XXV. (1) THEN SHALL THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ... — The three parables of this chapter appear here as in closest sequence to the great discourse of Matthew 24, and are as its natural conclusion. On the other hand, no trace of such parables being then spoken appears either in St. Mark or St. Luke, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE. — The word is the same as in Matthew 24:45, where see Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK NO OIL WITH THEM. — In the interpretation of the parable, the lamp or torch is obviously the outward life of holiness by which the disciple of Christ lets his light shine before men (Matthew 5:16), and the “oil” is the divine grace, or more definitely, the gift of the Holy Spirit, without which... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THE BRIDEGROOM TARRIED. — Strictly speaking, the time thus described includes the whole interval between our Lord’s Ascension and His final Advent; but looking to the law of “springing and germinant accomplishments,” which we have recognised as applicable to the whole subject, we may see in it... [ Continue Reading ]
AT MIDNIGHT. — The hour was obviously later than the virgins had expected, and in this we may see a half-veiled suggestion of a like lateness in the coining of the true Bridegroom. The “cry” would be that of the companions of the bridegroom, or of the crowd that mingled with them. In the interpretat... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR LAMPS ARE GONE OUT. — Better, as in the margin, _are going out._ They were not quite extinguished; the flax was still smoking.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SO. — The words, as the italics show, are not in the Greek. They are, perhaps, necessary to complete the sense in English; but there is a tone of regretful tenderness in the way in which, in the original, the wise virgins give the reason that makes compliance with the request impossible, without... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THEY WENT TO BUY. — The words imply that had they gone earlier, as the wise virgins, by hypothesis, had done, all would have been well. The mistake lay in their not having gone before. It is too late, in other words, to have recourse to the ordinary means of grace for the formation of characte... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW YOU NOT. — The sentence of rejection is clothed in the same language as in Matthew 7:23. The Lord “ are His” (2 Timothy 2:19), and their blessedness will be to know Him even as they are known (1 Corinthians 13:12).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. — The italicised words are introduced for the sake of grammatical completeness. The Greek runs simply, “For as a man... called his own servants,” with no formal close to the comparison. The parable thus introduced has obviously many points in common with that of the Pounds... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS. — On the value of the talent see the Note on Matthew 18:24. The languages of modern Europe bear witness, in their use of the word, to the impression which the parable has made. A man’s energies, gifts, capacities, are the “talents,” for the use of which he will have to... [ Continue Reading ]
TRADED WITH THE SAME. — Literally, _wrought,_ or, _was busy._ The fact that the capital was doubled implies that the trading was both active and prosperous.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HAD RECEIVED ONE ... — There is something strikingly suggestive in the fact that those who had received the higher sums were “good and faithful,” and that it was left to the man who had received the smallest to fail in his duty. Failure in the use of wider opportunities brings with it a grea... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A LONG TIME. — Here, as in the previous parable, there is a faint suggestion, as it were, of a longer delay than men looked for in the Coming which is the counterpart to this.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE GAINED BESIDE THEM FIVE TALENTS MORE. — The result of the right use of opportunities could not be otherwise expressed within the limits of the imagery of the parable. In the kingdom of God the gain commonly takes another form than the mere increase of the gifts or opportunities which we call... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE THEE RULER OVER MANY THINGS. — Better, I _will set thee over many things._ The word “ruler” is not in the Greek. Here again, as in Matthew 24:47, we have a glimpse given us into the future that lies behind the veil. So far as the parable brings before us prominently either the final judg... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNEW THEE THAT THOU ART AN HARD MAN. — The word “hard” points to stiffness of character — St. Luke’s “austere,” to harshness and bitterness. Was the plea an after-thought, put forward as an excuse for what had been originally sloth pure and simple? On that view, the lesson taught is that neglect o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WAS AFRAID. — The words are those of simulated rather than real fear. That would have led him to shrink from the unfaithful service which was sure to draw down his master’s anger. The excuse did but cover the implied taunt that he dared not venture anything in the service of a master who would... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT. — The words of the master pierce below the false excuse, and reveal the faults which had eaten like a canker into the man’s heart and soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU OUGHTEST THEREFORE TO HAVE PUT MY MONEY TO THE EXCHANGERS. — Literally, _table_ or _counter-keepers,_ just as bankers were originally those who sat at their _bancum,_ or bench. These were the bankers referred to in the Note on Matthew 25:14. In that case, if the servant had been honestly consci... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEREFORE THE TALENT FROM HIM. — The sentence passed on the slothful servant confirms the view which sees in the “talents” the external opportunities given to a man for the use of his abilities. The abilities themselves cannot be thus transferred; the opportunities can, and often are, even in t... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO EVERY ONE THAT HATH. — The meaning and practical working of the law thus stated have been sufficiently illustrated in the Note on Matthew 25:28. What is noteworthy here is the extreme generality with which the law is stated. Analogies of that law are, it need even scarcely be said, to be found... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST YE THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT... — We have had so far the special punishment of sloth, but it is not complete without the solemn and emphatic recurrence of the “darkness” and “gnashing of teeth.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME. — We commonly speak of the concluding portion of this chapter as the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, but it is obvious from its very beginning that it passes beyond the region of parable into that of divine realities, and that the sheep and goats form only a subor... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE HIM SHALL BE GATHERED ALL NATIONS. — Better, _all the nations,_ or even better, perhaps, _all the Gentiles._ The word is that which, when used, as here, with the article, marks out, with scarcely an exception, the heathen nations of the world as distinguished from God’s people Israel (as, _e.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER. — The Greek is not identical with “blessed _by_ my Father,” but means rather, “ye blessed ones who _belong to_ my Father.” INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU. — Yes; not for Israel only, or those among the brethren who should in this life believe in Christ, had the kingdo... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS AN HUNGRED. — The passage furnishes six out of the list of the seven corporal works of mercy in Christian ethics, the seventh being found in the care and nurture of the fatherless.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE VISITED ME. — The Greek word is somewhat stronger than the modern meaning of the English, and includes “looking after,” “caring for.” The verb is formed from the same root as _Episcopos,_ the bishop, or overseer of the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SAW WE THEE AN HUNGRED? — It is clear that this question of surprise could not be asked by any who, as believers in Christ, have come under this teaching. They know, even now, the full significance of their acts of mercy, and that knowledge is as their strongest motive. But in the lips of the h... [ Continue Reading ]
INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN. — The words are true, in different degrees of intensity, in proportion as the relationship is consciously recognised, of every member of the family of man. Of all it is true that He, the Lord, who took their flesh and blood, “is... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CURSED. — The omission of the words “of My Father,” which might have seemed necessary to complete the parallelism with Matthew 25:34, is every way significant. He is not the author of the curse. Those who have brought themselves under the curse by their own evil deeds He no longer acknowledges as... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SAW WE THEE...? — There is, as before, an unconsciousness of the greatness of the things that had been done for good or evil. Men thought that they were only neglecting their fellow men, and were, it may be, thinking that they had wronged no man. It is significant that the sins here are, all of... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT... LIFE ETERNAL. — The two adjectives represent one and the same Greek word, αἰώνιος, and we ought therefore to have the same word in both clauses in the English. Of the two words, “eternal” is philologically preferable, as being traceably connected with the Greek, the Latin... [ Continue Reading ]