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Selected Verse: Matthew 25:14 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Mt 25:14 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. (Mat. 25:14-30)
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man--The ellipsis is better supplied by our translators in the corresponding passage of Mark (Mar 13:34), "[For the Son of man is] as a man"
travelling into a far country--or more simply, "going abroad." The idea of long "tarrying" is certainly implied here, since it is expressed in Mat 25:19.
who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods--Between master and slaves this was not uncommon in ancient times. Christ's "servants" here mean all who, by their Christian profession, stand in the relation to Him of entire subjection. His "goods" mean all their gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. As all that slaves have belongs to their master, so Christ has a claim to everything which belongs to His people, everything which, may be turned to good, and He demands its appropriation to His service, or, viewing it otherwise, they first offer it up to Him; as being "not their own, but bought with a price" (Co1 6:19-20), and He "delivers it to them" again to be put to use in His service. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For the kingdom of heaven ... - The "parable of the talents" was spoken still further to illustrate the manner in which he would deal with people at his return to judgment. The words "the kingdom, of heaven" are not in the original, but are very properly inserted by the translators. The design of the parable is to teach that those who improve their talents or faculties in the cause of religion who improve them to their own salvation and in doing good to others shall be proportionally rewarded; but they who neglect their talents, and who neither secure their own salvation nor do good to others, will be punished. The kingdom of heaven is like such a man - that is, "God deals with people in his government as such a man did."
His own servants - That is, such of them as he judged to be worthy of such a trust. These represent the apostles, Christian ministers, professing Christians, and perhaps all people. The going into a far country may represent the Lord Jesus going into heaven. He has given to all talents to improve, Eph 4:8; Eph 2:12.
His goods - His property representing the offices, abilities, and opportunities for doing good, which he has given to his professed followers. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
the kingdom of heaven is
Omit the italicised words, "the kingdom of heaven is". |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Travelling (ἀποδμηῶν)
The sense is more nearly about to travel, like our going abroad. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Our Lord proceeds by a parable still plainer (if that can be) to declare the final reward of a harmless man. May God give all such in this their day, ears to hear and hearts to understand it! The kingdom of heaven - That is, the King of heaven, Christ. Mar 13:34; Luk 19:12. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Called his own servants - God never makes the children of men proprietors of his goods. They are formed by his power, and upheld by his bounty; and they hold their lives and their goods, as in many of our ancient tenures, quamdiu domino placuerit - at the will of their Lord. |
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.