Mt 25:1-30

• 25:1-13: The Parable of the ten vergins:
• v1: at that time - this is a continuation of the previous chapter about no one but God knows the time
• v3: the 5 foolish -> took their lamps but not the oil
• v4: the 5 wise -> took both the lamps and the oil in jars (but only enough for themselves)
  
• v9: Aren't they being too selfish? Well, the oil cannot be shared because if so then no one would have enough. At this moment, it'd already be too late for the 5 foolish.
  
• v11: the 5 foolish were late to the banquet because they went to buy the oil.
• v12: the bridegroom refused to let them in.
• v13: Jesus reminds us to be prepare always (keep watch) because the day or the hour is known only to God.
• vv14-30: The Parable of the Talents:
• 2 meanings of Talent
• unit of money: 1 talent ~ $1,000
• natural abilities or qualities (as in 'talented')
• v14: the master 'entrust' the money to the 3 servants; he did not 'give away'--it's still his money (vv19, 27).
  
• v15: in the Chinese Union version it says 'according to their talents' the man gave money to the 3 servants; but in NIV it just says he gave such-and-such 'to one', 'to another', and 'to another', as if it's arbitrary;
• The servant who received 5 talents:
• what he did (v16):
  
• he went at once
• put his money to work (e.g. trade, business)
• gained 5 more
• upon the return of his master (v20):
  
• he brought the other 5
• "see, I have gained 5 more"
• what the master did to him(v21, 28):
• "well done, good and faithful servant!"
• "You have been faithful with a few things;"
  
• "I will put you in charge of many things."
• "Come and share your master's happiness."
• were given the 1 talent from the third servant;
• The servant who received 2 talents:
• what he did (v17):
• same as the first one, and he got 2 more;
• upon the return of his master (v22):
• as the first one, he also came;
  
• "see, I have gained 2 more."
• what his master did to him (v23, almost exactly the same as the first):
• "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
• "You have been faithful with a few things;"
  
• "I will put you in charge of many things."
• "Come and share your master's happiness."
• The servant who received 1 talent:
• what he did (v18):
• went off
• dug a hole in the ground
• hid his master's money
• upon the return of his master (vv24-25):
• he came
• "I knew you're a hard man,
• harvesting where you have not sown and
• gathering where you have not scattered seed
• "I was afraid"
• "I went out and hid your talent in the ground"
  
• "See, here is what belongs to you."
• what his master did to him (vv26-30):
• "you wicked, lazy servant!"
• "you knew that I --
  
• harvest where I have not sown
• gather where I have not scattered seed?"
• "you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest."
• took the 1 talent from him and give it to the first servant;
• threw him outside into the darkness, where he will be
  
• weeping and
  
• gnashing of teeth
  
• v29: those who have -> given more; do not have -> take away what they were given;