promise of his coming3? But " he is not slack concerning his promise." He is only exercising his patience and long-suffer- ing toward the ungodly worldb; and at the expiration of the time allotted them, he will surely come.]
2. In constant readiness to receive him —
[This is the more immediate import of the metaphors in the textc. We should gather in the affections which too often entangle our feet. " Unite my heart to fear thy name," should be our daily prayer. Whatever obstructs us in the way of duty should be put away. Our graces too should be kept in lively exercise ; and the one desire of our soul should be, so to have every thing within us regulated according to our Master's will, that the very instant he shall knock, we may receive him gladly and without fear.]
To enforce the practice of this duty our Lord subjoins, II. Motives to the performance of it —
The motives suggested in the parable are of very different kinds :
1. Encouraging —
[Thrice does our Lord pronounce the watchful servant " blessed d." Indeed what can be more blessed than to be pre- pared to meet our God ? To such servants he promises the most exalted honour. We do not indeed conceive that Jesus will repeat in heaven any such act of condescension as he once submitted to on earth e; but there is no expression of kindness which the meanest servant could manifest to the most beloved master, which Jesus will not manifest to his faithful servants in heaven. He has prepared the richest banquet for them ; and will " feed them, and lead them unto living foun- tains of waters f." And should not this prospect stimulate us to watchfulness? Who would not perform the work when they are promised such wages ?]
2. Alarming —
[What indignation would a nobleman feel, if, having
a ver. 45. with 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. b 2 Pet. iii. 9.
c It was the custom to wear long garments, which they girded up when they were about to do any thing that required activity and exertion. And lights or torches were used at their nuptials, which were usually celebrated in the evening.
d ver. 37, 38, 43.
e The Romans waited on their slaves at the feast of Saturn ; hut we do not suppose that our Lord alluded to this, because his hearers probably were not acquainted with the fact.
f Rev. vii. 17.
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