before the food, they were eat-ing of the Son of man be. ing and drinking, marrying and the 39 And knew not, until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming j Ge.6.2. the flood. (Noe is the Greek.) Their coming destruction should be equally sudden and surprizing to the unbelieving Jews, as also the final coming to judgment should surprize the unbelieving world. 38. For. The people in Noah's time, though so abundantly forewarned, were giving attention to worldly things, and indulging in common gratifications up to the very day of the flood, as though nothing would cccur. See 1 Pet. 3. 20. 39. Knew not—the real truth of the case, until they experienced the destruction. So far did they persist in their wilful ignorance and unbeliefand so it should be with the Jewish nation. 40. Then shall two be in the field. So Christ's coming whether to the Jewish nation then, or to the world hereafter, should overtake men at their accustomed avocations, and so it should break up connexions without a moment's warning and so, the providence of God should distinguish, and take one and leave another, sparing His people, and sweeping away the wicked from their side. The doctrine of distinguishing grace is here also taught. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore; for ye k Lu.12.39,49. Re.3.3; 16.15. stick or handle-one of the women turning it half round-the other driving it the rest of the way. As the ne ther stone had an elevation in the eentre, which fitted in a corresponding hole in the upper stone, the corn was ground by the revolutions, and came out at the edges. 42. Watch therefore. All this was calculated to make them watchful and anxious. 41. At the mill. Mills among the Hebrews were driven by the hand; and two persons, commonly women, were employed in the operation. It was laborious work, and belonged to the lowest maid-servants. See Job 31. 10. The mill itself consisted of two 129. TRANSITION TO CHRIST'S FINAL circular stones, commonly two feet in diameter, and half-a-foot thick. The lower is called "the nether mili stone," Job 41. 16, which was fixed firmly to the floor or ground, while 24. 43-51 the upper was turned upon it, by a 25. 1-30 COMING AT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. PARABLES—Ten Virgins. The five Talents. Matt. Mark. 11 Luke. John son ?m 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. know not what hour your Lord | to give them meat in due sea doth come. 43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, That our Lord here makes a transition and proceeds to speak of His final coming at the day of judgment, appears from the fact, that here the parallel reports of Mark and Luke end, and that which in Luke is parallel to this paragraph (Luke 12. 39), has obvious reference to this final coming at the last day. And that it has here the same reference is apparent from the subsequent warnings, and their intimate connexion with Matt. 25. 31-46. See Robinson's Harmony-Notes. The destruction of Jerusalem was a proper emblem of the dissolution of the world, and the warnings which had just been delivered in reference to impending national judgments, would naturally lead to a caution against a more awful surprize by His coming at the final day. 47 Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler" over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming : 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; 7 Je.3.15. m c.13.52. n c.25.21. 44. Be ye also ready. That is, be fully prepared, so as not to be taken by surprize-because death will come without warning, even as a thief, 1 Thess. 5. 2. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Rev. 3. 3. A deathbed is no place for preparation. And none can count on having timely notice. Commonly we find that men are called to eternity in most unexpected times and ways. See Luke 21. 36; 12. 36. 45-47. Who then. This duty of vigilance and diligence is illustrated by the case of a servant in his master's absence. A faithful servant looks out for the master's return, and acts in his absence as though he were there, or would any moment appear. A wicked servant takes advantage of the delay, and abuses his trust. The good servant is rewarded by his master's increased confidence. The evil servant represents the careless professor or minister, who acts as though God would not see him, or call him to account. These acts here mentioned indicate dishonesty and cruelty 43. But know this. As with a man whose house is robbed, he would certainly have watched, if he had known the hour when it would be, so every one that is overtaken by Christ's coming, if he had known the time-worthy of severest punishment. of it would have watched. There is really every motive for watchfulness; and here is exposed the folly of that man who does not watch, merely because he does not know the time. This would rather be a reason for keeping constant watch-and this is urged by our Lord in the next verse. Professing Christians or ministers may act so unfaithfully, when they forget their Lord and His promised return.- - Wise-discreet-prudent. T Household-family of servants. Provisions were distributed monthly. 50. When he looketh not for him. Be. 50 The lord of that servant | shall be weeping and gnashing shall come in a day when he of teeth. looketh not for him, and in an CHAPTER XXV. HEN shall the kingdom of TH 51 And shall1 cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion unto virgins," which took their lamps, with the hypocrites: there P and went forth to meet the bridegroom.b o 1Th.5.3. Re.3.3. 1 Or, cut him off. p c.25.30. cause he has forgotten his Master, and has not believed that he would soon return, and so has given himself up to sinful pleasure.¶ Day and hour-are here used, to denote the suddenness. It might occur the next hour of this day, as easily as the next day. 51. Shall cut him asunder. A most severe punishment. It was sometimes practised. (Daniel, ch. 3. 29. 1 Sam. 15, 33.) And the term is used here only to show that the retribution will be of the severest kind. Unfaithful servants of God, ministers or members, who take such advantage, and so abuse their trust, shall have the most dreadful doom.¶ With the hypocrites. This is to show that hypocrisy is the foulest crime and that all hypocrites shall dwell in everlasting torment; "all liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." (Rev. 21.8.)- -¶Weeping and gnashing of teeth-is a phrase often used to denote the bitterest agony and convulsions of pain and rage. (See Matt. 8. 12, note.) Death to each of us is the same as Christ's coming, for at death we are separately judged. And from this passage we learn how wise it is to be prepared now, so that whenever death may come we may be ready. OBSERVE, (1.) Christ's second coming is purposely concealed as to the precise time, and they who presume to fix its date, go counter to the express warning of God. Our business is to be ready, and count practically in our living, that it may come immediately. As of the former coming, we are to reckon that "the end of all a Ps.45.14. Ca.6.8,9. 2Cor.11.2. b Jno.3.29. things is at hand," and by faith, we are to consider it "nigh, even at the doors." It will burst upon the world, in the midst of other calculations. (2.) Christ's coming to us, in death and judgment will be the most sudden requiring the utmost readiness. (3.) If we knew just when He will come to us, in death, and could know the very date, we should be watching now. (4.) The professed servants of Christ are blessed only as they are watchful and faithful, looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of God. They who make His delay to be slackness, and live like the careless world, must have their portion with the hypocrites. (See 2 Pet. 3. 9.) CHAPTER XXV. 1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven, &c. This parable is now introduced to enforce the duty of watchfulness, to warn against declension, and to show the danger of neglect. He had spoken of His coming in judgment upon their city and nation, and then He had passed to speak of His final coming. The kingdom of heaven, -¶ here refers to the results of the Christian economy among men, and the closing up of means of grace at the end. Christ's relation to the Church is compared in Scripture to the marriage relation, and symbolized by it. (Matt. 9. 15. Rev. 21. 9. Ephes. 5. 25-32.) This parable refers to the circumstances attending the final consummation, when Christ shall come to be glorified in His saints, and admired in all them that believe. Allusion is here made to the Jewish customs at a wedding. The bridegroom was the newly-married husband. Af c Je.24.2-9. c.22.10. ₫ Is.48.1. ter the marriage feast, which occupied a week, the husband, with the children of the bridechamber, led the bride to his own home. (Ps. 45. 10.) She is accompanied from her father's house by her young friends and companions, while others of these (the virgins here), at some convenient place, meet and join in the procession, and enter with the rest of the bridal company into the hall of feasting. There were usually ten for this ceremony. This number was the number of completeness among the Jews. Where there were "ten men of leisure," a synagogue might be built. -T Lamps. As this was done commonly at night, they had lamps or torches-a bunch of rags wound thickly round the end of an iron rod, and dipped in oil, was the common torch. adorned for her husband. 2. Wise, &c. Some were wise enough to take oil, and others foolish enough to neglect it. These two classes represent the faithful and unfaithful professor-the one prepared for Christ's coming, the other unprepared. the day-time-for this life-or had a religion for this world and for the demands of society, with no reference to death or the judgment. There are many such, who have made no substantial or adequate preparation for Christ's coming at length and at night. 4. The wise. True Christians, who made suitable and special preparation for Christ's coming, and had regarded His coming as needing a special provision-as not in the common course of things, and as requiring the spirit in them-these had graces of the Spirit, and good hope through grace. They who prepare for the future are wise, that they may be always prepared-ready at all times for whatever may occur. 5. Tarried. That is, delayed to come. He did not come as soon as some had ¶ The bridegroom. By this is expected. They had only a day-time meant the Lord Jesus Christ, whose provision in fact-only for this world coming is here illustrated, with its re- -not for the deep night-the hereafter sults, when the New Jerusalem shall the midnight of death and judgcome down from heaven as a bridement.- -T Slept. This represents the time-as now at length the night, and not the day-the future, and not the present-when, as in a city at midnight, the populace have put aside the business of the day, and are asleep; and now, only, this special coming is the great concern with the church. This is the ground-work on which the picture is painted. It is Christ's coming, as that ultimate event that shall come at length-beyond all other things; not as other secular comings-in the day-but at night, as needing the most special preparation-lamps and oil, trimmed and burning-that were not needed if this had been a common matter, or provided for by natural morality. T All slumbered and slept-not they ali, as though speaking of the virginsbut "all," as indicating the time of sleep--the night, 3. Took no oil. Whatever is merely outward in the Christian profession, is the lamp; whatever is inward and spiritual, is the oil in the vessel. Oil is in the Scripture a standing symbol of the Spirit. (Exod. 30. 2233. Zech. 4. 2, 12. Acts 10. 38. Heb. 1.9.) They should have taken oil, because their torches were of no use without it. They had only a show of preparation, but no substance; lamps without oil, or a form of godliness without the power. They had rather expected His coming in until it is too late. The best need to trim their lamps, examine their hopes, and refresh their faith in Christ. T Trimmed. The hand-lamp was naturally small, and would not contain a supply for many hours' burn Ward (View of the Hindoos, v. 2. p. 29), describing the parts of a marriage ceremony in India, of which he was an eye-witness, says: "After waiting two or three hours, at length near midnight, it was announced, Behold the bridegroom cometh, going. ye out to meet him.' All the persons employed now lighted their lamps, and ran with them in their hands to fill up their stations in the procession. Some of them had lost their lights and were unprepared, but it was then too late to seek them, and the cavalcade moved forward." . 6. At midnight. This was the custom, to have a crier go before the bridegroom, and give notice aloud of his coming. Sometimes part of the retinue ran before and gave the public tidings. This is done by Death, the last messenger. We know not when we shall hear that cry. We can be prepared to meet the Lord, only by embracing His offers, and accepting His gospel for our hope, and getting all our supplies of grace from Him. We must prepare now, if we would be ready, and we must be ready before we are called, because then, we are obliged to go whether prepared or not. Concerning the second coming of Christ, it belongs essentially to the doctrine that the time be unknown and uncertain, so that there may be this constant and ever-increasing motive to watch, because we know not the time. 7. Then. When the call came, all were anxious to have their lights burn. The most careless begin to examine their hopes and preparation At last, but often find their lack, not The margin reads, lamps going out"-needing to be constantly watched and replenished. The trimming implied two things-the infusion of fresh oil, and the removing whatever had gathered round and was clogging the wick. 8. Give us. The foolish now saw their deficiency. They wanted oil now, because they must go, and they applied to their fellows; but the best furnished had no oil to spare. They needed all they had for their own use. So the unprepared sinner finds he has nothing that will do for the trying hour. He calls upon Christians, but they cannot give him grace, nor pardon, nor hope. God alone can give saving grace; men cannot convert their fellow-men. The wise have not grace enough for themselves and others. "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 9. Go ye rather. The dying sinner must be directed for pardon to Christ alone. The wise virgins gave Christian counsel, though they could not give oil; they directed to Christ and the means. 10. While they went to buy. This they had put off till it was too late: verifying vs. 33, ch. 24. If they had known beforehand just when He would come, they would have looked to their timely preparation. Those that were ready were the wise who had oil. |