1.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Then = At that point in a then future time. The Structure (p. 1366) shows that this parable formed the closing part of the Lord's teaching on the Mount of Olives (see Matthew 24:1 , Matthew 24:3 ); and was designed to illustrate and enforce His teaching as to watchfulness, in view of the then immediate parousia, conditional on the repentance of that generation in response to the ministry of Peter and the Twelve, beginning at Pentecost, proclaimed and formulated in Acts 3:19-26 . See the Structure (p. 1366). The Parable has nothing to do with the Church to-day as to interpretation, though there is the same solemn application as to watchfulness.
shall = will.
the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .
heaven = the heavens. Compare Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
lamps = torches. See App-130 .
to meet = for the meeting (of two parties from opposite directions): i.e. the meeting and returning with. Greek. apanantesis. Occurs only here, Matthew 25:6 . Acts 28:15 , and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 . But all the texts read hupanteeis, as in John 12:13 .
2.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
wise = prudent.
3.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
no. Greek. ou. App-105 .
with. Greek. meta. App-104 .
4.
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
vessels. Containing oil, to pour on the torches. Greek. angeion. Occ only here, and Matthew 13:48 .
5.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
slumbered = became drowsy. Greek. nustazo. Occurs only here and 2 Peter 2:3 .
slept = went to sleep (and continued asleep). Greek. katheudo.
6.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
there was a cry made = there arose a cry.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
7.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
those = those former ones.
8.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
are gone out = are going 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 yourselves.
Not so. Or, supply the Ellipsis thus: "[we must refuse] lest there be not enough", &c.
not. Greek. ou. App-105 . But all the texts read " ou me ". App-105 .
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.
went: were on their way.
marriage = marriage, or wedding feast; as in Matthew 22:2 , Matthew 22:3 , Matthew 22:4 .
11.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
came also the other virgins = "came the other virgins also".
lord, lord. Figure of speech Epizeuxis, App-6 , for emph., denoting urgency.
12.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
I know you not. Greek. oida.
13.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Watch. This is the great lesson of the parable.
neither = not. Greek. ou, as in Matthew 25:6 .
wherein = in (Greek. en . App-104 .) which.
the Son of man. See App-98 .
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.
the kingdom of heaven. Or, supply the Ellipsis from Matthew 25:13 , "[the coming of the Son of man]".
travelling, &c. See note on "went", &c, Matthew 21:33 .
15.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
talents. Greek. talanton. Occurs only here, and in Matthew 18:24 . See App-51 . Hence the word comes to be used now of any gift entrusted to one for use.
every man = each one.
according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .
his several ability = his own peculiar capacity.
took his journey. Same as "travelling" in Matthew 25:14 .
16.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
traded with = trafficked or wrought in (Greek. en. App-104 .) The virgins wait: the servants work.
made them. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for "gained".
17.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
he = he also.
18.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
went = went off.
earth = ground. Greek. ge. App-129 .
19.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
After. Greek. meta. App-104 .
reckoneth = compareth accounts. Greek. sunairo. Occurs only here, and in Matthew 18:23 , Matthew 18:24 .
20.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
beside = upon. Greek. epi .
21.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
make = set.
enter. joy. He enters into joy, and joy enters into him.
the joy = the [place of] joy.
22.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto 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 will 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 sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Then he = He also.
had received. Note the change from the Aorist to the Perf. He had received it, and it remained with. him.
I knew thee = I got to know thee. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . Not the same as verses: Matthew 25:12 , Matthew 25:13 , Matthew 25:26 .
hast not sown = didst not sow.
hast not strawed = didst not scatter.
25.
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
lo, there. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
that is thine = thine own.
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:
wicked. Greek. poneros. App-128 .
thou knewest. Greek. oida. App-132 .
27.
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
exchangers = bankers. So called from the tables or counters at which they sat. Greek. trapezites. Occurs only here.
usury = interest. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:19 , Deuteronomy 23:20 ). Compare Psalms 15:5 . Hebrews were forbidden to take it from Hebrews, but allowed to take it from foreigners.
28.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
29.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
not. Greek. me. App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: Matthew 25:9 , Matthew 25:12 , Matthew 25:24 , Matthew 9:26 , Mat 9:43 , Mat 9:44 , Mat 9:45 .
30.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
outer = the outer. Greek. exoteros. Occurs only in Matthew (here, Matthew 8:12 , and Matthew 22:13 ).
weeping and gnashing. See note on Matthew 8:12 .
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:
When the Son of man. See the Structure (p. 1366).
shall come = shall have come.
the throne. Luke 1:32 . Compare Psalms 47:8 . Jeremiah 3:17 ; Jeremiah 14:21 .Zephaniah 3:8 .
32.
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
shall be gathered all nations. There is no resurrection here. Therefore no reference to Revelation 20 . The gathering is to be on earth (Isaiah 34:1 , Isaiah 34:2 .Joel 3:1 , Joel 3:2 , Joel 3:11 , Joel 3:12 ). There are three classes, not two. The test is not even "works", but the treatment of the "brethren" by the other two. No believer, i.e. those who "received the word" (Acts 2:41 . 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ): for these were (and will yet he)"taken out of all nations", Acts 15:14 , Israel not gathered here, because "not reckoned among the nations" (Numbers 23:9 ). The Church of the Mystery (Ephesians 3 ) not here, because the reward here is "from the foundation ( App-146 ) of the world" (Matthew 25:34 ); while the Church was chosen "before" that (Matthew 1:4 ). The "throne" is that of David (Luke 1:32 ).
all nations = all the nations.
them. Refers to individuals, because it is Masc, while "nations" are Neuter, and therefore are regarded collectively
goats. Greek. eriphion. Occ only here.
33.
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Father. App-98 .
the foundation, &c See App-146 .
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:
an hungred = hungry.
36.
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Naked = Scantily clothed. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), App-6 .
37.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Then shall the righteous answer, &c. Figure of speech Dialogismos.
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?
40.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
the least. Emph. = even the least.
41.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
say also unto them = say unto them also.
ye cursed = that are abiding under a curse.
everlasting fire = the fire, the age-abiding [fire]. See App-151 .
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.
44.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45.
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
everlasting Greek. aionion. App-151 . In the same sense as in Hebrews 5:9 (Isaiah 45:17 ); Matthew 6:2 ; Matthew 9:12 . 2 Thessalonians 1:9 . (Compare Psalms 52:5 ; Psalms 92:7 .) The eternal result must be the same as in the next clause.
punishment. Greek. kolasis. According to Aristotle kolasis has regard to him who suffers it, while timoria has regard to the satisfaction of him who inflicts it. (Occurs only in Hebrews 10:29 . The verb timoreo only in Acts 22:5 , and Acts 26:11 .) Kolasis occ only here, and 1 John 4:18 (the verb kolazomai only in Acts 4:21 ; 2 Peter 2:9 ). What this kolasis is must be learnt from Matthew 25:41 . Compare Matthew 3:12 , and note on Luke 3:17 .