Matthew 24:36-25:13

International Standard Version

The Unknown Day and Hour of Messiah’s Return^(A)

³⁶ “No one knows when that day and hour will come^[a]—neither the heavenly angels nor the Son,^[b] but only the Father, ³⁷ because just as it was in Noah’s time, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. ³⁸ In those days before the flood, people^[c] were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. ³⁹ They were unaware of what was happening^[d] until the flood came and swept all of them away. That’s how it will be when the Son of Man appears. ⁴⁰ At that time, two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain^[e] at the mill. One will be taken, and one will be left behind.

⁴² “So keep on watching, because you don’t know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But be sure of this: if the owner of the house had known when during^[f] the night the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you are not expecting.”

The Faithful or the Wicked Servant^(B)

⁴⁵ “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others^[g] their food at the right time? ⁴⁶ How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! ⁴⁷ I tell all of you^[h] with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property.

⁴⁸ “But if that wicked servant says to himself,^[i] ‘My master has been delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunks, ⁵⁰ that servant’s master will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at an hour that he doesn’t know. ⁵¹ Then his master^[j] will punish him severely^[k] and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”^[l]

The Parable about the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “At that time, the kingdom from^[m] heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids^[n] who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.^{[o] 2} Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, ³ because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn’t take any oil with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down. ⁶ But at midnight there came a shout: ‘The groom is here! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all the bridesmaids^[p] woke up and got their lamps ready.

⁸ “But the foolish ones told the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!’

⁹ “But the wise ones replied, ‘No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You’d better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed. ¹¹ Later, the other bridesmaids^[q] arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘I tell all of you^[r] with certainty, I don’t know you!’ ¹³ So keep on watching, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”^[s]