The parable of

ST. MATTHEW, XXV.

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

the ten virgins.

him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51. Cut him asunder. Literally, "cut him in two," a hyperbolic word for "severely punish." The evil servant is a hypocrite, having intended to appear orderly to his master on his arrival. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. See on chap. 8:12.

CHAPTER XXV.

1. The parable of the ten virgins, 14. and of the talents.

1 THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

1

31. Also the description of the last judgment.

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their 1 lamps, and went forth to meet the bride2 groom. And five of them were foolish, 3 and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with 4 them: but the wise took oil in their ves5 sels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered 6 and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth 7 to meet him. Then all those virgins 8 arose, and trimmed their 1 lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your 9 oil; for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for 10 yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward come also the other virgins, 12 saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said. Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

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1 Or, torches. 2 Gr. bond-servants.

1. Then. At the time of the master's return to punish the evil servant; that is, the time when final settlement is made with each soul. Ten virgins. Friends of the bride, waiting at some distance from the bride's house to meet the bridegroom, and escort him to the bride. Went forth. From their place of preparation.

3. No oil, except what was in the lamps.

4. The wise virgins took independent vessels of oil.

5. Slumbered. Rather, "nodded." This sleeping does not seem to have any spiritual meaning. It is the filling out of the parable.

6. Come ye forth. From the cloister or portico, under which they had taken shelter while waiting.

7. Trimmed. Rather, "prepared," including the filling with fresh oil.

9. To them that sell. This cannot be pressed in the interpretation. They are simply called upon to make preparation, and they cannot borrow the preparation of others.

10. Went in with him. Into the bride's house. The marriage-feast, though generally at the bridegroom's house, was sometimes held at the bride's (see Judg. 14: 10). In this parable it is thus more appropriate; as Christ is represented as coming to his church, and hence its joy.

12. I know you not. In any privileged capacity (see chap. 7: 23).

13. Watch therefore. The day and hour of Christ's coming, whether to the individual at death, or at any other deciding crisis, are unknown. Therefore, the watchful spirit is argued. As said before, our Saviour has evidently, from the coming of the Lord which was at hand (the destruction of Jewry, and spread of the church), passed on to consider every deciding crisis of visitation, and hence to urge on every one at all times a religious watchfulness. About $6,000-$2,400-$1,200. This parable must not be confounded with

15. Five talents-two-one.

The parable of

ST. MATTHEW, XXV.

the talents

16 Then he that had received the five talents | 17 them, and made other five talents. In went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

like manner he also that received the two 18 gained other two. But he that received the one went away and digged in the 19 earth, and hid his lord's money.

21

22

23

Now

after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with 20 them. And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful 2 servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter: and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful 2 servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not 27 scatter; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine 28 own with interest. Take ye away there

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25

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fore the talent from him, and give it unto 29 him that hath the ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall 30 be taken away. And cast ye out the unprofitable 2 servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 When the Son of man shall come in his 31 glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his

1 Gr. bond-servants. 2 Gr. bond-servant.

that of the pounds, given by Luke (chap. 19: 12). In that parable the wicked (móvηpos) servant only loses his pound. In this he receives the extreme penalty of being cast into the outer darkness. Here, therefore, the contrast seems to be between the faithful and the unbeliever; but there, between the zealous and the irresolute disciple.

16, 17. The first two servants were equally industrious and successful. They each doubled the amount given. Talents. This word has become the common word in English for capabilities, and this use is derived from this parable.

18. Hid his lord's money. Acted with elaborate contemptuousness toward it, and with the design of being free from responsibility.

21. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Become participator in the joy of thy lord. In Sohar, part 2, p. 7 (Amst. edit.), is this: "He who shall be found steadfast in his faith, shall enter into the light of his king's joy." 24. Hard. Harsh. Reaping and gathering from other people's labors.

25. Thou hast thine own. This is the height of rebellious impudence. He virtually says, "You have no right to more than you gave, and here you have it; " thus denying his right to his servant's labor. There is no such impudence in the wicked servant of the pounds parable in Luke.

27. The lord shows him his folly from his own premises. If he had really considered him so harsh a master, he would have done his best to increase the amount given him. Really, he had believed his master a careless one, who would take no account of his neglect; but he falsely alleges that he had regarded him as unjust in demanding more than his right. The sinner, when called to account, will call God severe; but, during his probation, he acts as if God were utterly careless.

29. See Luke 8: 18. Also see on Matt. 13: 12.

30. See on chap. 8: 12.

31. And all the holy angels with him.

This clearly indicates the final coming to judgment of our

The description of

ST. MATTHEW, XXV.

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did

not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

32

the last judgment.

glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right 34 hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from 35 the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto 37 me. Then shall the righteous answer

36

him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or athirst, and 38 gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, And when saw we 39 and clothed thee? thee sick, or in prison, and came unto 40 thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto 41 me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for 42 the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was 43 thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a

stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in pris44 on, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a 45 and did not minister unto thee? Then stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto 46 me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

1 Gr. kids. 2 Or, Depart from me under a curse. Lord. The attendant holy ones and the throne betoken the crisis further made clear by the statement in

verse 46.

32. Before him shall be gathered. All this language points to an event, and not a series of events. All nations. Including the Jews. He shall separate them one from another. Not one nation from another, as if nations were godly or ungodly in the block, but the individuals in these nations. In Greek, avrovs, not avrá. Goats, as of small value compared with sheep, are used to denote the inferior of two classes.

33. The right hand was the side of honor and favor.

34. The kingdom of light and love, organized under Jesus as its king, was prepared for man before man was created.

35. Jesus gives the invitation to enter and inherit this kingdom, because they had shown themselves his own people by their treatment of him in his representative brethren. They had not deserved the kingdom, but they belonged to the kingdom (see chap. 19: 14).

37. When saw we thee, etc. They are "the righteous" who say this, those who have been identified with the right and godly side in the controversy between the spirit and the flesh (Gal. 5: 17). They are not called "righteous," as never having sinned, or done wrong (see Job 1: 1; Ps. 37: 17, et passim). Such men can never boast of their acts; and, in their desire (through a true humility) to forget their own kindnesses to other Christians, they fail to realize that they have ministered to Christ until he informs them.

40. Unto one of these my brethren. Christ's presence and sympathy with the humblest disciple could not be more forcibly put. It should be noted that not a general benevolence is here signified, but a special tore for Christ's own brethren.

41. Prepared for the devil. The eternal fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels, but is partaken of by those whom the Devil and his angels have seduced.

45. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these least. The want of attention to Christ's brethren did not of itself condemn them, any more than attention to Christ's brethren won eternal life for the others; but it showed that they belonged to the ungodly side in the controversy between the spirit and the flesh. These acts and their absence are indications of character.

46. Eternal punishment - eternal life. One is as perpetual as the other. Punishment, moreover, implies a conscious existence.