will open the way to each heart that is sincere about finding the truth.
Further notes on the meaning of the talent. The talent means the ability to understand, so the Lord gives to all the ability to understand the gift that the Lord gives to that person. In the context of the parable, the talent can have different meanings for each person, but it is a gift from the Lord, and each person is responsible for identifying this gift and doing something about it for the Lord. There are many meanings for talent in the Bible, ten things it can be (meaning that the talent can spread into many branches). Many places in the Bible refer to talent, many places, and many meanings. When the Lord gives, it is never just a small singular thing because, in the Lord, all things can grow and multiply.
The key to understanding the parable is that everyone receives the knowledge about the Creator in their soul from the beginning. Each person is responsible for doing something about that knowledge and is responsible for growing their faith; the Lord has servants wherever we go, and the Lord will open the way to each heart that is sincere about finding the truth.
Further notes on the meaning of the talent. The talent means the ability to understand, so the Lord gives to all the ability to understand the gift that the Lord gives to that person. In the context of the parable, the talent can have different meanings for each person, but it is a gift from the Lord, and each person is responsible for identifying this gift and doing something about it for the Lord. There are many meanings for talent in the Bible, ten things it can be (meaning that the talent can spread into many branches). Many places in the Bible refer to talent, many places, and many meanings. When the Lord gives, it is never just a small singular thing because, in the Lord, all things can grow and multiply.
[25]
and having been afraid, having gone away, I hid your talent in the earth; behold, you have your own.
[26]
But answering, his master said to him, Wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather from where I did not scatter;
Comments Matthew 25:26
“Wicked and slothful servant.” This condemnation is the result of laziness.
“You knew that I reap where I did not sow.” This saying just wants to remind humans that at the coming of the end time, the Lord will gather all those who respond to their hearts, which tells them what it should be. Even if no one comes (any servant of the Lord) to tell that person, the voice of the Lord in their hearts keeps whispering out the meaning of this world, the meaning about the Creator who created this world. Each person has eyes to see all around them the hand of the Lord who created all things, and that is what it means: “I reap where I did not sow, and gather from where I did not scatter.”
“You knew that I reap where I did not sow.” This saying just wants to remind humans that at the coming of the end time, the Lord will gather all those who respond to their hearts, which tells them what it should be. Even if no one comes (any servant of the Lord) to tell that person, the voice of the Lord in their hearts keeps whispering out the meaning of this world, the meaning about the Creator who created this world. Each person has eyes to see all around them the hand of the Lord who created all things, and that is what it means: “I reap where I did not sow, and gather from where I did not scatter.”
[27]
you ought, therefore, to have put my money to the moneychangers, and having come, I would have received my own with interest.
Comments Matthew 25:27
“You ought, therefore, to have put my money to the moneychangers.” Here, we don’t have a deeper meaning; the verse tells us that everyone should do something with whatever talent the Lord has given us, either for themselves or someone else, not just bury it under the ground.
“I would have received my own with interest.” Interest is someone that the person has a chance to interact with and should tell that someone the good news about the Lord. This act of ministry is the interest the Lord gains back when the Lord gives knowledge to a person; the talent is spreading more branches.
“I would have received my own with interest.” Interest is someone that the person has a chance to interact with and should tell that someone the good news about the Lord. This act of ministry is the interest the Lord gains back when the Lord gives knowledge to a person; the talent is spreading more branches.
[28]
Take away, therefore, the talent from him, and give it to the one having the ten talents.
Comments Matthew 25:28
The action of this verse relates to the spiritual world.
[29]
For to everyone having will be given, and he will have over and above; however, the one having not even that which he has will be taken away from him.
[30]
And cast out the unworthy servant into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.
[31]
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him , then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
[32]
And before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
[34]
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, those being blessed of My Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
[35]
For I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;
[36]
naked, and you clothed Me ; I was sick, and you visited Me ; I was in prison, and you came to Me .
[37]
Then the righteous will answer Him , saying, Lord , when did we see You hungry and feed You , or thirsty and give You drink?
[40]
And answering, the King will say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me .
[41]
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from Me , you cursed, into the eternal fire having been prepared for the devil and his angels.
[42]
For I was hungry, and you did not give Me to eat; and I was thirsty, and you did not give Me to drink;
[43]
I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in; naked, and you did not cloth Me ; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me .
[44]
Then they also will answer, saying, Lord , when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You ?
[45]
Then will He answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me .
[46]
And these will go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into eternal life.
Comments Matthew 25:31-46
This portion of Scripture refers to the final judgment day (day here refers to the Lord’s time, not twenty-four-hour earthly time) after the millennium time has passed. The Lord Jesus will sit on His glorious throne, and He will separate all souls that call Him Lord into two groups. One group that calls Him Lord by name and heart will go for eternal life, and another group that calls Him Lord only by mouth will go for eternal punishment.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) Do not listen to man-made theories about how heaven should be and whom to fit in. It is not for humans to judge who fits in heaven. 2) Do not listen to those who claim to have authority and know what God will do. Even His Son Jesus did not claim to know all things, so how can humans claim to know what the Father will do? 3) Do not bury the understanding that the Lord has provided for you; try to find a way to make that knowledge known to others; the Lord did not give it to keep it inside. We are supposed to spread out and make branches as a tree to multiply the knowledge we have been given. 4) It is important to help people, but first, we should help our brothers in faith. Nevertheless, this does not mean pouring money only on the people. We should go and help, and as we help, we also should share the Word, which is the most important. We should always have the Word in our mouths so we can say it out right away. 5) Let the Word be the judge to all men and if you see someone that does wrong use the Word to tell them; therefore, let the Bible be the judge because if it is from yourself you will become an accuser.