What does Matthew 25:21 mean?

Matthew 25:21 (KJV) reads: "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant." It sits in Matthew chapter 25, a piece of Gospel emphasising Jesus as promised Messiah and King from the New Testament, and is most often read as a verse about retirement. The meaning sharpens when you read the verses immediately around it and notice how Matthew as a whole is arguing its case.

What is the context of Matthew 25:21 in Matthew?

Matthew 25:21 belongs to Matthew 25, which fits inside Matthew's wider message as Gospel emphasising Jesus as promised Messiah and King. Before applying the verse, read at least the paragraph it appears in so you can see who is speaking, who is being addressed, and what situation prompted the words.

Is Matthew 25:21 from the Old or New Testament?

Matthew 25:21 is from the New Testament — specifically the book of Matthew, chapter 25. That matters because New Testament verses are written after the resurrection and speak directly into the life of the church under the new covenant.

What translation of Matthew 25:21 is used here?

Every verse on Bible Sundays is quoted from the King James Version (KJV), the public-domain English translation first published in 1611. We use the KJV consistently so the wording you memorise on one page matches the wording on every other page of the site.

How can I memorise Matthew 25:21?

Read Matthew 25:21 aloud three times, write it out by hand once, then try to recite it from memory. Repeat morning and evening for a week. Pair it with the theme of retirement so your mind has a natural retrieval cue. Reviewing on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 30 locks it in for the long term.

How should I apply Matthew 25:21 today?

Identify one specific situation in the next 24 hours — a conversation, a decision, a fear, a temptation around retirement — where Matthew 25:21 should change your response. Pray the verse back to God for that situation, then act on it. Application is what turns reading into obedience.

Retirement Card Verse

Matthew 25:21 for Retirement Cards

A free, printable, share-ready KJV card verse. Pick a theme, download as a high-resolution image, or copy the text for handwritten cards.

For Retirement

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Matthew 25:21

King James Versionbiblesundays.com

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Why Matthew 25:21 works for retirement cards

The ultimate evaluation — 'well done.' What every retiree hopes to hear.

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Read Matthew 25 (KJV) →

How to use this retirement card

Pick a theme above that matches the recipient's taste — botanical for weddings and showers, midnight for solemn occasions, kraft for rustic.
Download the PNG at 1200×1500 — Pinterest-optimized and high enough resolution for printing on standard 5×7 cardstock.
Send digitally via text, email, or social, or print and pair with a handwritten note inside.
Reference the chapter — readers often want to look up the surrounding context. Tap the link above to read Matthew 25 in the KJV.

More Retirement card verses

Psalm 90:17

"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

Proverbs 16:31

"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."

Colossians 3:23-24

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance."

Philippians 1:6

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee."

Isaiah 46:4

"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you."

Psalm 92:14

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing."

Hebrews 6:10

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love."

See all 12 retirement card verses →