And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Truly I say unto you, this generation* shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have let his house to be broken into. Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Truly I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming’; And shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him in two, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

"Remember Lot's wife. Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps.

"While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘Look, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.’

"Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.’

"But the wise answered, saying, ‘not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’

"But the bridegroom answered and said, ‘Truly I say unto you, I know you not.’

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his individual ability; and immediately took his journey.

"Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

"After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: look, I have gained beside them five talents more.’

"His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.’

"He also that had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: look, I have gained two other talents beside them.’

"His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.’

"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strewn: And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have what is yours.’

"His lord answered and said unto him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewn: You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. For unto everyone that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And throw you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was…hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me.’

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when saw we you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?’

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Truly I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.’

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was…hungry, and you gave me no food: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.’

"Then shall they also answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when saw we you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto you?’

"Then shall he answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say unto you, inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

"And take care to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighted down with hangovers, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that live on the face of the whole earth.

"Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." And…when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, "You know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."

REFERENCES

Matthew 24:4a; Matthew 24:32-51; Luke 17:28-30; Luke 17:32-33; Matthew 25:1-46; Luke 21:34-36; Matthew 26:1-2.

CHAPTER 85