The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 211

avenged sevenfold, truly LRmeoh seventy means to compare receipts, expenditure, and and sevenfold " (Gen. iv. 24:). Olirietian bale.noo. One we.1 broqht u.nto him, The de- forgiveness must be extended as far as old- faulter did not come of himself and own his world vengeanoe. Mercy rejoices against delinquency, but was brought into bis lc-rd'e _iudgment. But the genius of the language presence, probably by some w) o hod dis- supports the rendering of the Authorized covered his defalcations, and desired to see Yeraion. St. Paul has oaught the spirit of him punished. Otllerwise the phrase may bis Master when be writes," Forgiving one refer merely to Oriental etiquette, according anotller, even llB God for Christ's sake bath to which no one oe.n enter the royal presenoe forgiven you" (Eph. iv. 32). In the Mosaio without being formally allowed the inter- ~iepensation there was some foreshadowing view, and oeremoniously introduoed. Ten ,f the doctrine of forgiveness in the enact- thousand ie.l.ents. It is uncertain what is ments which enjoined tender treatment of here meant by II talent, whether of silver or J.ebtors, ud in the terms of the jubilee law; gold, of Jewish, or Attic, or Syrie.o standard ; but there were no rules conoeming the pardon and, of course, the amount intended is of pereonal injuries; the tendency of many variously understood. We must refer to the prominent injunctions was to enoourage re- Bible dictionaries for an ex pie.nation of tho taliation. Herem is seen an import.ant dis- term " talent," merely reme.rking here tlle.t tinction between the Law and the gospel, the the highest estimate would give six millions institutions antecedent to the death and of our pounds, and the lowest more than be.If atonement of Christ, and those subsequent that amount. This huge sum must repre- thereto. BeD.t the total revenues of a province, and Vere. 23-35.-Christ illustrates his pre• the debtor must have been a high and much- cept by the parable of the unmerciful sen,ant, trusted official It is used by our Lord to signify the infinite debt the sinner owes to and tlw stern lesson tDhich he himself enun- God. Thus in the Lord's Prayer we have, ciata at its close. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have for- Ver. 23.-Therefore; i.e. becalll!8 suoh is given our debtors" (eh. vi.12). the infinite nature of the pardon to be meted Ver. 25.-Re had not to pay. He was out to an offending brother. '.file kingdom absolutely bankrupt, and had no means of heaven. The rule observed in the govern- wbe.tever of meeting the deficit. To be sold. ment of Christ's kingdom with regard to The Jewish Law ordered such process in the forgiveness is represented by the procedure case of an impecunious debt.or (see Exod. of a certain earthly king. The picture sup- xxii. 3; Lev. xxv. 39, 41; and tile conorete poses aome grea.t Oriental potentate, with case in 2 Kings iv. 1; comp. also Isa. L 1; nu.merons viceroys or satraps, who have to Pa. xliv. 12). But tllis law was mitigated render to him an e.ccount of revenues re- by the enactment of the jubilee, which in cei ved. These are called 1ierve.nts in the the course of time restored the bondme.n to sense .that, though they are high officials, liberty. The instance in the parable ap- they are the monarch's subordinates and de- pertains rather to Orien ta.I depotism than pendent.a. Both Herodotus and Xenophon to the proceedings under Mosaic legislation apply the term" alBve" (~oiiAos) to the great (see ver. 34, _which is not in accordance with officers of state. Immense sums of money Jewish practice). The king, by this severity, would pasa through their hands. This may have desired to me.ke the defaulter accounts for the enormous debt of the officer feel the weight of his debt, and to bring him in the pa.re.ble. Webster and Wilkinson com- to repentance, llB we see that he was ready pare theEastludiaCompany'scollectDrs, who to accept the submission of the debtor, and are high civil ,er1Jants of the oompe.ny, that to grant him forgiveness (St. Obrysostom). is, now, of the government. If we regard Payment to be me.de. The verb is put im- the parable in a general light, as illustrating personally. Of oourse, the sale of himself, God's dealings witll sinful man, we mnst see wife, family, posseBBions, would not produoe in the "taking account of his servant!!," not enough to satisfy the debt; but the command thejudgment of the last day, bat those many is to the effect that the proceeds should be occaBions when God me.kes a man turn his taken on e.coount of the debt. The parable eyes inward and lee.m how he stands in the must not be pressed in all it& details; e. 11ight of his Lord. Such occasions are sick- false impression is often produced by fixing neu, misfortune, great change of circum- spiritual or allegorical meaning upon the stances, a new year, reproach of conscience, unimportant e.ccel!l!Ories, wbiob, in fact, however e.roused,-these and such like in- merely give vi vidnese to the offered picture. cidents awe.ken a man to his true position, The sale of wife and children is of this show him his delinquencies and misery. character, though it may be said generally Ver. 24.-When he had began to reokon. and experimentally that e. man's sins ree.ot This is the 11&me word which i8 rendered on his family in eome sort, lowering position "' take &CCOIIIlt " in the previoua veree, and e.nd reputation, e.nd reducing to poverty, <lB, xvm. 1-36.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 215