Matthew 25:1-13. The Parable of the Ten Virgins In St Matthew only. 1. _Then_ In the Last Day the time just spoken of. _the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins_ The condition of the Church at the End of the World shall be like the condition of the ten virgins described in the parable.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wise_ The word is used of prudence or practical intelligence, a characteristic of the steward, ch. Matthew 24:45, and Luke 16:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that were foolish took their lamps_ All watch for their Lord, but some only "the wise" with true intensity and with due provision for the watch. The foolish virgins have sufficient oil if the Lord come quickly; not sufficient for long and patient expectation. It is a rebuke to shallow religion... [ Continue Reading ]
_the bridegroom_ The thought of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church is hardly appropriate here, for in the parable the maidens, and not the bride, are the expectant Church. The thought of the "children of the bridechamber," ch. Matthew 9:15, is a nearer parallel. _they all slumbered and slept_ S... [ Continue Reading ]
_there was a cry made_ Literally, "_there_ IS _a cry made_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_trimmed their lamps_ By addition of oil, and by clearing the fibres with a needle.... [ Continue Reading ]
_are gone out_ Rather, "_are_ GOING _out_." Even the foolish virgins had not been quite unwatchful, they were nearly ready for the Lord's appearing.... [ Continue Reading ]
_lest there be not enough for us and you_ The bridal procession was still to be made in which there would be need of burning lamps. The wise cannot impart their oil: an incident necessary to the leading idea of the parable; nothing can make up for unreadiness at the last moment. This point has been... [ Continue Reading ]
_went in with him to the marriage_ Rather, TO THE MARRIAGE FEAST. The happiness of the blest is often described by the image of a great supper, cp. ch. Matthew 26:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, Lord, open to us_ Cp. ch. Matthew 7:22-23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watch therefore_ Our Lord's explanation of the parable, shewing the true purport of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_into a far country_ These words do not occur in the original, the word translated "travelling into a far country," is rendered in the next verse "took his journey." _delivered unto them his goods_ Cp. Mark 13:34. "A man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority (rather, HIS autho... [ Continue Reading ]
The Parable of the Talents, in this Gospel only The parable of the Pounds, Luke 19:12-27, is similar, but there are important points of distinction; (1) in regard to the occasions on which the two parables are given; (2) in the special incidents of each. The lesson is still partly of watchfulness,... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto one he gave five talents_ In the parable of the Pounds or "minæ," (Luke 19) each subject receives one pound. Here the truth is indicated that there is variety in the services wrought for God in respect of dignity and of difficulty. More will be required of the influential and enlightened than... [ Continue Reading ]
_went and traded_ i. e. went on a journey. The ideas of trade and travelling were very nearly connected in ancient times, as the Greek words for traffic shew. In Matthew 25:18 _went_=departed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_After a long time_ Another hint that the second coming of Christ would be long deferred. _reckoneth with them_ In order to have his stipulated share of the profits.... [ Continue Reading ]
_moe_ for more, the reading of the Authorised Version (1611), altered in later editions. Cp. Shaks. _ful. Cæs._ii. 1: " _Bru._Is he alone? _Luc_. No, sir, there are moe with him." (_Bible Word-Book_, p. 321).... [ Continue Reading ]
_ruler over many things_ The privileges of heaven shall be in proportion to the services wrought on earth. _enter thou into the joy of thy lord_ Either (1) share the life of happiness which thy lord enjoys, and which shall be the reward of thy zeal; or (2) the joyous feast; as in the last parable;... [ Continue Reading ]
_came and said_ This slave anticipates his lord's condemnation; "qui s'excuse s'accuse." _gathering where thou hast not strawed_ i. e. "gathering into the garner from another's threshing-floor where thou hast not winnowed" (Meyer); so, "exacting interest where thou hast invested no money." The accu... [ Continue Reading ]
_put my money_ It was not thine own. _to the exchangers_ i. e. "to the bankers," literally, TO THOSE WHO STAND AT TABLES, (Lat. _mensarii_), because the bankers had tables before them. This was the very least the slave could have done, to make money in this way required no personal exertion or inte... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought conveyed by this verse is true, even in worldly matters: talents not used pass away from their possessor: and the strenuous worker seems to gather to himself what is lost by the idle. Demosthenes says (Philippians 1:5) "the possessions of the negligent belong of right to those who will e... [ Continue Reading ]
The Day of Judgment 32. _all nations_ Either (1) all the nations of the world, including the Jews; or (2) all the Gentiles. The almost invariable use of τὰ ἔθνη to signify the Gentiles; the unconsciousness of service to Christ shewn by just and unjust alike; the simplicity of the standard proposed b... [ Continue Reading ]
_the King_ "Appellatio majestatis plena solisque piis læta," Bengel, who also points out the correspondence between the sentence passed on the just, and that passed on the unjust, Matthew 25:41. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a climax in this enumeration. The first three are recognised duties, the last three are voluntary acts of self-forgetting love. Common humanity would move a man to relieve his bitterest foe when perishing by hunger or by thirst (see Romans 12:20). Oriental custom required at least a bare ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_ye have done it unto me_ This unconscious personal service of Christ may be contrasted with the conscious but unreal knowledge of Christ assumed by false prophets; see Luke 13:26. Christ identifies Himself with His Church, as in His words to Saul, "Why persecutest thou _me?_" (Acts 9:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Inasmuch as ye did it not_ Men will be judged not only for evil done, but for good left undone.... [ Continue Reading ]
The same Greek word (_aiônios_) is translated _everlasting_(punishment) and (life) _eternal;_also in each case the adjective in the Greek text follows the noun the place of emphasis. The adjective _aiônios_(eternal) = of or belonging to (1) an _aiôn_or period, (_a_) past, (_b_) present, (_c_) future... [ Continue Reading ]