173
? HE K I N G ’S BUS I NES S at the end, for we have had plenty of time to learn how to serve our Lord. —-Dods. v. 20. I have gained. There was a tone of exultation in his words. We too may so live as to have no fear in the day of His coming and of judgment.— Torrey. v. 21. Well done. W. D. is the greatest degree a man can win on earth.—Cole. Good and faithful. The Lord’s commendation may he earned by the weakest of His servants. It is given for faithfulness, not for talents.—Sco field. Will- make thee ruler. This is God’s law of recompense— to reward work well done by more and greater work.—Punshon.. The privileges of heaven shall he in proportion to the services wrought on earth.—Camb. Bible. We can see that the reward of faithful work lies not in rest only, but in enlarged activity. Those who have so used their talents as to turn many to righteousness may find new spheres of action beyond all their dreams.— Plumptre. Joy of thy lord. The words are too strong for the framework of the parable. The human master would hard ly use such language to his slaves, but here the reality breaks through the symbol and we hear the voice of the Divine Master speaking to His servants and He bids them share His joy, for that joy also had its source in loyal faithful service.—Plumptre. Down here the joy of the Lord enters into His saints in the earnest of the Spirit. Shortly they shall enter into it and Shall be in it to eternity as in their element.—Henry. v. 22. Delivered unto me. Note that talents are not something naturally pos sessed but bestowed by God for use in His service.—Sel. v. 23. Good and faithful servant. The same commendation is gained by the servant with two talents as by him with five. - He. was equally faithful though his gift was less.—Scofield. Christ rewards not actions but the graces which are made visible in ac tions and these can be as well seen in the tiniest as in the largest deeds. He takes heed not of the extent but of the kind of service.—Maclaren. v. 24. He that received one. Hence forward none may excuse his sloth on a plea that he had but one talent.— Trench. Thou art a hard man. . His excuses brand him as a professor rather than a possessor.;—Sel. Thou hast not sown. I knew thou wast one whom it
was impossible to serve, one whom noth ing would please, exacting what was im practicable and dissatisfied with what was attainable.—Brown. Hast not. strawed. Gathering into the garner from another’s threshing floor where thou hast not winnowed.—Meyer. v. 25. Hid in the earth. It is not without significance that the servant who did nothing at all for his master was he that had received but one tal ent. Those who have great ability are liable to temptations of their own but such men are at all events not tempted to bury their talent. This is peculiar to the man who has little ability and sullenly retires from a service in which he cannot shine.-^Hom. Com. v. 26. Slothful servant. We are ac countable even for the least advantages. —Meyer. This man is the type of per son whom we all know, the easy go ing and inoffensive, well meaning man who does not care to be troubled much about any religious duty. He will place no obstacle in the way of others to do good, but he himself will not move one foot in that direction. Such men in giving their account condemn them selves, for no excuse framed to shield their slothfulness can be a valid one.— Davies. v. 27. Put money to exchangers. Literally bankers. These timid natures who are not adapted for independent labor, are now advised at least to as sociate themselves with persons of greater strength under whose guidance they may apply their gifts to the service of the church.—Olshausen. v. 29. Everyone that hath. The dis use of a faculty finally leads to its com plete loss, whereas the due use of it leads to its development and increase.— Dummelow. v. 30. Unprofitable servant. Consider what a serious thing it is for those who name the name of the Savior not to be abounding in His work. What blind ness of judgment, what perversion of will.—Lewis. Doing Our Best. Matt. 25:14-30. Memory Verse.—“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; Eccl. 9:10. Approach.—In a home were a little girl nine years old and her brother who was seven years old. The little girl al ways helped mother in every way that
Made with FlippingBook HTML5