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Matthew 25: Summary and Commentary

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An original study of Matthew 25 is still in progress. You can read notes from three commentaries below. Tyndale is the best place to begin if you prefer clear, modern English.

What the commentaries say about Matthew 25

Each commentary appears in full with its author and license. Scripture references link to the corresponding verse on BibleHearth. The oldest commentary appears last.

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Matthew 25

Tyndale House Publishers, released openly in 2023

Short, plain-English notes written for people reading the Bible for the first time. They explain what a word meant to its original audience, why a detail is there, and where else in Scripture the same idea shows up. If you only read one set of notes on this page, read this one.

16 notes on Matthew 25

Verse 1

25:1-13 This parable reinforces the need for individuals to be watchful and to prepare for the return of Christ (25:13; see also Luke 12:35-36).

25:1 To meet the bridegroom is an image for the coming of the Messiah (see Mark 2:19-20). • Details of wedding customs during the period are not known. Some think that the bride was led to the home of the bridegroom, who would stay away until the time appointed for the wedding feast. The bridesmaids, who had already escorted the bride to the groom’s home, would then wait for news of his arrival and escort him to the feast (Matt 25:10). Others think the groom may have come late in the night to the bride’s home, where he was announced. Then, after celebrating with the bride’s guests, the groom would take his bride under torches or lamps to his home.

Verse 3

25:3 While some have speculated that the oil symbolizes something specific (such as the Holy Spirit), it probably merely supports the point that proper preparation for the second coming of Christ is needed.

Verse 5

25:5 Both the prudent and the foolish bridesmaids sleep while waiting. The parable criticizes only the foolish bridesmaids’ failure to bring enough oil.

Verse 6

25:6 The arrival of the bridegroom at midnight while the bridesmaids slept further highlights the fact that the second coming of Jesus will come suddenly, at a time that no one can anticipate (24:42-51).

Verse 14

25:14-30 This parable teaches that the Lord expects his servants to be faithful to the task given to them while waiting for his return. The delay of Christ’s return will cause some to turn to evil deeds (24:48-49), some to inactivity (25:3), and some to fearful passivity (25:18).

Verse 19

25:19 After a long time: This highlights the long delay of Christ’s return (24:45-51).

Verse 21

25:21 See Matt 24:45-51; Luke 16:10. • Let’s celebrate together is a metaphor for the Father’s approval and perhaps for the messianic banquet (see Matt 6:1, 4, 6, 18; 9:9-17).

Verse 24

25:24 I knew you were . . . harsh: A false understanding of his master becomes this servant’s excuse for laziness.

Verse 29

25:29 God gives abundant grace to those who are faithful with what they have already been given (see 13:12).

Verse 31

25:31-46 This is a description of the final judgment of which Jesus had been warning (see 7:13-27; 8:10-12; 11:20-24; 12:38-42; 13:24-30, 36-43; 16:24-28; 24:37–25:30).

25:31 To sit upon his glorious throne is here a posture of judgment (see 19:28; 22:44; Dan 7:13-14).

Verse 33

25:33 The right hand is the place of honor (Gen 48:13-20; Ps 110:1).

Verse 34

25:34 prepared for you from the creation of the world: This might be a reference to God’s choosing individuals for salvation in eternity past (see 13:10-17; Eph 1:4; Rev 17:8), or it might simply refer to the Kingdom itself as a place (cp. Matt 25:41).

Verse 35

25:35-36 The deeds described here, often called “deeds of mercy,” were acts of compassion shown to the helpless (see Isa 58:1-12; Ezek 18:7; Jas 1:26-27). These good deeds are not attempts to merit God’s favor; rather, they arise from a love for Christ that results in compassion toward others (see 6:1-4).

Verse 37

25:37 These righteous ones (see 5:6, 20) are those who do God’s will as taught by Jesus, expressed most clearly in deeds of love (7:12; 9:9-13; 22:34-40; 25:35-40).

Verse 40

25:40 my brothers and sisters: This expresses either Jesus’ solidarity with his disciples (see 10:42; 18:1-14; Gal 6:10) or Jesus’ solidarity with humanity in general, irrespective of the faith of the one being helped (see Matt 6:1-4; 25:43; Prov 19:17). The use of brothers and sisters points to the first interpretation (Matt 12:46-50; 18:15-35; 23:8; 28:10) but does not invalidate social responsibility for other people in general (see Luke 10:30-37).

Verse 46

25:46 The Greek term translated eternal can mean either “lasting forever” or “lasting for an age,” in this case “the age to come” (13:39-40, 49; 24:3; John 17:3; 2 Thes 1:9; Phlm 1:15; 1 Jn 5:11, 13). Some hold out hope that the punishment of the damned will, after “an age,” be ended by annihilation or forgiveness. The parallel between eternal life and eternal punishment suggests strongly that it means “lasting forever,” since eternal life does not end (see also Luke 16:19-31; Heb 6:2; Rev 20:10).

Tyndale Open Study Notes © Tyndale House Publishers, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Reformatted for the web by BibleHearth; wording unchanged. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Read the original

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary on Matthew 25

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, 1871

Three Scottish scholars working phrase by phrase through the whole Bible. Where a translation had to choose one English wording, they tell you what the Hebrew or Greek actually says and what the alternatives were. Useful when you want to know why two Bibles word the same verse differently.

Before you start: Written in 1871 and organised around short quoted phrases followed by a dash, then the explanation. It reads more like reference notes than prose, and it assumes you have the verse in front of you.

Chapter overview of Matthew 25

What this chapter is doing

JESUS LED AWAY TO PILATE—REMORSE AND SUICIDE OF JUDAS. ( = Mar 15:1; Luk 23:1; Joh 18:28). (Mat 27:1-10)

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned—The condemnation, even though not unexpected, might well fill him with horror. But perhaps this unhappy man expected, that, while he got the bribe, the Lord would miraculously escape, as He had once and again done before, out of His enemies power: and if so, his remorse would come upon him with all the greater keenness.

repented himself—but, as the issue too sadly showed, it was "the sorrow of the world, which worketh death" (Co2 7:10).

and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders—A remarkable illustration of the power of an awakened conscience. A short time before, the promise of this sordid pelf was temptation enough to his covetous heart to outweigh the most overwhelming obligations of duty and love; now, the possession of it so lashes him that he cannot use it, cannot even keep it!

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, 1871). Public domain. Reformatted for the web by BibleHearth; wording unchanged. Public domain · Read the original

More resources for Matthew 25

These free resources come from The Gospel Coalition and BibleProject. Their work remains under their own copyright, so BibleHearth links to the original pages.