 25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom, and five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold the bridegroom! Come ye forth 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 going out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you. Go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage-feast, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour. For it is as when a man going into another country called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his several ability. And he went on his journey, straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money. Now, after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. And he that received the five talents came, and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliverst unto me five talents, lo, I have gained other five talents. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will set thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. And he also that received the two talents, came and said, Lord, thou deliverst unto me two talents, lo, I have gained other two talents. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will set thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter. And I was afraid and went away and hid thy talent in the earth, lo, thou hast thine own. But his Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou newest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter. Thou oughtst therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. Take ye away, therefore, the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out, the unprofitable servant, into the outer darkness. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. But when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all the nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the 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 ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee, or a thirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, and as much as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least ye did it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me ye cursed into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in, Naked, and ye clothed me not, sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, and as much as ye did it not unto one of these least ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. CHAPTER 26 And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these words. He said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days the Passover cometh, and the Son of Man is delivered up to be crucified. Then were gathered together the chief priests and the elders of the people unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. But they said, not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among the people. Now, when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruise of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head as he sat at meat. But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold from much and given to the poor. But Jesus, perceiving it, said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman, for she hath wrought a good work upon me? For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always. For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priest and said, What are ye willing to give me? And I will deliver him unto you. And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he saw an opportunity to deliver him unto them. Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the Passover? And he said, Go unto the city, to such a man, and say unto him, The teacher saith, My time is at hand. I keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them. And they made ready the Passover. Now when even was come he was sitting at meet with the twelve disciples. And as they were eating he said, Verily I say unto you, That one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord? And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, The same shall betray me. The son of man Goeth, even as it is written of him. But woe unto that man through whom the son of man is betrayed. Good were it for that man if he had not been born. And Judas who betrayed him answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed and break it. And he gave to the disciples and said, Take, eat. This is my body. And he took a cup and gave thanks and gave to them saying, Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for the many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am raised up I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here while I go yonder and pray. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and so are troubled. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, Abide ye here and watch with me. And he went forward a little and fell on his face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me, Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What? Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time he went away and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and he left them again and went away and prayed a third time, saying again the same words. Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going. Help he is at hand that betrayeth me. And while he yet spake lo, Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, take him. And straightway he came to Jesus and said, Hail rabbi, and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword unto its place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not. But all this is come to pass that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled. And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter followed him afar off unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death. And they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two, and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest stood up and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said, Nevertheless I say unto you, henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his garment, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy. What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death. Then did they spit in his face and buffet him, and some smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophecy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that struck thee? Now Peter was sitting without in the court, and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wasst with Jesus the Galilean, but he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him and saith unto them that were there. This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth, and again he denied with an oath, I know not the man. And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, of a truth thou also art one of them, for thy speech maketh thee known. Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew, and Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice, and he went out and wept bitterly. End of chapter 26 Chapter 27 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 27 Now, when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death, and they bound him and led him away and delivered him up to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned and that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, what is that to us? See thou to it. And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed, and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, it is not lawful to put them into the treasury since it is the price of blood. And they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in, wherefore that field was called the field of blood unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, and they took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price, and they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord appointed me. Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, saying, aren't thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, thou sayest. And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, here is thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he gave him no answer, not even to one word, in so much that the governor marveled greatly. Now at the feast the governor was want to release unto the multitude one prisoner whom they would, and they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, have thou nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day and a dream because of him. Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. But the governor answered and said unto them, which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas, Pilate saith unto them, what then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, let him be crucified. And he said, why? What evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, let him be crucified. So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man, see ye to it. And all the people answered and said, his blood be on us and on our children. Then released he unto them Barabbas. But Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered unto him the whole band. And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe. And they plaited a crown of thorns and put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand. And they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spat upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe of his garments and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to go with them that he might bear his cross. And when they were coming to a place called Golgotha, that is to say the place of a skull, they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted it, he would not drink. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots. And they sat and watched him there. And they set up over his head his accusation written. This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads and saying, Thou that destroys the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. And like manner also the chief priests mocking him with the scribes and elders said, he saved others, himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel. Let him now come down from the cross and we will believe on him. He trusted on God. Let him deliver him now if he desireth him. For he said, I am the Son of God. And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach. Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, a lie, a lie, Lama Sabachtinai, that is, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood there when they heard it said, this man calleth Elijah. And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink. And the rest said, let be, let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him. And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the rocks were rent and the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. Now the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done feared exceedingly saying, truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding from afar who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Sebedee. And when even was come there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph who also himself was Jesus' disciple. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre. Now on the morrow which is the day after the preparation the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together unto Pilate saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive after three days I rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day lest happily his disciples come and steal him away and say unto the people, he is risen from the dead and the last error will be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, you have a guard, go make it as sure as ye can. So they went and made the sepulchre sure sealing the stone, the guard being with them. End of chapter 27 Chapter 28 of the Gospel According to Matthew American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 28 Now, laid on the Sabbath day as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the watchers did quake and became as dead men. And the angel answered and sent unto the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus who hath been crucified. He is not here, for he is risen. Even as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay and go quickly and tell his disciples he is risen from the dead and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him, lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring his disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, all hail. And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not, go, tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee and there shall they see me. Now, while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass. And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears we will persuade him and rid you of care. So they took the money and did as they were taught and this thing was spread abroad among the Jews and continued until this day. But the eleven disciples went into Galilee unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them and when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted and Jesus came to them and spake unto them saying, all authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world. End of Chapter 28 And also the end of the Gospel according to Matthew of the American Standard Version.