The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 475

undertake suoh enterprises. Olehe.neen and dence puts in hie wl\y added opportunities, Trench regard them as the stronger l\nd as he uses these he is more and more che.raotere who, by example and gnidanoe, strengthened and replenished. From him lead the timid and hesitating to employ that he.th not(&,,-~ ~hou µ¾, lxov.-os). So the their gifts aright. But it is more reasonable Received Text, probably from Luke xix. 26; to consider this detail of the pare.hie as the best manuscripts and editions reo.d, .-oii suppltlmentary to its ohief purpose, e.nd ~~ µn lxo.,.,.os, but aa to him that hath not; not to be pressed in the interpretation. this, followed by cl,,' ahou e.t the end of the The Lord is simply oonoerned to show that verse, is less tautological than the othor e.11 1.alents, great or smell, must be used in reading. To "have not," in o.ccorde.noe hie service according to opportunities; and with the oontext, signifies to possess nothing that, whether the return be large or little, it of any consequonce, to be oompare.tively is equally acoepte.ble, if it show a willing destitute, in the world's estimate of riohea. mind e.nd real fidelity in the agent. In Shall be taken away even that whioh he hath; illustration he UBes two oases which yield even that u;hich he hath shall be taken au,ay most profit, and one whioh produces the from him. The Vulge.te, following some least. Nothing can be inferred henoe con- few manuscripts, has, Et ql/,Od 11id.tur habere cerning the morality of UBury. Christ auferetur ab eo, from Luke viii. 18. The drows his picture from the world as he finds poor unprnotical man shall lose even the it, pronouncing no opinion on its ethical little which he possessed. So the spiritually bearing. unprofitable shall be p11lllllhed by utter de- Ver. 28.-The sentence on the unprofitable privation of the grace which was given for servant follows. It is to be observed that his advancement in holiness. If applied to be is punished, not for fraud, theft, malversa- the special ciroumsto.nces of. the time and tion, but for omission. He he.d left undone of the persons to whom it we.a addressed, that which be ought to have done. Take the parable would tea.eh that the disciples therefore the talent from him. The forfeitlll'8 who recognized and duly employed the of the talent was jUBt and natural. It was riches of the doctrine and powers delivered given to him for a speci.e.l purpose; he had unto them would receive further revela- not ca.rried this out ; therefore it could be tions; but t.he.t the people who spurned the hie no longer. A. limb unused loees its offered se.1vation and neglected the graoions powere; grace unemployed is withdrawn. opportunity would forfeit the blessing, and God's Spirit will not al ways strive with be condemned. me.n. There comes a time when, if wilfully Ver. 30.-Ce.st ye the unprofitable BSrvant resisted e.nd not exercised, it ceases to in- into [the] outer darkness ( oh. viii. 12). The spire and to influence. Well may we pray, parable merges into the real. The ·matter "Take not thy Holy Spirit from us I" Give represented bursts through the veil under it, etc. Thie is done on the principle stated which it we.a delivered, and stands forth in the next verse and oh. xiii 12. God's work plainly and awfully. The command is must be done; his gifts are not lo3t; they issued to the ministers of the Lord's ven- are transferred to ll..llother who has proved geance, whether earthly or e.ogelio. The hi.mlelf worthy of such a charge. As the slave was truly unprofitable, as he adve.noed eervant who had the ten talents had already neither his master's interests nor his own, brought in his account and had received his which were bonnd up with the other. reward, it seems, at first, difficult to under- While the faithful servants enter into the stand how additional work e.nd responsi- joy of the Lord, he is rejected from ·his bility should be given to him. But it is the presence, expelled from the kingdom of blessedn81!8 of Christ's servants that they heaven, banished we know not whither. rejoice in a new trust received, in added And why? Not for great ill doing, sacrilege, opportunities of Berving hiin, whether in crime, offence against the common lawi, of this life or in the life to come, and all the God and man; but for neglect, idleness, increase which they make is their own omission of duty. This is a very fearful eternally and augments their joy. thought. Men endeavour to soreen them- Ver. 29.-trDto ever, one that hath . . . eel ves from blame by minimizing their abundance (eh. xiii. 12). So we have seen taleuts, ability, oppcrtunities; this parable in the first part of the parable. Tba unveils the .tl.imsmess of this pretence, proverb ee.ys, "'Money makes money;" a shows that all have responsibilities, and man who he.a ca.pite.l finds vai.i,ons means of are answerable for the nee they make of the incraa.sing it ; it grows as it is judiciously graces and fe.oulties, be they never so small, employed. Thus the grace of God, duly which tl..iey possess. Spuitual indolence is stirred up and exercised, receives continual as serious e. sin BB e.oti ve wickedness, and acceui.on, "grace for grace" (John i. 16). meets with similar punishment. Our Lord's The Chriati.an'a spiritual forces are de- account of the l.e.st judgment terribly con- veloped by being properly directed; Provi- tlrms thi1 truth (vers. 42-45). There • ~ on, xxv, 1-46.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S'l'. MATTHEW. 481