Matthew 25:13

13 "So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

Matthew 25:13 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 25:13

Watch therefore
In ordinances, in prayer, public and private, in hearing the word, at the Lord's supper, and in every religious exercise; over the heart, the thoughts and affections of it; over words, actions, life, and conversation; and against all sin and unbelief, Satan's temptations, the world, and its charms and snares, false teachers, and their doctrines, and for the bridegroom's coming. This is the use and application of the whole parable, and shows the general design of it; the reason to enforce watchfulness follows:

for ye know neither the day nor the hour;
of death, or of judgment, or of the coming of the son of man, of one or the other; for it is added,

wherein the son of man cometh:
that he will come is certain, and that quickly; the time is fixed, but when it will be is unknown; and therefore it becomes us to be our watch and guard. This last clause is not in the Vulgate Latin, nor in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, and was wanting in three of Beza's copies, but is in most Greek copies, and in Munster's Hebrew Gospel, and seems to be necessary.

Matthew 25:13 In-Context

11 "Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, 'Master, we're here. Let us in.'
12 "He answered, 'Do I know you? I don't think I know you.'
13 "So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.
14 "It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.
15 To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.