Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 46. The Day of Judgment
32. all nations ] Either (1) all the nations of the world, including the Jews; or (2) all the Gentiles. The almost invariable use of to signify the Gentiles; the unconsciousness of service to Christ shewn by just and unjust alike; the simplicity of the standard proposed by the Judge, favour the second interpretation. On the other hand the special warning to the Apostles, and to the Jewish race, in the previous parts of the discourse render it probable that Jews and Christians are not excluded from this picture of the judgment. The unconsciousness of the judged may be referred not to ignorance of Christ, but to unconsciousness that in relieving the distressed they were actually relieving Christ. The simplicity of the standard may be intended to include what is called “natural” religion, as well as revealed religion. The nations are judged by a standard of justice which all recognise. (Read Rom 1:18-20; Rom 2:9-16.)
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats ] “The sheep and goats are always seen together under the same shepherd and in company; yet they never trespass on the domain of each other. When folded together at night they may always be seen gathered in distinct groups; and so, round the wells they appear instinctively to classify themselves apart, as they wait for the troughs to be filled.” Tristram, Natural History of the Bible, pp. 89, 90. The goat was not in evil repute in the East, as contrasted with the sheep; on the contrary, the he-goat was a symbol of dignity, so that the point of analogy is merely the separation between the sheep and the goats.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And cast … – See the notes at Mat 8:12. The spiritual meaning of the parable may be thus summed up:
- The servants of God are not all endowed with equal gifts and talents.
- All, whatever may be their ability, are bound to employ their talents in promoting his honor, and in a proper improvement of them.
- By employing their talents in a proper manner, they improve and strengthen them.
- They will be judged according to the improvements which they have made.
- All sinners look on God as a hard master, and as unreasonable and tyrannical.
- People will be judged not merely for doing wrong, but for neglecting to do right.
- If the servant who kept the talent entire without injuring it, and who returned it to his master as he received it, was nevertheless judged, condemned, and cast away, what must they expect who abuse their talents, destroy by drunkenness and lust the noble faculties conferred on them, and squander the property that might be employed in advancing the interests of morals and religion!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 30. Weeping and gnashing of teeth.] See Clarke on Mt 8:12, a note necessary for the illustration of this, and the foregoing parable.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
30. And cast yecast ye out.
the unprofitable servanttheuseless servant, that does his Master no service.
into outer darknessthedarkness which is outside. On this expression see on Mt22:13.
there shall be weeping andgnashing of teethSee on Mt13:42.
Mt25:31-46. THE LASTJUDGMENT.
The close connection between thissublime scenepeculiar to Matthewand the two preceding parablesis too obvious to need pointing out.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And cast ye the unprofitable servant,…. All the servants of Christ are unprofitable with respect to God; for no man can be profitable to him, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself, or others; or in a way of merit, since when they have done the most and best, they have done but their duty: but this man was unprofitable with respect to himself, having not improved the gift and talent bestowed on him; and with respect to men, being of no use for the conversion of sinners, or the comfort of saints, or the edifying of the body of Christ; and brought no honour to his master, and was of no service for the spreading of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom and interest; and therefore, as one good for nothing, the ministering angels are bid to take him, and cast him
into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth: he shall be turned out of doors into outer darkness, to be a companion of other unhappy creatures; who are also without, bewailing their miserable condition, and reflecting on their past conduct; whilst faithful, diligent, and laborious servants will be within, partaking of a rich entertainment, prepared by their Lord, accompanied with joy unspeakable, and full of glory:
[See comments on Mt 8:12].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The unprofitable ( ). Useless ( privative and , useful) and so unprofitable, injurious. Doing nothing is doing harm.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
30. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. We have also explained, (695) under Mat 8:12, that outer darkness is contrasted with the light which is within the house; (696) for, as banquets were anciently held, for the most part, at night, and were illuminated by numerous torches and lamps, of those who are banished from the kingdom of God, Christ says, that they are cast without into darkness
(695) Harmony, vol. 1. p. 384.
(696) “ De la lumiere et clarte qui est en la maison;” — “with the light and brightness that is within the house.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(30) Cast ye the unprofitable servant . . .We have had so far the special punishment of sloth, but it is not complete without the solemn and emphatic recurrence of the darkness and gnashing of teeth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness This is the consummation of judgment. Loss of all farther means of divine favour, and rejection from the life and glory of the divine presence. See note on Mat 8:12.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And cast you out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”
These words are left until the end so as to bring out their emphasis. This was what the parable was finally leading up to. It is not an added note, it is at the heart of the parable, the failure of men and women to respond to Jesus Christ with their lives. Jesus was warning all who were listening, that this was what had to be avoided at all costs.
For the one who refuses to serve his Lord and fails to make use of what He entrusts to him, is unprofitable. And he will thus be cast into the outer darkness, away from the light. Light is regularly the picture of eternal bliss (Rev 21:23; Rev 22:5). It is a symbol of living in the presence of God. And that is what this man has lost. He is cast into outer darkness, away from the light, and there, as he observes all that he has lost, he will weep and gnash his teeth. For the outer darkness see Mat 4:16; Mat 8:12; Joh 12:46. For weeping and gnashing of teeth see Mat 8:12; Mat 13:42; Mat 13:50; Mat 22:13; Mat 24:51, always apparently referring to the despair of the lost at what they have lost.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 25:30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant, &c. This punishment must have been greatly embittered to him by the happier lot of his fellow-servants, who were highly applauded for their diligence, and gladdened with the prospect of their reward. See on ch. Mat 8:12.
In this parable, by the man travelling into a far country, is represented to us our Saviour, who is said to do so, either in reference to his ascent into heaven, or to that long-sufferance of his, whereby he waiteth for the fruit of our works. By his own servants are meant the subjects of his gospel kingdom, who are entrusted with his spiritual gifts and graces; and of necessity, by the goods or talents intrusted to them, must be meant, not only the gifts of nature, but of grace. By the servants who improved their lord’s talents, are meant those who diligently labour to improve all the gifts of God, natural and spiritual, agreeable to the will of their heavenly Master, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord; while by the slothful servant, such are pictured out to us as live solely to themselves, without regard to the glory of God, or the good of mankind. “He who lives not solely to his own profit, (says Theophylact,) but whether he have prudence or riches, or power and authority with the great; or whatever influence and heart he hath, endeavours thereby to serve and be useful to others, this is the man who doubles that which is given him; but he who hides his talent, is the man who has regard solely to his own advantage, and not to that of others; and therefore is condemned. And whenever you see a man of good understanding and industrious, using his parts in the pursuit of worldly things, and earthly devices, of him you may say, that he hides his talent in the earth; to take an account whereof, the Master will one day comethe eternal judge of heaven and earth, whose future coming for that great purpose is figured out to us by the return of the lord of those servants, after a long time, to reckon with them. And as by the reward of the good and faithful servant the blessedness of all true Christians is shewn; so by the punishment of the wicked and slothful one, is declared to us the misery of all nominal and merely outward professors of thefaith and religion of Christ, who, on the day when, vested in terrible majesty, the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, &c. (2Th 1:7; 2Th 1:12.) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Ver. 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant ] , useless. That had his soul for salt only, to keep his body from putrefying, that worthless, sapless, useless man, that is no more missed when gone than the parings of one’s nails, that never did good among his people, Eze 18:18 , but lived wickedly, and therefore died wickedly. Away with such a fellow, saith Christ, from off the earth, which he hath burdened, . Hom.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 25:30 . , useless. Palairet renders injuriosum ; Kypke, improbum . Being useless, he was both injurious and unjust. The useless man does wrong all round, and there is no place for him either in this world or in the Kingdom of God. His place is in the outer darkness.
Difference of opinion prevails as to whether this parable refers to the use of material goods for the Kingdom of God, or to the use of spiritual gifts. It is not, perhaps, possible to decide in ignorance of the historical occasion of the parable, nor is it necessary, as the same law applies.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
outer = the outer. Greek. exoteros. Occurs only in Matthew (here, Mat 8:12, and Mat 22:13).
weeping and gnashing. See note on Mat 8:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 25:30. , unprofitable) sc. now and hereafter;[1097] cf. Gnomon on Mat 25:21, and Luk 16:11.- is in Attic Greek written , according to Eustathius.-, …, cast forth, etc.) There is a contrast between this and Mat 25:21. The Lord Himself commands [the good servants] to enter; He desires His attendants to cast out [the unprofitable one], as in ch. Mat 22:13.[1098]
[1097] Even though he had caused no loss to his master.-V. g.
[1098] Cf. Gnomon on ch. Mat 7:24.-(I. B.)
, though translated by Bengel, unprofitable, useless, is not to be confounded with , which more strictly expresses that meaning. A slave that has done all that his master commands is , not in the sense that he is worthless, useless, which could not be said of such a servant, but he is one , a person to whom the master owes nothing, with whom he could dispense, Act 17:25. God receives no benefit from man for which He owes a return, Luk 17:10. Here, in Mat 25:30, though the servant had been also , unprofitable, useless, and slothful, yet the idea conveyed by the is not this, but its consequence: for he who is useless by doing no work is not wanted (the latter expressing the true force of :). The , besides being useless, causes also loss to his master. See Tittm. Syn. Gr. Test.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
cast: Mat 3:10, Mat 5:13, Jer 15:1, Jer 15:2, Eze 15:2-5, Luk 14:34, Luk 14:35, Joh 15:6, Tit 3:14, Heb 6:7, Heb 6:8, Rev 3:15, Rev 3:16
outer: Mat 8:12, Mat 13:42, Mat 13:50, Mat 22:13, Mat 24:51, Luk 13:28, 2Pe 2:17, Jud 1:13, Rev 21:8
Reciprocal: Est 4:3 – weeping Son 6:6 – General Luk 17:10 – General Act 7:54 – they gnashed Rom 3:12 – become Phm 1:11 – unprofitable
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
NO NEUTRALITY
Cast ye the unprofitable servant. gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:30
The Advent warning, contained in parable of unprofitable servant, is directed against the sin of despised opportunities and a wasted life.
The smallest amount entrusted to the servant, but he must render account for all that. It is his lords money. So with us; influence, position, talents, wealth are entrusted propertyOccupy till I come.
I. The root of the offence was in the hard thoughts of God and His service. The talent buried in the earth represents the justification of the deceived heart for its disobedience. All heart-rebellion begins in hard thoughts of the Divine Service. We wish to be our own master, our own Bible, our own law.
II. The charge of being unreasonable, which the servant brought against the master, was an aggravation of the offence. The sin among ourselves answering to this pretence of unprofitable servant is that, in regard to the great salvation, men shift blame of their deficiencies upon God, that He expects fruit at their hands which He does not give them the means of producing.
III. The positive wrong done to the master in the loss of interest which investment of the one talent would bring is the final aggravation of the offence. The modern equivalent is the excuse that means opportunities, and influences are too limited to do any good with. But parable teaches that the man has not lived whose services are too humble for Christ to accept. A mite cast into the treasury, a cup of cold water may be used. A life of quiet goodness will open to us a wider mission than we think of.
IV. Take the talent from him is the consummation of a sentence which begins even in this life. The servant, because he was unprofitable, is cast out. Let this warning sink deeply into all hearts. Apathy is sin. Unprofitableness is insult. To be neutral in the Christian warfare is to side with the foes of God.
Prebendary Daniel Moore.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
5:30
No earthly lord ever treated his servants as this verse indicates. It is the conclusion that Jesus makes to the lesson of the parable. For weeping and gnashing of teeth see the comments on Mat 24:51.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 25:30. Comp. chap. Mat 8:12; Mat 22:13. An obvious allusion to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, so that this and the preceding parable must refer to the same point in the future. In Luke, the nobleman becomes a king, who punishes his rebellious servants; here the parable closes with the just administration of the landowner, although the King comes into all the more glorious prominence in the last parable, Mat 25:31 ff.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 25:30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant Who has so wickedly abused my goodness; into outer darkness The darkness which is without the heavenly city, even the horrible darkness of hell. There, instead of the light and joy possessed by those who are admitted to the marriage- supper of the Lamb, shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Through the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched. There shall be the weeping of the careless, thoughtless sinner, and the gnashing of teeth of the proud and stubborn. See notes on Mat 8:12; Mat 13:42; Mat 22:13. But why does this servant meet with this punishment? What had he done? It is true he had not done good. But neither is he charged with doing any harm. Why, for this reason, for barely doing no harm, he is consigned to outer darkness. He is pronounced a wicked, because he was a slothful, an unprofitable servant. So mere harmlessness, on which many build their hope of salvation, was the cause of his damnation! Observe this well, reader; slothful servants, who do nothing with respect to the purpose of their being sent into the world, nothing to answer the end of their birth and baptism, who are no way serviceable to the glory of God, or the good of others, will be reckoned with as unprofitable servants. A slothful servant is a withered member in the body, a barren tree in the vineyard, an idle drone in the hive, that is good for nothing. In one sense, indeed, we are all unprofitable servants, Luk 17:10. We cannot profit God, Job 22:2; but to others, and to ourselves, it is required that we be profitable; and if we be not, Christ will not own us as his servants.