Matthew 25:1._Then shall the kingdom of heaven. _By this term is meant the condition of the future Church, which was to be collected by the authority and direction of Christ. He employs this remarkable title, that believers may not deceive themselves by an erroneous opinion that they have arrived at... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Five were wise. _Towards the close of the former chapter, our Lord specially required _steward _to be _wise, _(Matthew 24:45) for it is reasonable, that the heavier the charge which any man sustains, and the more important the matters in which he is employed, the _wisdom _with which he conducts h... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. _Some interpret this slumbering in a bad sense, as if believers, along with others, abandoned themselves to sloth, and were asleep amidst the vanities of the world; but this is altogether inconsistent with the intention of Christ, an... [ Continue Reading ]
6._At midnight a cry arose. _With respect to the _cry _I view it as taken metaphorically for his sudden arrival; for we know, that when any thing new and unexpected happens, men are wont to make a loud noise. True, indeed, our Lord _cries _daily, that _he will come quickly, _(Revelation 22:20;) but... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And the foolish said to the wise. _This is a reproof of the late repentance of those who never think of what they are in want of, till _the door is shut _against every remedy. For those who do not make provision for a long period are charged with folly, because they are careless, and flatter them... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Lest there be not enough for you and us. _We know that the Lord distributes his gifts so variously to each, according to his measure, in order that they may give mutual aid to each other, and may employ for the general advantage what has been entrusted to each individual; and that in this way is... [ Continue Reading ]
10._And the door was shut. _At length it follows that _the door _of the heavenly kingdom _will be shut _against all who have not made provision, because they failed in the middle of the course. We must not enter here into minute inquiries, how it is that Christ says that _the foolish virgins _went t... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 25:15._To every one according to his own ability. _By this term Christ does not distinguish between natural gifts and the gifts of the Spirit; for we have neither power nor skill (688) which ought not to be acknowledged as having been received from God; and, therefore, whoever shall determin... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And he who had received five talents. _Those who employ usefully whatever God has committed to them are said to be engaged in _trading _The life of the godly, (691) is justly compared to _trading_, for they ought naturally to exchange and barter with each other, in order to maintain intercourse;... [ Continue Reading ]
24._I knew thee, that thou art a harsh man. _This _harshness _has nothing to do with the substance of the parable; and it is an idle speculation in which those indulge, who reason from this passage, how severely and rigorously God deals with his own people. For Christ did not intend to describe such... [ Continue Reading ]
29._To every one that hath shall be given _has been explained (694) under Matthew 13:12... [ Continue Reading ]
30._And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. _We have also explained, (695) under Matthew 8:12, that _outer darkness _is contrasted with the light which is within the house; (696) for, as banquets were anciently held, for the most part, at night, and were illuminated by numerous torche... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 25:31._Now when the Son of man shall come in his glory. _Christ follows out the same doctrine, and what he formerly described under parables, he now explains clearly and without figures. The sum of what is said is, that believers, in order to encourage themselves to a holy and upright conduc... [ Continue Reading ]
32._And all nations shall be assembled before him. _He employs large and splendid titles for extolling his kingdom, that the disciples may learn to expect a different kind of happiness from what they had imagined. For they were satisfied with this single consideration, that their nation was delivere... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Come, you blessed of my Father. _We must remember Christ’s design; for he bids his disciples rest satisfied now with hope, that they may with patience and tranquillity of mind look for the enjoyment of the heavenly kingdom; and next, he bids them strive earnestly, and not become wearied in the r... [ Continue Reading ]
35._For I was hungry. _If Christ were now speaking of the cause of our salvation, the Papists could not be blamed for inferring that we merit eternal life by good works; but as Christ had no other design than to exhort his people to holy and upright conduct, it is improper to conclude from his words... [ Continue Reading ]
37._Then wilt the righteous answer him. _Christ represents the righteous as doubting—what they know well—his willingness to form a just estimate of what is done to men. (174) But as this was not so deeply impressed on their minds as it ought to have been, he holds out to them this lively representat... [ Continue Reading ]
40._Verily I tell you. _As Christ has just now told us, by a figure, that our senses do not yet comprehend how highly he values deeds of charity, so now he openly declares, that he will reckon as done to himself whatever we have bestowed on his people. We must be prodigiously sluggish, if compassion... [ Continue Reading ]
41._Depart from me, you cursed. _He now comes to the reprobate, who are so intoxicated by their fading prosperity, that they imagine they will always be happy. He threatens, therefore, that he will come as their Judge, and that he will make them forget those luxurious enjoyments to which they are no... [ Continue Reading ]
44._Then shall they also answer him. _The same kind of striking delineation which Christ had formerly employed is now repeated, in order to inform the reprobate, that their vain excuses, by which they now deceive themselves, will be of no avail to them at the last day. For whence comes the great cru... [ Continue Reading ]