Matthew 25 - Introduction
_THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, AND OF THE TALENTS. ALSO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST JUDGMENT._ _Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, AND OF THE TALENTS. ALSO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST JUDGMENT._ _Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BE LIKENED, &C.— The particle _then_ evidently points out the connection of the present parable with the latter part of the preceding chapter. Our Lord having mentioned the rewards and punishments of a future state, in order to animate his disciples to the rigorous d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE FOOLISH, &C.— Five of the virgins that waited for the bridegroom were so foolish, as to take only a little oil in their lamps, to serve their present occasion: but the other five, being more wise, knew that the coming of the bridegroom was uncertain; for which reason, besides filling... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT MIDNIGHT THERE WAS A CRY— Perhaps the tradition which St. Jerome mentions, wherein it was asserted that Christ would come to judgment at midnight, might be borrowed from this passage; though certainly it is absurd enough, since that can be the case only under one meridian.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, NOT SO, &C.— This, says Dr. Doddridge, seems merely an ornamental circumstance; and it is strange, that any popish writer should consider it as favouring their doctrine of a stock of _merits_ in the church, founded on works of supererogation; since if it referred to them at all (which there... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY—I KNOW YOU _NOT_— This circumstance in the parable is perfectly consistent with the rest; for nothing intimated a personal acquaintance with them; and guests asking admittance with such a pretence, might have been multiplied beyond all reason and convenience: at least its significancy and app... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AS A MAN TRAVELLING— _For He_ [_the Son,_ Matthew 25:13.] _is as a man,_ &c. _The kingdom of heaven,_ added by our translators, appears to be repeated from the first verse; but the connection seems to require the version here given. See Luke 19:12. Instead of _his goods,... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS— See the note on Matthew 25:30 and Prideaux's preface to his Connection, p. 20.... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL DONE!— The original word Ευ, has a peculiar force and energy, far beyond what we can express in English. It was used by auditors or spectators in any public exercise, to express the highest applause, when any part had been excellently performed. By _joy_ is here meant the place appointed for fe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE WHICH HAD RECEIVED THE ONE TALENT CAME, &C.— This circumstance may intimate, probably, that we are accountable for the smallest advantages with which we are entrusted; but it cannot imply that they who have received much, will in general pass their accounts best; for it is too plain in fact,... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THERE THOU HAST THAT IS THINE— Dr. Heylin renders this, _see, you have your own,_and it comes nearer to the emphatical beauty of the original, which strongly expresses the morose surly brevity of the slothful servant. The language is a lively picture of the mind, and an echo to the sense: 'Ιδε,... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEREFORE THE TALENT FROM HIM— Thus Christ will strip graceless persons, whether ministers or people, of all the good things he bestowed upon them; and will confer signal blessings on them who are eminently faithful and diligent in the exercise of their gifts and graces, for his glory, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAST YE THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT, &C.— This punishment must have been greatly embittered to him by the happier lot of his fellow-servants, who were highly applauded for their diligence, and gladdened with the prospect of their reward. See on ch. Matthew 8:12. In this parable, by the man travelli... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME, &C.— Our Saviour begins here his _third_ parable, which is agreeable to the language of the Old Testament, in which good men are compared to _sheep,_ on account of their harmlessness and usefulness, (See Psalms 23.) and the wicked men to _goats,_ for the exorbitancy o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE KING SAY— The sentence passed upon the righteous, affords a noble motive to patience and continuance in well-doing. In the beginning of the parable our Lord calls himself the _Son of Man_ only: but he now changes the appellation, taking the title of _king_ with great propriety, when h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WAS AN HUNGERED, &C.— Or, _I was hungry:_ and so Matthew 25:42. In Matthew 25:36 instead of, _And ye visited me,_ Heylin and Doddridge read, _And ye looked after me:_ επισκεψασθε με, which signifies in general to take the oversight and care of any thing; an office which requires diligent inspe... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY—IN AS MUCH, &C.— This is unspeakably astonishing! The united wisdom of angels could not have thought of any thing more proper to convey an idea of the warmth and strength of the divine benevolence to man, or offered a more constraining motive to charity, than that the Son of God should... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPART FROM ME, YE CURSED— What the wicked are here represented as answering, Matthew 25:44 perhaps may only intimate that such will be the language of their hearts; which Christ perceiving, will reply to it, as in Matthew 25:45. But there is no necessity for supposing that they will actually plead... [ Continue Reading ]