Matthew 25:12-15

25:12 But he replied,¹ ‘I tell you the truth,² I do not know you!’ 25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.³

The Parable of the Talents

25:14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves⁴ and entrusted his property to them. 25:15 To⁵ one he gave five talents,⁶ to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Matthew 25:20-23

25:20 The⁷ one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir,⁸ you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 25:21 His master answered,⁹ ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 25:22 The¹⁰ one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 25:23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’

¹tn Grk “But answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

²tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

³tc Most later mss (C³ Ë¹³ 1424^c Ï) also read here “in which the Son of Man is coming” (ἐν ᾗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται, en |h Jo Juio" tou anqrwpou ercetai), reproducing almost verbatim the last line of Matt 24:44. The longer reading thus appears to be an explanatory expansion and should not be considered authentic. The earlier and better witnesses ({Ì³⁵ א A B C* D L W Δ Θ Ë¹ 33 565 892 1424* lat co}) lack this phrase.

⁴tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

⁵tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

⁶sn A talent was equal to 6000 denarii. See the note on this term in 18:24.

⁷tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

⁸tn Grk Or “Lord; or “Master” (and so throughout this paragraph).

⁹tn Grk “His master said to him.”

¹⁰tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.