transcends the comprehension of the creature. — crx>.?!f>o;, hard) In Luke xix. 21, we find auffr^oc, austere. — This Lord was not such ; but let those earthly lords who really are so, consider what servant they will resemble on the judgment day. — ou fl/- effx6p<ffiffa,s, thou hast not strawed) Though, in reality, God bestows all things liberally.
25. <&o@r$eig, being frightened) Without love, without confi dence ; q.d. " fearing that I should not satisfy Thee, that I might be compelled to spend somewhat from my own stock, that I might vainly endeavour to bring aught from the field where the crop did not seem worthy of Thee, into the barn whence nothing of Thine appeared to have been strawed." The wicked and slothful servant, whilst he imagined his Master to be one who would require excessive gain, beyond the strength of His servant, did not even obtain that legitimate profit which he might have obtained. Do what thou canst, and what thou art commanded ; await success, and thou shalt be astonished at it. — sxp u-\J/a, 1 hid) Contrast with this Ps. xl. 10, II.1
27. Ouv, X.T.X., therefore, etc.) The goodness of the Lord re mains unknown to the wicked servant, by whom it had been denied. — jSaXiTv, to have put out) The labour of digging was greater than this would have been ; see ver. 18. — TO 'Epbv, Mine) corresponding with 7-6 So'v, Thine, in ver. 25 ; but in this instance the words avv TOKU, with interest, are added.2
29. Tw yap lyovn iravr), x.r.X., for to every one that hath, etc.) So that the more he has, the more will be given to him. — 6 i^ei, that which he hath) The servant actually had had the talent ; see ver. 24.
1 Ver. 26. Kent oxvypf, and slothful) Slothfulness overpowers the mind at times more than it does the body. It would certainly have cost this ser vant no more trouble to have gone to the money-exchangers or bankers, than that which he expended uselessly in digging, ver. 18. Had the ser vants been ordered, in the first instance, to go to the bankers, without doubt he also would have obeyed the order. But in that case the servants would not have obtained so much praise. See, therefore, that you strenu ously employ your powers. — V. g.
2 Ver. 28. 'iyflvri r* Sex«, who hath the ten) Who was not even bound to share with him, who had the five talents. See herein how great distinc tions in retributive rewards and punishments shall hereafter be made manifest. — V, g.