Chapter 25:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Matthew 25
Concise Complete
The parable of the ten virgins. (1-13) The parable of
the talents. (14-30) The judgment. (31-46)
Verses 1-13 The
circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage
customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ's coming. See the
nature of Christianity. As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to
honour him, also to be waiting for his coming. Sincere Christians are the wise
virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones. Those are the truly wise or foolish
that are so in the affairs of their souls. Many have a lamp of profession in
their hands, but have not, in their hearts, sound knowledge and settled
resolution, which are needed to carry them through the services and trials of
the present state. Their hearts are not stored with holy dispositions, by the
new-creating Spirit of God. Our light must shine before men in good works; but
this is not likely to be long done, unless there is a fixed, active principle in
the heart, of faith in Christ, and love to God and our brethren. They all
slumbered and slept. The delay represents the space between the real or apparent
conversion of these professors, and the coming of Christ, to take them away by
death, or to judge the world. But though Christ tarry past our time, he will not
tarry past the due time. The wise virgins kept their lamps burning, but they did
not keep themselves awake. Too many real Christians grow remiss, and one degree
of carelessness makes way for another. Those that allow themselves to slumber,
will scarcely keep from sleeping; therefore dread the beginning of spiritual
decays. A startling summons was given. Go ye forth to meet Him, is a call to
those prepared. The notice of Christ's approach, and the call to meet him, will
awaken. Even those best prepared for death
2 peter day of search and
inquiry; and it concerns us to think how we shall then be found. Some wanted oil
to supply their lamps when going out. Those that take up short of true grace,
will certainly find the want of it one time or other. An outward profession may
light a man along this world, but the damps of the valley of the shadow of death
will put out such a light. Those who care not to live the life, yet would die
the death of the righteous. But those that would be saved, must have grace of
their own; and those that have most grace, have none to spare. The best need
more from Christ. And while the poor alarmed soul addresses itself, upon a
sick-bed, to repentance and prayer, in awful confusion, death comes, judgment
comes, the work is undone, and the poor sinner is undone for ever. This comes of
having oil to buy when we should burn it, grace to get when we should use it.
Those, and those only, shall go to heaven hereafter, that are made ready for
heaven here. The suddenness of death and of Christ's coming to us then, will not
hinder our happiness, if we have been prepared. The door was shut. Many will
seek admission into heaven when it is too late. The vain confidence of
hypocrites will carry them far in expectations of happiness. The unexpected
summons of death may alarm the Christian; but, proceeding without delay to trim
his lamp, his graces often shine more bright; while the mere professor's conduct
shows that his lamp is going out. Watch therefore, attend to the business of
your souls. Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
Verses 14-30
Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and
have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in
order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every
man to profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned
with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by
the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural
powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and
privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and
the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to
himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it
impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose
in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable
of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the
fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant
is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings
of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of
their visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from
their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of
expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the
faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended
by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet
any of their perishing possessions.
Verses 31-46
This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an explanation of the
former parables. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be
sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not
only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked
and godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches, families, and are
not always to be known the one from the other; such are the weaknesses of
saints, such the hypocrisies of sinners; and death takes both: but in that day
they will be parted for ever. Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; he will
shortly distinguish between those that are his, and those that are not. All
other distinctions will be done away; but the great one between saints and
sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. The happiness the saints shall
possess is very great. It is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth;
yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in
heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for them in the
greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased it for them; and the
blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the kingdom, is preparing it for them. It
is prepared for them: it is in all points adapted to the new nature of a
sanctified soul. It is prepared from the foundation of the world. This happiness
was for the saints, and they for it, from all eternity. They shall come and
inherit it. What we inherit is not got by ourselves. It is God that makes heirs
of heaven. We are not to suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal
happiness. Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, are here
noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the Spirit of Christ,
and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them. The wicked in this
world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest, but they turned
from his calls; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not
come to him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The punishment of the
wicked will be an everlasting punishment; their state cannot be altered. Thus
life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us,
that we may choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.
Chapter 25:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Genesis
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Jude
Revelation
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