A Brief Exposition of Matthew, Biblical commentary · Part · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
In this Chapter, our Lord propoundeth two Parables, the one of the ten Virgines, to verse 14. The other of the talents, to verse 31. Both tending to prepare us for the day of his second coming, and then setteth down the manner of the last judgement, to the end.
Ver. 1. THen shall the Kingdome of Heaven be likened unto ten Virgines, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.
2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no …e with them.
4. But the wise took oyle in their vessels, with their lamps.
5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbred and slept.
6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, goye out to meet him.
7. Then all those Virgines arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oyle, for our lamps are gone out.
9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your selves.
10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
11. Afterward came also the other Virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day, nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
He scope of this Parable is set down, verse 13. to advertise us to watch, because we know not the hour wherein Christ shall come to judgement. To this end the visible … …a compared to ten Virgines, waiting for the Bride…rooms coming, whereof some were wise and made prepara…, that whensoever the Bridegroom should come, they might …e ready to go with him. The other contented themselves …uch an outward profession of waiting for his coming, but did … prepare themselves, till tho time was past, and then it was … purpose to make a businesse; Therefore the one sort who were ready went in, and the other were excluded: and so shall …t come to passe with Professours in the visible Church, …osoever make themselves ready, and watch for the Lords …cond coming, shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, …hich is above; and they who do not prepare themselves, …o not watch for his coming, shall be excluded from Christ … his coming. From this Parable, in so far as it tendeth …o this scope, Learn, 1. Christ and his Church may well be compared to the Bridegroom and the Bride, and the spiri…all communion between them to Marriage mutually pro…ised in espousals in this life, and to be solemnized and complea…ed at the coming of our Lord. 2. As in the Parable, …o in the visible Church, all do professe themselves devoted …nto Jesus Christ the Bridegroom, and to be desirous of communion with him in Heaven, and possibly may attain to a …amelesse conversation, and appear Virgine-like, all waiting for the coming of our Lord in their own and others estimation. 3. As among the Virgines in the Parable, so in the visible Church, all are not wise Christians; but some wise, and really such as they professe themselves to be, others are counterfeit Christians and foolish. 4. As among the Vir…ines in the Parable, so in the visible Church, onelyonly these are wise, who with the outward Lamps of open profession, labour to be furnished inwardly, with the saving graces of the holy Spirit: namely, Faith working by love, and repentance mortifying their sinfull lusts, that in newnesse of life they may glorifie God: But whoso are destitute of inward grace in their heart, they are foolish: for the Lamps of their outward profession, without oyle, do serve to no purpose, when matters come to a triall. 5. As in the Parable, the Bridegroom cometh when they are not aware; So will Christ come unto Judgment in a day and hour that men know not. 6. As in the Parable the wise are admitted, and the foolish excluded; So they who are inwardly renewed, and indued with the saving graces of the holy Spirit, shall be taken up to heaven; and they who are destitute of the oyle of the holy Spirit, void of true faith, and of the renewing vertue of Gods Grace shall be excluded. 7. As in the parable the wise could not help the foolish, nor the foolish hurt the wise; So the society of the hypocrites with the godly in the visible church, shall not be prejudiciall to the sound christians in the day of Gods judgment; not yet the society of the godly avail the hypocrites, among whom they have lived, but every man shall be judged according to that which is within him. 8. As in the parable the self-conceit of the Virgins, ver. 11, 12. helped not them; so the opinion which unrenewed persons within the visible church have of their interest in Christ, their vain confidence and foolish hopes grounded upon the outward profession, and their formal practises of externall duties, will not avail them before the Lord, at that day. 9. To be watchfull now, and to examine well our own case, and to see that we be sure of the inward anointing of the holy Spirit, whereby we are made indeed holy, is the only way to be certain of our salvation when Christ cometh to judgement; for this use Christ commandeth us to make of the parable; saying, Watch therfore.
Ver. 14. For the Kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods:
15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his seuerall ability, and straitway took his journ…y.
16. Th… he that had received the five talents … and traded with the same, and made them other … … lents.
17. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18. But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lords mony.
19. After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them.
20. And so he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered … unto me five talents, behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.
21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and …full servant, thou hast been faithfull over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
22. He also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst me two talents, behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I wil make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
24. Then he which had received the one talent, came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sowen, and gathering where thou hast not stra…ed.
25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; …, there thou hast that is thine.
26. His Lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed.
27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my mony to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29. For unto every one that hath shal be given, and he shal have abundance: bu… from him that hath not, shal be taken away even that which he hath.
30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darknes, there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Another parable tending to put all men on work, and in speciall the Ministers of the Gospel, for setting forth the glory of Christ, and of his Kingdome among men, according to every man's ability and calling, under the similitude of a master, giving to his servants mony to trade withall, for his use. Doct. 1. As the man in the parable travelling into a far country, disposed of his affaires, and ordered all matters till his return; So hath our Lord Jesus given exact order in his Word to all men, and specially to his Ministers, how his house shall be governed, and how every man should serve him, till his second coming again. 2. As the master in the parable giveth not the same number of talents to each servant: So the Lord So the Lord giveth not a like measure of gifts to every one, but to some more, to some lesse, as his heavenly Wisdom thinketh expedient. 3. As in the parable, some made use of their talents, some not: So in the visible church, some imploy the gifts they have, according to their calling, to the edifying of others, and promoving of the Kingdome of Christ, othersome do misregard the Kingdome of Christ, and care not how it go with Christs matters, if their own particular go right: and therefore they make no conscience to promove Christs Kingdome in their vocation, as their duty set down in his word doth require. 4. As the master in the parable reckoned with his servants, and took an account of each mans fidelity, so shall Christ call all men, and especially Ministers to account one day, and shall search how faithfull every man hath been in his service. 5. As in the parable the faithfull servant, whether his talents were fewer or more, was accepted of his Master, and made partaker of his joy; So every man (who in the discharge of his calling, doth seek faithfully the glory of Christ, and increase of his Kingdome) shall be accepted in the day of judgement, and put in ful possession of eternall life. 6. As before the Master in the parable, so also before Christ in the day of judgement, no excuse shall serve, to save the slothfull and unfaithfull servant (let a man deceive himselfe now as he list, and please himselfe with pretences as he will) all excuses shall be retorted, and made matter of his condemnation, and the unfaithfull servant shall be cast in hell. 7. As in the parable, he who had one talent, but had it not for his Masters use, is counted as if he had none, and is deprived of the possession of what he possessed, but not for his masters use; So whosoever hath gifts whereby others are not profited, or Christs kingdome not promoved, what he hath is counted as if he had it not: or as if he had lost it, or put it away; and as others were not profited by his gift, so neither shall he himself be profited by it; but he that useth his gifts wel for the glory of Christ, shall be amply rewarded; the reason wherof he giveth; for, Unto every man that hath gifts, so as he hath them for his Masters use, (which is in effect to have them) It shall be given, he shall have increase of gifts, and graces, and rewards; but such as have not what they have, for the Lord's service, shall be deprived of all good which they themselves might have of such gifts, and shall be utterly deprived of whatsoever good they s…em to have, and, They themselves also shall perish.
Ver. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.
In the rest of the chapter, the form of the day of judgement at Christs second coming is described; 1. The glorious sitting down of the Judg, ver. 31. Then the presenting of parties to be judged, and the ordering of them in their several ranks, v. 32, 33 3. The sentence of absolution of the godly, to v. 44.4. The sentence of condemnation of the wicked to the end: hence learn, 1. Christs humane nature assumed, is not to be laid down again, but the union of the divine and humane nature is constantly to remain, that so we may take heart and confidence, being … to have our Redeemer in our nature to be our judg; The Iudg shal be the Son of man. 2. His second coming shal be glorious, all infirmities being removed, He shal come in glory. 3. The glory of Christ then to be seen, shall be no borrowed glory, such as the creatures have, but his own which he had before the world began for, He shal come in his own glory. 4. All the Angels in heaven shall attend our Lord that day, to honour him, and give service to him, as he shall imploy them; for, The holy angels shal come with him. 5. A glorious throne be…coming the Son of God, and the Judg of quick and dead, shal be errected in the clouds, such as none can imagine how glorious it … be, til they see it; for it is said, Then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory.
Ver. 32.And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shal separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Thus the Judg is set: Now they who are to be judged are presented. 1 Doct. 1. There shall be a resurrection of the dead, and a gathering together of these that are risen, together with them who shall be then living toward the place of his appearance, even all that were from the beginning of the world unto that day, without exception, all shall comp…r from the least to the greatest; for, All Nations shal be gathered before him. 2. Albeit, now there be a confusion of the elect and reprobate, of the godly and the wicked; yet the… there shall be a separation of the one from the other, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so shall our Lord make a perfect separation of the godly from the wicked, that not one of the one sort shall be in company with the other: for, He shall separate the sheep. 3. The godly and Elect (compared unto sheep for their harmlesnesse, simplicity, obedience and attendance upon the Shepherd) shall be placed more honourably, as it were at the right hand, which the Apostle Paul expoundeth, by being caught up off the earth unto the clouds, to meet the Lord; 1 Thes. 3.17. But the wicked and reprobate, (compared to goats, for their unrulinese and uncleanness) shal have the place of least respects, for we hear nothing of their being list o… the earth, for, He shal set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left, that is, He shall set the Elect in a more honourable place then the Reprobate.
Ver. 34. Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
In the pronouncing of the sentence, learn, 1. That the judging of the world, is a part of the Kingly Office of Christ, wherin he shall shew his Soveraign Authority, to give out decrees irrevocable, and to see them executed; for, Then shall the King say. 2. Before the fearfull sentence of condemnation shall be pronounced upon the wicked, the godly shall be absolved, that without fear they may hear this dreadful doom given on the reprobate; for, Then shall he say to them on his right hand, &c. 3. The Elects compleat and nearest communion with Christ, shal not be, till they be in soul and body both translated unto Heaven, there to be with him for ever; for now, and not before this time, Come, saith the King. 4. The godly, in whatsoever estate they be, are no les…e beloved, and blessed by the Father, than by the Son who redeemed them; for he saith, Come ye blessed of my Father. 5. The estate which the godly are to enjoy in Heaven, is, A Kingdom, that is, the higest honour and happinesse that can be imagined; for it is said, Com… inherit the Kingdom. 6. This Kingdom cometh not from the Elects merit, but from Gods free-gift, derived from the Fathers love, an inheritance not purchased by themselves, in their own time, but Prepared for them, from the foundation of the world, that is, from eternity, wherewith we do presently meet, when we begin to think of the foundation of the world.
Ver. 35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.
36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
The manner of judging of those who are of the visible Church, where mainly intended, as the sentence of Absolution, and the sentence of Condemnation, describing the parties, do impo…t … for this concerneth us most, who are members of the visible Kirk, to take heed unto, and to make use of it. In these words our Lord doth prove the Elect to be blessed, and destinate unto the inheritance of Heaven, by the evidence of the fruits of their faith, toward himselfe. Doct. 1. The judgment of Jesus Christ shall be pronounced upon men to whom the Gospel hath come, acording to the evidence of their affection towards him: and … works, specially as they stand in relation to Christ, shall be then brought forth to bear witnesse, whether they have been believers or not, whether blessed of the Father, or not; for he saith here, Ye fed me, …lad me. 2. The godly having their sins forgiven them in this World, there shall be no mention made then of what ill was done by them, and repented of, but only of what good they did; as here, Ye clad me, fed me, visited me, doth shew. 3. Christ is so nearly conjoyned with his faithfull servants, the Ministers of the Gospel, and with every faithfull person, that in all their afflictions he accounteth himself afflicted, and hung…y, thirsty, sick, and in prison, when any of his own are in that condition; for, I was an hungred, &c. saith he. 4 Love to Christ's people, especially manifested in reall …eeds of charity, are true marks of faith in Christ, and of election unto eternal life, as here appeareth. 5. Even A visit performed unto any for Christ's cause, shall be taken notice o…, and rewarded by Christ; for, Ye visited me, is reckoned up among other effects of love.
Ver. 37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, whe… saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
This forme of speech is used by Christ, to shew us, that the righteous, and such as are justified by faith, shal wonder at their works, which they in their life time justly esteemed little of, and had no confidence in, should be so much taken notice of, and rewarded so, as at the last day they shall perceive; as also, they shall wonder that Christ findeth himselfe so much concerned in the works of love, discharged to his children for his sake; this wondering is imported and expressed in this interrogation, When saw we thee an hungred? &c.
Ver. 40. And the King shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In Christ's answer, learn, 1. That whosoever have believed in the Messiah, from the beginning of the World, are accounted of by him, as Brethren and sisters, and he will not be ashamed to point them forth, and avow them his brethren; yea, he shall not be ashamed to call the least of them his brethren, and to esteem of the least courtesie done, or kindnesse shewn to the least of them, as if it had been done to himselfe. 2. Howsoever we can hardly believe this, yet he will have us assured of the truth hereof, for to assure us, Verily it is so, saith he.
Ver. 41. Then shall he say also unto them upon the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
After the absolution of the Faithfull, the wicked shall receive the sentence of condemnation. Doct. 1. Such as were never brought unto the sense of the curse deserved for their sins, and made to flie unto Christ Jesus to be delivered from the curse, shall finde the curse of God cleave fast to them in the last day; then shall they be called, Ye cursed. 2. Such as did not in their life time seek communion with God in Christ, shall be separate and chased out of his sight with a fearfull Depart ye. 3. There is not part to go unto save hell, for them whom Christ as Judge, at the day of judgment commandeth to depart; Therefore saith he, Depart ye into everlasting fire. 4. The pain of hell is most horrible, for in respect of extremity of pain, it is called Fire, and for the indurance, it is without Ending; Therefore saith he, Depart ye into everlasting Fire. 5. Satan the prince of unclean spirits, and all the apostate angels with him, and all the wicked of the world, who have served Satan by their ill deeds, shall be tormented together; for it shall be said to them, Depart ye into the fire prepared for the divel and his angels. 6. No question is to be made of the execution and manner of their torment; for it is ready prepared, Depart ye into the fire prepared, saith he, that is, Into the fore-devised most extream pain that can be imagined, for tormenting of spirits or bodies.
Ver. 42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.
In the reason of their condemnation, Learn, 1. That the unrepented ill deeds of the wicked, and namely their mis-regarding of the Messiah Christ, in his Person and Members, shall prove the pretence to be just; for, You did not so and so to me, saith he. 2. The omission of good deeds will serve sufficiently for a ditty against the wicked; for, Ye fed me not, clothed me not, &c. 3. The common fault of all the wicked shall be found want of love to Christ and his members; for, because they did not cherish such as did believe in Christ, it shall be said to them, Ye did it not to me: and here it appeareth that all his processe concerneth them especially to whom the Gospel cometh; for unto them to whom the Gospel never came, this cannot be said, and therefore we have not to search any further of the day of judgement, then what doth concern our selves, and what we may make use of.
Ver. 44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45. Then shall be answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to m….
46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternall.
In the answer which the Damned are brought in giving unto Christ, as pleading for themselves, learn, 1. That the wicked do conceive they have such excuses as will bear them out at the great day, but which will faile them altogether; Therefore, When saw we thee, &c. say they. 2. If omission of duties shal be a sufficient ditty unto condemnation, how great shall the ditty be, when all commissions shall be joyned with all omissions, and all sorts of sins shall be joyned together? for here is their ditty, In as much as ye did it not to one, &c. 3. Misregarding of Christ's servants and children in their need of our help, shall be interpreted a mis-regarding of Christ; for so importeth, Ye did it not to me. 4. The sentence of absolution shall be executed, as it is pronounced, and so shall the sentence of condemnation also; Everlasting life shall be the portion of the godly, and everlasting punishment the portion of the ungodly; for, They shall go away, &c. but the righteous into life.