THEN SHALL THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - See the notes at Matthew 3:2. The
phrase here refers to his coming in the day of judgment.
SHALL BE LIKENED - Or shall resemble. The meaning is, “When the Son
of man returns to judgment, it will be as it was in the case of ten
virgins in a marriage ceremony.” The c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE - . The words “wise and foolish,” here,
refer only to their conduct; in regard to the oil. The one part was
“wise” in taking oil, the other “foolish” in neglecting it.
The conduct of those who were “wise” refers to those who are
“prepared” for the coming of Christ - prepar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRIDEGROOM TARRIED - That is, while they waited for him. It was
uncertain at what time he would come. He delayed longer than they
expected.
ALL SLUMBERED AND SLEPT - Waiting until near midnight, they fell into
repose. This circumstance is not to be pressed to prove that all
Christians will be a... [ Continue Reading ]
AT MIDNIGHT - Later than was the usual custom, and hence, they had
fallen asleep.
A CRY MADE - Of those who were coming with the bridegroom.... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS - Burning until midnight, the oil was exhausted:
they gave a dim and obscure light. They trimmed them by removing the
burnt parts of the linen or the torch, so that they would burn clear.
It was needful, also, to dip them again in oil, or to pour oil upon
them. This strikingly re... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE - The “marriage-feast.” The
marriage ceremony took place before the bride left her father’s
house, but a feast was given at the house of her husband, which was
also called the “marriage,” or a part of the marriage solemnities.
This part of the parable doubtless repre... [ Continue Reading ]
OPEN UNTO US - This is not to be understood as implying that any will
come after the righteous shall be admitted into the kingdom, and claim
admission then. It is a part of the parable to illustrate the general
truth inculcated, or to prepare the way for what is afterwards said,
and to keep up the n... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW YOU NOT - You were not in the company of those who attended me
to the marriage-feast, and are unknown to me. Applied to professing
Christians, having only a profession of religion, but no real piety,
it means, I do not know or acknowledge you as Christians. I do not
approve of you, or delight... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH, THEREFORE ... - This is the scope or design of the whole
parable. This is the great truth that Christ wished to inculcate, and
all parts of the parable are to be interpreted in reference to this
admonition. Like the virgins, many are professedly going to meet the
Bridegroom - the Lord Jesus C... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ... - The “parable of the talents” was
spoken still further to illustrate the manner in which he would deal
with people at his return to judgment. The words “the kingdom, of
heaven” are not in the original, but are very properly inserted by
the translators. The design of th... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE TALENTS - See the notes at Matthew 18:24. The word “talents”
here is used to denote indefinitely “a large sum,” and is designed
to refer to the endowments conferred on people. We have retained in
our language the word “talent” as referring to the abilities or
gifts of men.
ACCORDING TO HIS SEVE... [ Continue Reading ]
The two who had received most employed their money in trade, and by
honest industry doubled it before their master returned, representing
the conduct of those who make a good improvement of their abilities,
and employ them in doing good.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIGGED IN THE EARTH ... - This represents the conduct of those who
neglect the abilities that God has given, and fail to do what he has
required. This is done often:
* On the plea that they do not occupy a high station.
* That they have slender abilities, and can do little good.
* As it was in... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A LONG TIME ... - By the return of the lord of those servants to
reckon with them is denoted the return of Christ to call people to an
account for the manner in which they have improved their talents. See
Romans 14:12; 2Co 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31.
RECKON WITH THEM -... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE GAINED - Gained by trading or by honest industry, Matthew
25:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
RULER OVER MANY THINGS - I will promote thee to greater honors and to
more important trusts.
JOY OF THY LORD - In the meantime share the pleasures and enjoyments
of his palace; be his companion, and receive the rewards which he has
promised thee. “The joy of his lord” may mean either the festivals... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ONE TALENT - The design of this part of the parable is to show
that no one is excused for neglecting his duty because he has few
talents. God will require of him only according to his ability, 1
Corinthians 4:2; Luke 12:48; 2 Corinthians 8:12.
A HARD MAN - Of a sordid, griping disposition; taki... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS AFRAID - I feared lest, by some accident, thy talent would be
lost if I put it out to trade, and that I should be severely punished
by a hard master. I therefore kept it laid up safely, and hid it where
it could not be lost.
THAT IS THINE - There is what properly belongs to thee. There is the... [ Continue Reading ]
SLOTHFUL - Indolent, lazy, who had done nothing. God will judge people
not merely for doing wrong, but for not “doing” right. See Matthew
25:45. That servant was “wicked,” because he had such an opinion
of his master; he had shown that he was slothful by not making good
use of the talent, Matthew 25... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EXCHANGERS - The “exchangers” were persons who were in the
habit of borrowing money, or receiving it on deposit at a low rate of
interest, to be loaned to others at higher interest. They commonly sat
by “tables” in the temple, with money ready to exchange or loan.
See Matthew 21:12. This money w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO EVERY ONE THAT HATH SHALL BE GIVEN - See the notes at Matthew
13:12. This seems to be a proverbial expression. It means, whosoever
rightly improves what is committed to him shall receive more, or shall
be rewarded; but he that misimproves what is committed to him shall
not be rewarded. In p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAST ... - See the notes at Matthew 8:12. The spiritual meaning of
the parable may be thus summed up:
* The servants of God are not all endowed with equal gifts and
talents.
* All, whatever may be their ability, are bound to employ their
talents in promoting his honor, and in a proper improv... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SON OF MAN ... - This is in answer to the question which the
disciples proposed to Jesus respecting the end of the world, Matthew
24:3. That this refers to the last judgment, and not, as some have
supposed, to the destruction of Jerusalem, appears:
* From the fact that it was in answer to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEFORE HIM ... - At his coming to judgment the world will be
burned up, 2 Peter 3:10, 2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 20:11. The dead in
Christ that is, all true Christians - will be raised up from their
graves, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The living will be changed - i. e., will
be made like the glorified b... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SET THE SHEEP ... - By “the sheep” are denoted, here, the
righteous. The name is given to them because the sheep is an emblem of
innocence and harmlessness. See John 10:7, John 10:14, John 10:27;
Psalms 100:3; Psalms 74:1; Psalms 23:1.
ON THE RIGHT HAND - The right hand is the place of honor,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING - That is, the Lord Jesus, the King of Zion and of the
universe, now acting as Judge, Luke 19:38; John 18:37; Revelation
17:14; Revelation 19:16.
BLESSED OF MY FATHER - Made happy or raised to felicity by my Father.
See the notes at Matthew 5:3.
INHERIT THE KINGDOM - Receive “as heirs” the... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS AN HUNGERED - The union between Christ and his people is the
most tender and endearing of all connections. It is represented by the
closest unions of which we have knowledge, John 15:4; Ephesians 5:23;
1 Corinthians 6:15. This is a union - not physical, but moral; a union
of feelings, interest... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS ... - This answer is indicative of humility -
a deep sense of their being unworthy such commendation. They will feel
that their poor acts of kindness have come so far short of what they
should have been that they have no claim to praise or reward. It is
not, however, to be s... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE - One of the obscurest, the least known, the
poorest, the most despised and afflicted.
MY BRETHREN - Either those who are Christians, whom he condescends to
call brethren, or those who are afflicted, poor, and persecuted, who
are his brethren and companions in suffering, a... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE LEFT HAND - The wicked.
YE CURSED - That is, you who are devoted to destruction, whose
characters deserve everlasting punishment, and who are about to enter
into it. “To curse” is the opposite of “to bless.” It implies
a negation of all the blessings of heaven, and a positive infliction
of e... [ Continue Reading ]
INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT ... - By not doing good to the
“followers” of Christ, they showed that they had no real love to
Him. By not doing good to the poor and needy, to the stranger and the
prisoner, they showed that they had not his spirit, and were not like
him, and were unfit for his kingdom. L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE SHALL GO AWAY - These “persons.” Many, holding the
doctrine of universal salvation have contended that God would punish
sin only. Christ says that “those on his left hand,” shall go away
- not “sins,” but “sinners.” Besides, sin, as an abstract
thing, cannot be punished. Sin is nothing but... [ Continue Reading ]