Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The kingdom of heaven is like a ten-virgin wedding procession. The virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise, while five were foolish.

The foolish virgins didn't take any oil for their lamps, but they all took their lamps anyway. Meanwhile, the wise virgins had oil in their vessels along with their lamps. When the bridegroom delayed, everyone slumbered and slept.

At midnight, a shout went out: "Look! The bridegroom is coming! Go meet him!" All the virgins woke up, trimmed their lamps, and got ready to go. The foolish ones asked the wise ones for some of their oil because their own was running out. But the wise ones said, "There might not be enough for us and you; instead, go buy your own."

As they went to buy more oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were prepared entered with him into the wedding feast, while the door was shut behind them. Later on, the other virgins came and said, "Lord, Lord, open the door for us!" <span class="jesus-words">But he replied, "I don't know you."</span>

So be watchful because you have no idea when the Son of Man will come again. The kingdom of heaven is also like a man who traveled to a distant land and entrusted his servants with various amounts of money according to their abilities.

To one servant, he gave five talents; to another, two; and to a third, one. Then each servant went off to work the money they had been given. The one who received five talents made an additional five. Likewise, the one who received two gained another two. But the servant who received only one talent dug it into the ground and hid his master's money.

After a long time, the master of those servants returned and demanded an accounting from them. The one who had been given five talents came forward with another five, saying, "Master, you entrusted me with five talents; look, I have made an additional five." His master praised him: "You've been faithful over a little; now I'll put you in charge of much more. Come and join in your master's joy."

The servant who had received two talents also came forward with another two, saying, "Master, you gave me two talents; look, I have gained another two besides them." His master replied, "You've been trustworthy with a little; now I'll put you in charge of even more. Join your master in his joy."

But the servant who received only one talent came forward and said, "Master, I knew you were a demanding owner who reaps where you didn't sow and gathers where you didn't scatter seeds. I was afraid, so I went and hid your money in the ground." His master scolded him: "You're wicked and lazy! You should have put my money to work and earned some interest, so when I came back, we could share it together."

Then the master took away the one talent from the unfaithful servant and gave it to the one who had ten talents. To everyone who has something, more will be given; but from those who don't have anything, even what little they do have will be taken away.

That's how the unprofitable servant will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the holy angels, he'll sit on a throne and gather all nations before him. He'll separate them one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

<span class="jesus-words">He'll place the sheep on his right side and the goats on his left.</span> Then he'll say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed of my Father! Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you since the world began."

For I was hungry, and you gave me food; thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; sick or in prison, and you visited me. The righteous will ask him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?"

When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you? Or when did we see you naked and clothe you? When did we see you in need and not help you?" He'll reply, "As long as you treated the least of my brothers with kindness, that was treating me."

Then he'll turn to those on his left side and say, "Depart from me, you who are cursed! Go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, but you didn't feed me; thirsty, but you didn't give me a drink; a stranger, but you didn't welcome me; naked, but you didn't clothe me; sick or in prison, but you didn't visit me."

They'll ask him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and not feed you? Or thirsty and not give you something to drink?" They'll also say, "When did we see you as a stranger and not welcome you? Or naked and not clothe you? When did we see you in need and not help you?"

The Lord will respond, "As long as you failed to treat the least of my brothers with kindness, that was failing to treat me." And they'll be cast into eternal punishment, while the righteous ones will go into life everlasting.