14 For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey. 16 Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more. 17 In the same way he who had been given the two got two more. 18 But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place. 19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account with them. 20 And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord. 22 And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord. 24 And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work: 25 And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours. 26 But his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for which I have done no work, 27 Why, then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got back what is mine with interest? 28 Take away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And put out the servant who is of no profit into the outer dark: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 25:14-30
Commentary on Matthew 25:14-30
(Read Matthew 25:14-30)
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.