Modern commentators of repute (including Calvin) treat the story of the Pounds (Lk 19'!-^') as a variant of the parable of the Talents (Mt 2514-30) . Qjy^ prevailing theories on the origin of the Gospels as we have them tend to the con- firmation~of this view. In Mt. the jjarable appears as part of the prophetic discourse delivered at Jerusalem, when days of disaster were impend- ing, and our Lord's absence from this mortal scene became naturally an impressive theme (see art. Talents). Here in Lk., while activity during that absence is enjoined as a duty, colour is added to the story from local reminiscence. Jericho (v.') owed its magnificent palace to the son of Herod the Great, Archelaus, facts from whose history seem clearly drawn upon in the narrative. The Herodian princes, on coming to office (v.'-), went to Rome to receive imperial investiture (Jos. Ant. XIV. xiv. and XVII. xi. 4), and this same Archelaus was in such bad odour that an embassy of protest folloAved him (XV. xi. 1, etc.). Compare with this the action of the citizens, 'We will not have this man to reign over us' (v.''*). As if to accentuate the variation between Mt. and Lk., we have a further modification of the figures in the Gospel according to the Hebrews (c. 200 A. D.), where
POVERTY
POVERTY
one servant wastes the goods of his lord among
Imrlots and flute-j)laj-erti, another nuiltiplies the pound, wliile a third conceals it ; in the end. one is acknowledged, another reproveil, and the tiiird committed to prison. Tiiat Jesus uttered the paralile is not to he doubted, but there seems some uncertainty in the details. The liarshness of v.", however, as coming from His lips, can he esc§^ed, on the theory that these words were used with reference to Archelaiis, who had proved himself amjily capable of cruelty.
The entire .sovereignty of the Christ being not yet manifested, the broad lesson stands forth, and is unexhausted in our age, that the true note of faithfulness is active zeal in His cause (v. '3). Means diligently improved j'ield rich results (v." and v^^) ; and although these may vary among indiviilual men, rewards are in all cases mani- fold (v.^" and v.'"). The highlj- informing contrast comes when we turn to the Pliarisaic class, — specialh' abhorrent to Jesus, — -mIio not only do no sacrificing deeds, but even glory complacently in negative propriety (y.^). Tlie ultimate reason of their remissness is the wrong idea of God (v.-^), whom they tigirre as a taskmaster who exacts, instead of a kindly father who bestows. Hence the note of the ' austere,' which pas.ses by reflexion into tlieir OAvn sorry travesty of the eternal life. Daily deeds of love are the familiar exchange (v.-3), — a mart which such religionists thoroughly neglect, since none are harder witli their fellows. But innate law must prevail (v.'-^), and indifterence never ends in itself — the callous soon betray diminished receptivity. Steel rusts when never out of the siieath, and the saddest cases in religion are seen in those wlio start fair, but achieve nothing. The hgure of reaping where one has not .sown (v.'-'), charged falsely against the master, tells truly on the critics themselves. Tlie seed of truth lay to their liand, but it could not grow and reproduce till it was planted in the soil. Ciierished mechanicallj-, in their fashion, it was bound to shrivel into a withered husk, from which the germ of life had expired. Hence the verdict of the Master, that in spite of all appearances to the contrary, only the semblance of spiritual power remained — ' even that he hath shall be taken away from him' (v.^). Conver.selj-, the more actively men employ the graces of the Christian life, the more susceptible their souls become to higlier things. It is in order to emphasize this fact — and for no other purpose — that the gainers of the ten pounds and tlie five jiounds respectively are specified and put side by side in the storj-. The forfeited 100 drachms are awarded to the former, not to the latter, for ' unto every one tliat hath shall he given ' (v.-**). Life for us all means stewardship, and psychology' more and more reveals a delicate and automatic system of rewards and punishments, under sanction of the One Su])reme Being, who is revealed in teaching such as this, and who otters all men the saving presence of His Spirit.
Literati-re.— Trench and Bnice in their works on the Parables, in loc. ; Lynch, Serin, for mtj Curates, 103 ff.
George Murray.
POVERTY That the life of Christ was one of
]ioverty is an impression very generallj' derived tiom the familiar words of Is 53, and also from I'll 2" ('took upon himself the form of a slave') :iiid 2 Co 8^ (' lie became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich '). But tlie general picture of the surroundings of Christ which we tind in the Gospels is one of healthy active life. Throughout NT times, until the final agony, the resources of Palestine were well used, and the population Mas able to bear considerable taxation with comparative ease; and thougii Juda-a was
VOL. II. — 2^
liable to scarcity (of. St. Pauls care for the Jewish Christians, 1 Co 16', Ac 24''), Galilee was a hive of industry (.see Swete, Gospel of St Mark, p. Ixxxii ; and Bulil, art. ' New Testament Times ' in Hastings' DB, Extra Vol. p. 45, witli authorities cited at end). In accordance witli tliis distinction, tlie con- tact of Jesus with the poor as described in the Gospels is almost confined toJud;ea and Jerusalem (Mt 19i«, Mk 10-1 the rich vonns ruler; Mk 12^-, Lk 2P the poor widow ; Mt 26'', Mk 14^ ' this oint- ment might have been sold for much and given to the poor"; Mt 2(;P, Mk \0*\ Lk 18*^ the blind beggars outside Jericho ; cf. ^It •27)^'').