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Matthew 25:1. Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:2. Of these, five were wise and five were foolish. Matthew 25:3. The foolish ones took their lamps and took no oil with them. Matthew 25:4. The wise, together with their lamps, took oil in their vessels. Matthew 25:5. And as the groom slowed down, everyone dozed off and fell asleep. Under the image of virgins, the Lord offers a parable about alms, so that, since virginity is of great importance, someone, having preserved virginity, would not neglect other deeds. Know that if you do not give alms, even if you were a virgin, you will be cast out along with the fornicators. And rightly, another is ejected, who was a virgin, but not merciful and hard-hearted. The fornicator is overcome by a strong, natural passion, while the unmerciful is overcome by money. But the weaker the enemy, the less deserving of forgiveness is the one defeated by the passion of avarice. The lover of money is also “unreasonable” because he has overcome natural carnal inflammation, and he himself is defeated by a weaker evil - money. The dream means death, and the slowdown of the groom indicates that the second coming will not come soon. Matthew 25:6. But at midnight a cry was heard: here is the groom coming, go out to meet him. Matthew 25:7. Then all the virgins stood up and trimmed their lamps. Matthew 25:8. But the foolish said to the wise, Give us your oil, for our lamps are going out. Matthew 25:9. And the wise answered: so that there is no shortage for both us and you, you better go to those who sell and buy for yourself. Matthew 25:10. And when they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut; Matthew 25:11. Afterwards the other virgins came and said: Lord! God! open to us. Matthew 25:12. He answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Matthew 25:13. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come. He says: “the scream came in the middle of the night.” This shows that the Lord will come unexpectedly, since at midnight we sleep in a deep sleep. Comes when screaming; this means: at the second coming the trumpet will sound. Lamps are our souls. Especially the mind of everyone is a lamp: it burns when it has the oil of good deeds and alms. The virgins are truly foolish simply because they were looking for oil when it was no longer time to receive it. The wise say: “lest there be a lack in both us and you,” this means: the neighbor’s virtues are barely enough to justify himself, but for me they are useless. Each can be justified only by his own works, and not by the works of another. The foolish go to those who sell, that is, the poor; this means; they repented that they did not give alms. Only now do they learn that we must receive oil from the poor. Therefore, the words that they went to the sellers to buy oil mean that in their thoughts they went to the poor and began to reflect on what a good deed alms is. But the door was already locked for them, for after real life there is no time for repentance and action. As a result of this, the Lord says to them: “I do not know you,” because, loving and merciful, He does not know the merciless; and indeed, how can He know those who are alien to Him and unlike Him? Know also that every soul had a lamp and light from God and that everyone rises to meet the Lord, since everyone wants to meet Him and unite with Him. However, while light and illumination are given by God, wise souls themselves add oil to it through good deeds, and foolish souls who left their lamps without oil are rejected as not having good deeds that could kindle the light that is in them. So, if we do not do good, then we extinguish the light of God within ourselves. Matthew 25:14. For He will act like a man who, going to a foreign country, called his servants and entrusted them with his property: Matthew 25:15. and to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his strength; and immediately set off. Matthew 25:16. He who received five talents went and put them to work and acquired another five talents; Matthew 25:17. in the same way, the one who received two talents acquired another two; Matthew 25:18. He who received one talent went and buried it in the ground and hid his master’s money. Matthew 25:19. After a long time, the master of those slaves comes and demands an account from them. Having said above that “you do not know the day when the Lord will come,” the Savior also adds a parable, showing that He will come suddenly. For the Lord, like a man setting out on a journey, called His servants and entrusted them with this and that. Christ, who became man for our sake, is called departing, either because he ascended into heaven, or because he endures for a long time and does not suddenly demand from us, but expects. His servants are those who have been entrusted with the ministry of the word, such as bishops, priests, deacons and all who have received spiritual gifts, some greater, others lesser, each according to his strength, that is, according to the measure of faith and purity. For God will put His gift for me into that vessel, whichever I present to Him: if I present a small vessel, then He will put a small gift, and if a large vessel, then a great gift. He who received the five talents immediately went away and began to work. Pay attention to his zeal: he neglected nothing, but immediately set to work, doubling what he received. The gift given to him is doubled by the one who, having received either the gift of speech, or wealth, or power from kings, or some other knowledge and ability, benefits not only himself, but tries to be useful for others. On the contrary, one who has buried talent in the ground is one who thinks only about his own benefit, and not about the benefit of others; and he will be condemned. Even if you see a gifted and impetuous person who uses his talents for evil, for his own benefit, for deception and for sensual objects, consider him one who buried his talent in the ground, that is, in earthly objects. After a long time, the one who gave his silver comes, that is, either divine words, for “the words of the Lord are silver ... molten” (Psalm 11:7), or some other gift that elevates and glorifies the person who has it, and demands an account of what he received. Matthew 25:20. And having received five talents, he came and brought another five talents and said: Master! you gave me five talents; Behold, I acquired another five talents with them. Matthew 25:21. His master said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in small things, I will put you over many things; enter into the joy of your master. Matthew 25:22. The one who had received two talents also came up and said: Master! you gave me two talents; behold, I acquired the other two talents with them. Matthew 25:23. His master said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in small things, I will put you over many things; enter into the joy of your master. Matthew 25:24. The one who had received one talent came up and said: Master! I knew you that you were a cruel man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, Matthew 25:25. and, being afraid, you went and hid your talent in the ground; here's yours. Matthew 25:26. His master answered him: “You wicked and lazy servant!” You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter; Matthew 25:27. Therefore, you should have given my silver to the merchants, and when I came, I would have received mine with profit; Matthew 25:28. So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents, Matthew 25:29. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have an abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away; Matthew 25:30. and throw the worthless slave into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Having said this, he exclaimed: whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! Both, who worked on what was given, are equally praised by the master; each of them hears: “well done, good servant and faithful.” By the name of good, we generally mean a person who loves humanity and is generous, who extends his goodness to his neighbors. Those who prove faithful in little are placed above much; for although we will be rewarded with gifts here, these gifts are insignificant in comparison with future benefits. The joy of the Lord is that unceasing joy that God has, “rejoicing,” as David says, “in His works” (Ps. 103:31). So the saints rejoice over their deeds, while sinners grieve and repent over theirs. The saints also rejoice that they have such a rich Lord. Note that both the one who received five talents and the one who received two talents are awarded the same benefits; therefore, the one who received a small thing will receive equal honor with the one who received and accomplished a great thing, if he uses the grace given to him, no matter how small, for good. For everyone, for the sake of what he has received, is highly revered only if he has used what he has received properly. Prudent slaves are like that, but a bad and lazy slave responds differently, in the way that is characteristic of him. He calls the master cruel, just as many teachers now say: it is cruel to demand obedience from people in whom God has not placed obedience and has not instilled obedience. For this is what is signified by the words: “you reap where you did not sow,” that is: in whom you did not instill obedience, you demand obedience from him. By calling the master cruel, the slave condemns himself. For if the master is cruel, then the slave should try even harder, like one who has a cruel and unmerciful master, since if he demands someone else’s, then even more so he will demand his own. Therefore, you also had to multiply what you received and form disciples from whom the Lord would demand what is due. The disciples are called traders because they pass on or do not pass on the word to others. He demands from them interest, that is, evidence of deeds, for the student, receiving teaching from the teacher, has it himself, and passes it on to others intact, and adds to it interest, that is, good deeds. So, the gift is taken away from the wicked and lazy slave. Whoever, having accepted a gift in order to benefit others, does not use it for this purpose loses this gift; and he who shows greater diligence will acquire a greater gift. For to the one who has zeal, great grace will be given and will abound, but from the one who does not have zeal, the gift that he apparently has will be taken away, since whoever does not exercise and does not care about multiplying the gift loses it and only has it apparently, but in reality he has ruined it through his laziness and negligence. Matthew 25:31. When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory, Matthew 25:32. and all nations will be gathered before Him; and will separate one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; Matthew 25:33. and He will put the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. Since the first coming of the Lord was not glorious and was accompanied by humiliation, He says about the second: “when He comes in His glory.” For the second time He will come with glory and with angels serving Him. First of all, the Lord separates the saints from sinners, freeing the former from torment, and then, having installed them, He will speak to them. He calls the saints sheep because of their meekness and because they bring us fruits and benefits, like sheep, and give us a wave, that is, a divine and spiritual cover, as well as milk, that is, spiritual food. He calls sinners goats, because they too walk along rapids; they are disorderly and fruitless, like goats. Matthew 25:34. Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25:35. For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; Matthew 25:36. I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Matthew 25:37. Then the righteous will answer Him: Lord! when did we see you hungry and feed you? or to the thirsty and gave them something to drink? Matthew 25:38. when did we see you as a stranger and accept you? or naked and clothed? Matthew 25:39. When did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? Matthew 25:40. And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me.” The Lord rewards and punishes not before reasoning, because He loves mankind, and by this He teaches us that we should not punish before examining the matter. Thus, after the trial, those punished will be even more unrequited. He calls the saints blessed, because they are accepted by the Father. The Lord calls them heirs of the Kingdom in order to show that God makes them partakers of His glory, as His children. For he did not say: “Come,” but “inherit,” as it were, some fatherly property. He calls either His disciples or all the poor in general lesser brothers, since everyone who is poor is Christ’s brother because Christ spent His life in poverty. Notice here the justice of God, how the Lord praises the saints. Notice also their good-naturedness, how out of modesty they do not admit that they fed the Lord. But the Lord attributes to Himself what they did for the poor. Matthew 25:41. Then He will also say to those on the left hand: Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:42. For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; Matthew 25:43. I was a stranger, and they did not accept Me; I was naked, and they did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and they did not visit Me. Matthew 25:44. Then they too will answer Him: Lord! When did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve You? Matthew 25:45. Then he will answer them, “Truly I say to you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matthew 25:46. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. The Lord sends those standing on their feet into the fire that is prepared for the devil. Since demons are merciless and are unfriendly and hostile towards us, those people who have the same property and have been cursed for their deeds are accordingly awarded the same punishment. Note that God did not prepare fiery torment for people and did not prepare punishment for us, but for the devil, but I make myself deserving of punishment. Tremble, man, imagining that these people are being sent to torment not because they are fornicators or murderers or predators, not because they have committed any other atrocity, but because they have not done any good. For if you look carefully, then the one who has a lot and, however, does not show mercy, even if he clearly did not do any harm to his neighbor, will turn out to be a predator. Everything that he has more than his due, he steals from those who demand, if they do not receive from him; for if he had separated it for general use, they would not have needed, but now, since he has locked up his surplus and appropriated it for himself, they are in need. Thus, the unmerciful is a kidnapper, for he offends as many as he can do good and does not do good to many. And such people will go into eternal and never-ending torment, but the righteous will go into eternal life. Just as saints have unceasing joy, so sinners have unceasing torment; although Origen talks idle talk, saying that there is supposedly an end to punishment, that sinners will not suffer forever, that the time will come when, having been cleansed through torment, they will move to the place where the righteous are, but this fable is clearly exposed here, in the words of the Lord. The Lord speaks of eternal punishment, that is, incessant, for he compares the righteous with sheep, and sinners with goats. In fact, just as a goat can never become a sheep, so a sinner in the next century will never be cleansed and will not be righteous. Pitch darkness, being removed from the light of the Divine, therefore constitutes the most severe torment. One can imagine the following reason for this. Having moved away from the light of truth, the sinner is already in darkness in this life, but since there is still hope for conversion, for this reason this darkness is not pitch darkness. After death, there will be a review of his deeds, and if he has not repented here, then total darkness surrounds him there, for then there is no longer any hope of conversion, and a complete deprivation of divine blessings ensues. While the sinner is here, although he receives a little of divine benefits - I’m talking about sensory benefits, he is still a servant of God, because he lives in the house of God, among God’s creations, nourished and preserved by God. And then he is completely separated from God, having no participation in any good things: this is darkness, called outer darkness, in comparison with the darkness here, which is not outer darkness, when the sinner is not completely cut off. So, avoid mercy and do alms both sensually and especially spiritually. Feed Christ, who hungers for our salvation. However, if you also feed and give drink to the one who is hungry and thirsty for teaching, then even then you have fed and given Christ to drink. For the faith that lives in a Christian is Christ, and faith is nourished and grows through teaching. If you also see someone strange, that is, someone who has moved away from the Kingdom of Heaven, then bring him along with you; in other words: enter heaven with him yourself, and lead him in, so that, while preaching to others, you yourself do not prove unworthy. And if someone has taken off the incorruptibility garment that he had through baptism and is naked, then clothe him, and “accept him who faints in the faith,” as Paul says, “...” (Rom. 14:1); visit the prisoner in this dark body, giving him instruction, like some kind of light. Perform all these types of love both physically and especially spiritually: since we consist of two parts - the soul and the body, then deeds of love can be performed in two ways.