The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 472

to him. Bo God gives us free-will at the xxiv. 18, 49), but yet not practically in hie snmo timo tlmt he sets before ue opportuni- lord's service. Hid hie lord's money. He ties of showing our faithfulness. The Lord thought the amount so small, or his master may be ,referring primarily to the apostles so rich, that it was of no consequence what whom he left immediately after he had was done with it; it was not worth the bestowed upon them authority and commis- trouble of traffic. Bo, like all Ee.sterns, he sion. The Revised Version, Westcott and buried the little treasure in the ground, to Hort, Niisgen, and others transfer the adverb keep H safe till his lord should ask for it, "straight way" to the beginning of the next recognizing that it wBB not his own to treat verse (omitting ll~ in tho.t verse). It is sup- as he liked, but that it still belonged to him posed to be supel'fluoua here. The Vulgate who had entrusted it to his care. The man accords with the Received 'fext; and there had some special grace, but he never exer- seems to be no sufficient reBBon for accentu- cised it, never let it shine before men, or ating the first slo.ve's activity above that of bring forth the fruit of good work~. the second, who was equo.lly faithful. Ver. 19.-Aftera long time. The interval Ver. 16.-Went. The one who had re- between Christ's ascension and his second ceived the five talents, the mark of the odvent (ver. 5) is long in men's view, though greatest trust, lost no time, but betook him- Christ can say, "Lo, I come quickly" (Rev. self to business with zeal and energy. iii. 11, etc.). And reckoneth with them (eh, Traded with the same (eipyd.ua.-o iv au.-oir, xviii. 23). The opportunity of labouring for made gain witl, them). The verb is applied Christ in the earthly life is ended at death; to husbandry or any work by which profit but the reckoning is reserved for the par- is obtained. A special method of increasing ousia-the coming of the Lord. The matter the allotted sum is mentioned in ver. 27; in the parable is concerned with the past but here the term is general, and implies aotions of the servants of Christ (ver. 14); only that the slave used the money in some about the final judgment of the rest of the business which would prove to his master's world nothing is here expressly said, though advantage. In other words, he exercised certain inferences must be drawn from his faculties and powers in his master's analogous proceedings. service and with a view to his master's in- Ver. 20.-He that had re11eived [the] flve terests. Ma.de [them] other five talents. talents. The slaves appear in the same The addition "them" is unnecessary. He order as they had come to receive the de- doubled his principal-" me.de" being equi- posits. The first comes joyfully, showing valent to "gained." In the parable of the boldness in his day of judgment (1 John iv. " pounds" we find the same sum increased 17), because he has dealt faithfully and in difi'orent propo1-tions; here we have dif- diligently, and prospered in his labours. ferent sums multiplied in the sawe pro- Thou deliveredst unto ma. He rightly ac- portion. knowledges that o.ll he had oame from his Ver. 17.-Likewiee,eto. The secondser- lord, and that it was hls duty and hid plea- va.nt me.de an equally good use of his smaller sure to increase the depoait for Lis 1Ua.,,ter's capital. It matters not whether our endow- benefit. The loug clelay ha.J not made him ments e.re large or little, we have to use careless and negligent; rather, he had used them all in the Lord's service. "To whom- the time protitably, and thereby added soever muoh is given, of him shall be muoh greatly to his gains. I have gained beside required" (Luke xii. 48); and vice 1ier8a, to them ( ,.,., au.-oir). The two last words are whomsoever less is committed, of him less omitted by Westoott and Hort, Tisohendorf, shall be required. The burden is propor- and the Revised Versiou. If they are not tioned to the shoulder. We continually genuine, they are, at any rate, implied ill observe what to us seem anomalies in the the e.coount of the transaction. The Vulgate distribution of gifts, but faith sees the hand has, .Alia quinq~ auperlucratu. 8Uffl, The of God dividing to each severally o.s he will, good servant says, Behold, as if he pointed and we are oonfident that God will take with joy to the augmented wealth of his account at 111st not only of the man's ability, master. He does not speak boastfully; he but alao of his opportunities of exeroising does not pre.ilia himself for his success; he the same. "He also" is omitted by Tiechen- had simply done his best with the means dorf, Westcott and Hort, and others. entrusted to him, and he oan speak of the Ver. 18.-He that had reoeived one (.-o iv, result with real pleasure (comp. 2 Cor. i. the one talent). Limited opportunities do not 14; Phil iv. I; I The,s. ii. 19). So in a condone neglect. This third servant was religious sense the obligation to i..ui prove as muoh bouud to put out to intereit his talenta is even more imperative. "The little oapital 11,s the first was hie larger 111eans. WBllifestation of the Spirit is given to each Went; '"71t awa11, He too was not a.ltogether one to profit withal" (1 Cor. xii. 7). The idle ; he in some sort exerted himself, not graoe whioh he receives he must employ fo1 iJideed aotmilly in evil {as ~he servaut µi oh, his OWD 1111noti11.oation, as a member of Chrillt,  i78 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [cH, xxv. 1-46