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 ]