Westminster Annotations, Matthew 2 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Vers. 1. THen] In the day of Christs coming, mentioned, chap. 24. 51.
the kingdom of heaven] The condition of men in the Church of God.
virgins] The custome then was to make marriage-feasts in the night: the bride-groom used to come then with a train of young men: certain virgins, of the kinred or acquaintance of the bride, used to go meet the bridegroom, to attend on him, and attend him to the wedding-house.
which took their lamps] And carried them burning, to light the bridegroom and his train.
went forth] Afterwards, at v. 6, 7.
V. 2. were wise] They shewed themselves to be wise, in providing things needfull for their present employment.
were foolish] Shewed their folly, in neglecting things necessary, v. 3.
V. 3. no oil with them] Besides that which was burning, and spent ere the bridegroom came, v. 8.
V. 4. in their vessels] To spend, when that in their lamps should be done.
V. 5. while the bridegroom tarried] Christs coming must be expected, though he come not so soon as we would have him.
they all slumbered] Good men may sometimes be somewhat more negligent then at other times; but they always keep a good conscience, and an heart prepared, in some good measure, to receive Christ, Cant. 5. 2. Their security is but of infirmity, and their estate was made sure before. Whereas, bad men have but the lamp of profession, and want the oil of piety, … Tim. 3. 5. that is, the power of it.
V. 16. at midnight] Christ will come when he is least looked for; as the bridegroom came at midnight, later then the usuall manner was.
the bridegroom cometh] Christ comes to call us hence, at our death, or at the day of Judgement.
V. 7. trimmed their lamps] An allusion to Exod. 30. 8. 2 Kings 9. 30.
V. 8. gone out] Or, going out: Which in the temple should not be, Exod. 27. 20.
V. 9. not enough for us and you] The best have no goodnesse to spare for others.
go ye rather] Not that the just shall send the wicked at the day of Judgement to get grace; but it shews, that they who neglect to get it here, have no way left to get any then. So Elijah mocks the priests of Baal, 1 Kings 8. 27.
buy] Isa. 55. 1.
for your selves] Every one must be saved by his own faith, Rom. 1. 17.
V. 10. the door was shut] They who neglect Gods call, or are not ready for him, shall be shut out of the gate of mercy, ps. 95. 11.
V. 11. Lord, Lord] Chap. 7. 22. and 25. 37.
open to us] To wit, the door. Afford us accesse and entrance, Rev. 3. 20.
V. 12. I know you not] Chap. 7. 23.
V. 13. Watch therefore] Chap. 24. 42. Mark 13. 33.
V. 14. For the kingdom of heaven] Luke 19. 12. Or, For he shall come as a man; to wit, Christ shall, v. 13. Act. 3. 25.
a man travelling into a far countrey] Hereby is intended Christs ascending into heaven, and abiding there till the day of Judgment, chap. 21. 33.
delivered unto them his goods] Put them into severall offices and places, for the good of his church, Eph. 4. 11, 12.
V. 15. five talents] Of a talent, see 1 Chron. 22. 14.
according to his severall ability] According to the wisedom and skill in dealing which was given them, 1 Cor. 12. 7.
V. 16. traded with the same] Was laborious in his calling, according to his gifts.
made them other five talents] Encreased his own graces by using them to the benefit of others, and did twice so much good as before this employment.
V. 18. digged in the earth] That he might lay it up safe.
V. 19. After a long time] At the end of the world Christ will come to call all men to account.
V. 20. other five talents] See on v. 16.
V. 21. over a few things] In a small charge, Luke 16. 18.
…ver many things] I will prefer thee, as men do servants whom they have found faithfull. See on chap. 24. 47.
into the joy of thy lord] Into the chamber of joy, or feasting with thy master.
V. 24. which had received the one talent] He is also called to account, as well as they that had received more talents, that no man may think to be excused from giving account, by the means of his place or parts.
that thou art an hard man] He takes the fault off himself, and lays it on his master: one of Adams sons, Gen. 3. 12.
V. 25. lo there thou hast that is thine] Chap. 20. 14.
V. 26. His lord answered] By this answer, he signifies, that they have no excuse for their sloth, who suppresse Gods gifts, and spend their time unprofitably.
Thou wicked and slothfull servant] By these sharp, and yet welldeserved terms, he shews, that the neglect of the servant came not from the masters austerity, as he pretended; but from his own lazie disposition, and therefore he deserved to be severely punished.
thou kn…west] Be it that it were as thou sayest, thou shouldest have been the more carefull to please me, and art now the more inexcusable, by thy own confession, chap. 12. 37. Luke 19. 22.
V. 27. to the exchangers] Such as kept banks to take mens moneys, and make profit of it for them.
V. 29. For unto every one] Chap. 13. 12. Mark 4. 25. Luk. 8. 18.
V. 30. the unprofitable servant] He must be condemned, though he did not waste his masters goods, because he did not encrease them by his industry.
into outer darknesse] See on chap. 8. 12.
weeping, &c.] See on chap. 24. 51.
V. 31. When the Son of man] A lively setting forth of the generall Judgment, taken from the patern of worldly judicatures▪
in his glory] Not in form of a servant, as before, but of a judge.
and all the holy angels] An allusion to Zech. 14. 5. Now he hath a few poor men to attend him; then all the angels.
sit upon the throne] As man, on some visible throne: or, he shall judge all, as they do that sit on thrones.
V. 32. shall be gathered] Chap. 24. 31. Before him, to be judged by him.
he shall separate them] This separation of good men from bad, is set out by a similitude of fanning, chap. 3. 12. of the tares, chap. 13. 30. of the draw-net, chap. 13. 48.
one from another] Not one nation from another, but one man from another, chap. 24. 31, 40, 41.
sheep from the goats] An allusion to Ezek. 34. 17.
V. 33. sheep on his right hand] Right hand and left, implie… good and bad, as Eccl. 10. 2. Joh. 4. 11. or, blessing and cursing, as Garizim stood on the south, which is on a mans right hand when he looks to the sun-rising; and Gebal north, which is on the left hand.
V. 34. the king] Christ, Rev. 19. 16.
Come] Draw neer to me: be not afraid of my Majestie.
ye blessed of my Father] Whom my Father loves, and means to make happie for ever.
inherite] Heaven, then, comes not by nature or merit, but by adoption, as an inheritance given by God to his children, 1 Pet. 3. 9.
the Kingdom] No mean inheritance, but the greatest.
prepared] By God the Father, ch. 20. 23. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Heb. 11. 16.
for you] In particular, who are his elect, Luke 12. 32.
from the foundation of the world] Chap. 13. 15. Luke 11. 50. Heb. 14. 3. & 9. 26. Rev. 13. 8. & 17. 8. Not after it, as sometimes it signifies, but before, as Eph. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 9.
V. 35. For I was an hungred] Isa. 58. 7. Ezek. 18. 7. This is a reward of good done to the poor, not for their own sakes, but as members of Christ, chap. 10. 40, &c.
ye gave me meat] Mercy is here mentioned, as an eminent vertue: and the act of it rather then the affection, to sit it to temporall judicatures.
V. 37. the righteous] Those whom he called blessed, v. 34. now he calls righteous; for God will make all them righteous here, whom he intends to blesse hereafter, Luk. 14. 13. Rev. 20. 6.
when saw we thee] In thine own person?
V. 40. unto one of the least of these my brethren] Gr. unto one of these my brethren, which are the least: That is, which are least set by in the eyes of the world. It is a greater token of love to Christ, to do good to his for his sake, when he is absent, then to do it to him, if he were present: and that which is done to a mean Christian, for his sake, shall be rewarded, as well as that which is done to an apostle, chap. 10. 41, 42. for Christ here counteth the meanest Christians his brethren.
V. 41. Depart] Psal. 6. 8. Chap. 7. 23.
from me] Ye shall have no part of happinesse with me, but of eternall misery, with the devils, 2 Thess. 1. 9.
for the devil and his angels] S…e on chap. 12. 24.
V. 42. ye gave me no meat] If they must go to hell who give not to the poor, What will become of them who take away from them!
V. 44. when saw we thee an hungred] See on v. 37.
V. 45. to one of the least] See on v. 40.
V. 46. these shall go away] Dan. 12. 2. Joh. 5. 29. Rev. 14. 11. and 20. 10.