PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. Professing Christians, who alone are addressed here, are warned of the absolute need of sufficient oil, i.e. of sufficient depth and reality in the spiritual life, if they are to be admitted into Christ's kingdom hereafter. Unless the life of the soul is continually nouri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TEN VIEGINS. THE TALENTS. THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS The whole of this a, which is entirely concerned with the Second Advent, and contains some of the most striking of all Christ's sayings, is peculiar to St. Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN] i.e. in the period immediately before the Second Advent. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN] i.e. the Church on earth. UNTO TEN VIRGINS] The ten virgins are not simply Christians, but good Christians; not all the baptised, but those who make some attempt to act up to their Christian profession. The number... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE AND FIVE _were_ FOOLISH] The foolish virgins are not identical with the wicked, or the hypocrites. There is nothing insincere about them, they are only foolish and shallow. They have some oil, that is, some genuine religion, but not enough. They are like those in the parab... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK NO OIL WITH THEM] Oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit, and of inward sanctification (Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27). Here it stands for all that is earnest and sincere in the Christian life: secret prayer, faith, humility, charity, and good works.... [ Continue Reading ]
OIL IN THEIR VESSELS] The foolish virgins took some oil, but not enough. The wise virgins took an extra supply, in case the bridegroom delayed his coming.... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRIED] A hint (but it is no more) that Christ would not come as soon as the first Christians expected. SLUMBERED AND SLEPT] If a definite meaning is to be given to this detail it represents the repose of faith, the serene confidence in God, which those who have found Christ, and have ordered their... [ Continue Reading ]
AT MIDNIGHT] i.e. the time of the Second Advent and the resurrection of the dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE GONE OUT] RV 'are going out.'... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not so_ LEST] RV 'Peradventure there will not be enough.' Jerome says: 'This answer they make not from avarice, but from fear. For each individual soul will receive the reward for his own deeds, nor in the day of judgment can the virtues of one make amends for the vices of another.' TO THEM THAT SE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT] viz. the door of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW YOU NOT] i.e. because in the true sense you have never known Me: cp. John 10:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN] i.e. Jesus Christ. TRAVELLING INTO A FAR COUNTRY] viz. when He ascended into heaven. An ancient writer beautifully says: 'He CALLS His going to the Father a journey into a far country out of love to the saints whom He left on the earth, for He was more truly in a far country when He was on ea... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS (distinct from, though similar to, that of the Pounds, Luke 19:11, q.v.). The parable is intended for all Christians, warning even those of the meanest ability to use to the best advantage the talents with which God has entrusted them, if they would share in the future kingdom... [ Continue Reading ]
TALENTS] see on Matthew 18:24. 'It seems better to explain the five (talents) more extensively of all the gifts of God, whether called those of nature, or of grace, of condition, or opportunities, or sacraments. One receives five talents and another two; one has a deeper insight into God's word, or... [ Continue Reading ]
TRADED] Christians are said to trade with their talents, when they employ them to the profit of their own souls and the benefit of others. OTHER FIVE TALENTS] The talents made in trade are the good which Christians do to themselves and others by the due use of the talents with which God has entruste... [ Continue Reading ]
DIGGED IN THE EARTH] The man who hides his talent, is he who neither employs his abilities for his own spiritual advantage, nor for that of others.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A LONG TIME] Another hint that the Advent may be delayed. RECKONETH WITH THEM] viz. at the Judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL DONE] In this parable the servants having been equally faithful and diligent, receive, despite the difference of the talents entrusted to them, an equal reward. It is different in the parable of the pounds, where the servants, having shown different degrees of diligence, receive different rewar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ONE TALENT] 'Very instructive is the fact that it is the recipient of the one talent who proves the defaulter here. Henceforward none may excuse his sloth on a plea like this. So little is committed to my charge that it cannot matter how I administer that little. It is so little I can do for God... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE EXCHANGERS] RV 'bankers.' 'We cannot regard these words as a perfectly idle sentence, for they furnish an appropriate thought. These timid natures who are not adapted for independent labour on behalf of the kingdom of God, are now advised at least to associate themselves with persons of great... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO EVERY ONE] see Matthew 13:12. It is a law of the natural as well as of the spiritual world, that the disuse of a faculty finally leads to its complete loss, whereas the due use of it leads to its development and increase.... [ Continue Reading ]
WEEPING] RV 'the weeping.' The penalty is not merely exclusion, as in the case of the foolish virgins, but punishment, in addition.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST JUDGMENT DESCRIBED (peculiar to St. Matthew). Christ here speaks of the judgment of Christians alone, because that was the question which most concerned the Apostles and their future converts. That the persons to be judged are described in Matthew 25:32 as 'all the nations,' is in no way in... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE NATIONS] see above. SHEEP.. GOATS (or, 'kids')] The sheep are the righteous; the goats, from their comparative worthlessness, the wicked.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS RIGHT HAND.. THE LEFT] These expressions have the same significance in most languages. In Plato's 'Republic' Er the Pamphylian is allowed to see the judgment after death executed by the judges of the underworld. The judges sit between two gaps, one leading to heaven, the other to hell. 'After pa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING] i.e. Christ Himself, appearing in the glory of His kingdom: cp. Revelation 19:16. Inherit] i.e. receive by right of sonship.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat] Faith in Christ being presumed (for the persons judged are professing Christians), the Judgment proceeds according to works, by which a living is distinguished from a dead faith (James 2:14). The absolute Lordship of Christ over the human race is expressed... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CURSED] but not of My Father. Ye are the authors of your own ruin. PREPARED] not for men, but for THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. 46. Everlasting] RV 'eternal,' as also in Matthew 25:41. 'Woe to all sinners, and especially to those who have no pity. It is the man who had no pity who is banished to the... [ Continue Reading ]