Die zehn Brautjungfern (Lukas 12,35‒38; 13,25‒28)

25 »Wenn der Menschensohn kommt, wird es in seinem himmlischen Reich sein wie bei zehn Brautjungfern, die bei einer Hochzeit dem Bräutigam mit ihren Lampen entgegengingen. Fünf von ihnen verhielten sich klug, die anderen waren leichtfertig und dumm. 3-4 Die klugen Mädchen hatten sich nämlich vorher mit ausreichend Öl für ihre Lampen versorgt. Die anderen fünf dachten überhaupt nicht daran, einen Vorrat an Öl mitzunehmen.

Als sich die Ankunft des Bräutigams verzögerte, wurden sie alle müde und schliefen ein. Plötzlich um Mitternacht wurden sie mit dem Ruf geweckt: ›Der Bräutigam kommt! Geht und begrüßt ihn!‹

Da sprangen die Mädchen auf und bereiteten ihre Lampen vor. Die fünf, die nicht genügend Öl hatten, baten die anderen: ›Gebt uns etwas von eurem Öl! Unsere Lampen gehen aus.‹ Aber die Klugen antworteten: ›Das können wir nicht. Unser Öl reicht gerade für uns selbst. Geht doch zu einem Händler und kauft euch welches!‹

10 Da gingen sie los. In der Zwischenzeit kam der Bräutigam, und die Mädchen, die darauf vorbereitet waren, begleiteten ihn in den Festsaal. Dann wurde die Tür verschlossen. 11 Später kamen auch die fünf anderen. Sie standen draußen und riefen: ›Herr, mach uns doch die Tür auf!‹ 12 Aber er erwiderte: ›Was wollt ihr denn? Ich kenne euch nicht!‹

13 Deshalb seid wachsam und haltet euch bereit! Denn ihr wisst weder an welchem Tag noch zu welchem Zeitpunkt der Menschensohn kommen wird

Beauftragt zu handeln (Lukas 19,11‒27)

14 »Es wird dann so sein wie bei einem Mann, der vorhatte, ins Ausland zu reisen. Er rief alle seine Verwalter zusammen und vertraute ihnen sein Vermögen an. Sie sollten während seiner Abwesenheit gut damit wirtschaften. 15 Dem einen gab er fünf Zentner Silberstücke, einem anderen zwei und dem dritten einen Zentner, jedem nach seinen Fähigkeiten. Danach reiste er ab.

16 Der Mann mit den fünf Zentnern Silberstücke machte sich sofort daran, mit dem Geld Geschäfte zu treiben, und konnte so die Summe verdoppeln. 17 Auch der die zwei Zentner bekommen hatte, verdiente zwei hinzu. 18 Der dritte aber vergrub den Zentner, den sein Herr ihm anvertraut hatte, an einem sicheren Ort.

19 Nach langer Zeit kehrte der Herr von seiner Reise zurück und forderte seine Diener auf, mit ihm abzurechnen.

20 Der Mann, der fünf Zentner Silberstücke erhalten hatte, trat vor und übergab ihm zehn Zentner. Er sagte: ›Herr, fünf Zentner hast du mir gegeben. Hier, ich habe fünf dazuverdient.‹ 21 Da lobte ihn sein Herr: ›Gut so, du bist ein tüchtiger und zuverlässiger Verwalter. In kleinen Dingen bist du treu gewesen, darum werde ich dir Großes anvertrauen. Komm zu meinem Fest und freu dich mit mir!‹

22 Danach kam der Mann mit den zwei Zentnern. Er berichtete: ›Herr, ich habe den Betrag, den du mir gegeben hast, verdoppeln können.‹ 23 Da lobte ihn der Herr: ›Gut gemacht, du bist ein tüchtiger und zuverlässiger Verwalter. In kleinen Dingen bist du treu gewesen, darum werde ich dir Großes anvertrauen. Komm zu meinem Fest und freu dich mit mir!‹

24 Schließlich kam der Diener, dem der Herr einen Zentner Silberstücke gegeben hatte, und erklärte: ›Ich kenne dich als strengen Herrn und dachte: Du erntest, was andere gesät haben; du nimmst dir, wofür du nichts getan hast. 25 Aus Angst habe ich dein Geld sicher aufbewahrt. Hier hast du es wieder zurück!‹ 26 Zornig antwortete ihm darauf sein Herr: ›Was bist du nur für ein böser und fauler Verwalter! Wenn du schon der Meinung bist, dass ich ernte, was andere gesät haben, und mir nehme, wofür ich nichts getan habe, 27 hättest du mein Geld wenigstens bei einer Bank anlegen können! Dann hätte ich immerhin noch Zinsen dafür bekommen! 28 Nehmt ihm das Geld weg und gebt es dem, der die zehn Zentner hat!

29 Denn wer viel hat, der bekommt noch mehr dazu, ja, er wird mehr als genug haben! Wer aber nichts hat, dem wird selbst noch das Wenige, das er hat, genommen. 30 Und jetzt werft diesen Nichtsnutz hinaus in die tiefste Finsternis, wo es nur noch Heulen und ohnmächtiges Jammern[a] gibt!‹«

Das Weltgericht

31 »Wenn der Menschensohn in seiner ganzen Herrlichkeit kommt, begleitet von allen Engeln, dann wird er auf seinem Königsthron sitzen. 32 Alle Völker werden vor ihm versammelt werden, und er wird die Menschen in zwei Gruppen teilen, so wie ein Hirte die Schafe von den Ziegen trennt[b]. 33 Die Schafe stellt er rechts von sich auf und die Ziegen links. 34 Dann wird der König zu denen an seiner rechten Seite sagen: ›Kommt her! Euch hat mein Vater gesegnet. Nehmt Gottes Reich in Besitz, das er seit Erschaffung der Welt als Erbe für euch bereithält! 35 Denn als ich hungrig war, habt ihr mir zu essen gegeben. Als ich Durst hatte, bekam ich von euch etwas zu trinken. Ich war ein Fremder bei euch, und ihr habt mich aufgenommen. 36 Ich hatte nichts anzuziehen, und ihr habt mir Kleidung gegeben. Ich war krank, und ihr habt für mich gesorgt. Ich war im Gefängnis, und ihr habt mich besucht.‹

37 Dann werden sie, die nach Gottes Willen gelebt haben, fragen: ›Herr, wann bist du denn hungrig gewesen, und wir haben dir zu essen gegeben? Oder durstig, und wir gaben dir zu trinken? 38 Wann warst du als Fremder bei uns, und wir haben dir Gastfreundschaft gewährt? Und wann hattest du nichts anzuziehen, und wir haben dir Kleider gebracht? 39 Wann warst du denn krank oder im Gefängnis, und wir haben dich besucht?‹

40 Der König wird ihnen dann antworten: ›Das will ich euch sagen: Was ihr für einen meiner geringsten Brüder oder für eine meiner geringsten Schwestern getan habt, das habt ihr für mich getan!‹

41 Dann wird er sich denen an seiner linken Seite zuwenden und sagen: ›Geht mir aus den Augen, ihr Verfluchten, ins ewige Feuer, das für den Teufel und seine Engel bestimmt ist! 42 Denn ich war hungrig, aber ihr habt mir nichts zu essen gegeben. Ich war durstig, aber ihr habt mir nichts zu trinken gegeben. 43 Ich war als Fremder bei euch, aber ihr habt mich nicht aufgenommen. Ich hatte nichts anzuziehen, aber ihr wolltet mir keine Kleider geben. Ich war krank und im Gefängnis, aber ihr habt mich nicht besucht.‹ 44 Dann werden auch sie ihn fragen: ›Herr, wann haben wir dich denn hungrig oder durstig, ohne Unterkunft, ohne Kleidung, krank oder im Gefängnis gesehen und dir nicht geholfen?‹ 45 Darauf wird ihnen der König antworten: ›Ich versichere euch: Die Hilfe, die ihr meinen geringsten Brüdern und Schwestern verweigert habt, die habt ihr mir verweigert.‹ 46 Und sie werden der ewigen Strafe ausgeliefert sein. Aber die Gottes Willen getan haben, erwartet unvergängliches Leben.«

Footnotes

  1. 25,30 Wörtlich: nur Heulen und Zähneknirschen.
  2. 25,32 Oder: von den Böcken trennt. – Im Orient wurden Schafe und Ziegen häufig gemeinsam gehütet. Nachts trennte man sie voneinander, weil die Ziegen gegenüber der Kälte empfindlicher sind und deshalb eng zusammengetrieben werden mussten.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like(A) ten virgins who took their lamps(B) and went out to meet the bridegroom.(C) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.(D) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.(E)

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’(F)

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.(G) And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’(H)

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.(I)

The Parable of the Bags of Gold(J)

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,(K) who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability.(L) Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.(M) 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.(N) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.(O) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.(P) 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(Q)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes(R) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.(S) 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate(T) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.(U) 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom(V) prepared for you since the creation of the world.(W) 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,(X) 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me,(Y) I was sick and you looked after me,(Z) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’(AA)

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(AB)

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,(AC) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire(AD) prepared for the devil and his angels.(AE) 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’(AF)

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.(AG)(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:15 Greek five talents … two talents … one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet (A)the bridegroom. (B)Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, (C)they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight (D)a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and (E)trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and (F)the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (G)‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (H)I do not know you.’

13 (I)“Watch therefore, for you (J)know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Parable of the Talents(K)

14 (L)“For the kingdom of heaven is (M)like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, (N)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were (O)faithful over a few things, (P)I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into (Q)the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, (R)‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into (S)the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You (T)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 (U)‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant (V)into the outer darkness. (W)There will be weeping and (X)gnashing of teeth.’

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31 (Y)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [c]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 (Z)All the nations will be gathered before Him, and (AA)He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the (AB)sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, (AC)inherit the kingdom (AD)prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 (AE)for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; (AF)I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was (AG)naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; (AH)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? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (AI)inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, (AJ)‘Depart from Me, you cursed, (AK)into the everlasting fire prepared for (AL)the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer [d]Him, 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 He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (AM)inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And (AN)these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:6 NU omits is coming
  2. Matthew 25:13 NU omits the rest of v. 13.
  3. Matthew 25:31 NU omits holy
  4. Matthew 25:44 NU, M omit Him

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like (A)ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet (B)the bridegroom.[b] Five of them were foolish, and five were (C)wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom (D)was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But (E)at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and (F)trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and (G)those who were ready went in with him to (H)the marriage feast, and (I)the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (J)‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 (K)But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, (L)I do not know you.’ 13 (M)Watch therefore, for you (N)know neither the day nor the hour.

The Parable of the Talents

14 (O)“For (P)it will be like a man (Q)going on a journey, who called his servants[c] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five (R)talents,[d] to another two, to another one, (S)to each according to his ability. Then he (T)went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and (U)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now (V)after a long time the master of those servants came and (W)settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and (X)faithful servant.[e] (Y)You have been faithful over a little; (Z)I will set you over much. Enter into (AA)the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be (AB)a hard man, reaping (AC)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, (AD)you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You (AE)wicked and (AF)slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 (AG)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And (AH)cast (AI)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place (AJ)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Final Judgment

31 (AK)“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, (AL)then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him (AM)will be gathered (AN)all the nations, and (AO)he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates (AP)the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then (AQ)the King will say to (AR)those on his right, ‘Come, you (AS)who are blessed by my Father, (AT)inherit (AU)the kingdom (AV)prepared for you (AW)from the foundation of the world. 35 For (AX)I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you (AY)gave me drink, (AZ)I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 (BA)I was naked and you clothed me, (BB)I was sick and you (BC)visited me, (BD)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? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And (BE)the King will answer them, (BF)‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these (BG)my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, (BH)‘Depart from me, you (BI)cursed, into (BJ)the eternal fire prepared for (BK)the devil and his angels. 42 For (BL)I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe 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 he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, (BM)you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away (BN)into eternal punishment, but the righteous (BO)into (BP)eternal life.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:1 Or torches
  2. Matthew 25:1 Some manuscripts add and the bride
  3. Matthew 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19
  4. Matthew 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
  5. Matthew 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30
  6. Matthew 25:40 Or brothers and sisters