Discovery BoxMatthew 25:3-10 
Context25:3 When 1 the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra 2 olive oil 3 with them. 25:4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 25:5 When 4 the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 25:6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ 5 25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 The 6 foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 25:9 ‘No,’ they replied. 7 ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 25:10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then 8 the door was shut.
Matthew 25:24-28
Context25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25:25 so 9 I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 25:26 But his master answered, 10 ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, 11 and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 12 25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 13
1 tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
2 tn The word “extra” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The point is that the five foolish virgins had only the oil in their lamps, but took along no extra supply from which to replenish them. This is clear from v. 8, where the lamps of the foolish virgins are going out because they are running out of oil.
3 tn On the use of olive oil in lamps, see L&N 6.202.
4 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
5 tc ‡ Most witnesses have αὐτοῦ (autou, “[with] him”) after ἀπάντησιν (apanthsin, “meeting”), a reading which makes explicit what is already implied in the shorter text (as found in א B 700). The translation likewise adds “him” for clarity’s sake even though the word is not considered part of the original text. NA27 has αὐτοῦ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
7 tn Grk “The wise answered, saying, ‘No.’”
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
10 tn Grk “But answering, his master said to him.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.
11 tn For the translation “deposited my money with the bankers,” see L&N 57.216.
12 sn That is, “If you really feared me you should have done a minimum to get what I asked for.”
13 tn Grk “the ten talents.”
