Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 25:22
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.
22. He also that had received twotalents came . . . good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithfulover a few things, I will make thee ruler over many thingsBothare commended in the same terms, and the reward of both is preciselythe same. (See on Mt 25:15).Observe also the contrasts: “Thou hast been faithful as aservant; now be a rulerthou hast been entrustedwith a few things; now have dominion over manythings.”
enter thou into the joy ofthy lordthy Lord’s own joy. (See Joh 15:11;Heb 12:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He also that had received two talents,…. A lesser degree of ministerial gifts; and who as he received next to the other, and was the next, who in proportion to what he had received, had traded and gained, he is mentioned in the next: place, as giving in his account; who
came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents, behold I have gained two other talents besides them: his account, abating the sum and gains, is given in, in the same form as the other.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“And he also who received the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you handed over to me two talents. Lo, I have gained another two talents.’ ”
The one who had received the two talents also came to render account, and was able to point out that he had doubled what he had been given. He too had used what was entrusted to him wisely and well.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
DISCOURSE: 1397
THE TALENTS
Mat 25:22-23. 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. 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.
THE solemnities of the day of judgment were a frequent subject of our Lords discourse. This was a topic well calculated to fix the attention of his hearers. The nearer he drew towards the close of his ministry, the more he insisted on it: nor can we too often dwell upon it in our minds. The parable before us leads us to the contemplation of this awful subject: it very nearly resembles the parable of The Pounds [Note: Luk 19:12-26. In both the parables a rich man going to a distant country committed a sum of money to his servants to improve for him, and on his return dealt with them according to the use they had made of it, rewarding the faithful and punishing the negligent.]. Yet are there some important points of difference between them [Note: In that of the pounds all the servants had an equal sum committed to them: but they made a different improvement of them, and were therefore differently rewarded. In the parable before us, the sums committed to the servants were different; but their improvement of them was equal (each having doubled his deposit) and therefore their reward was equal also.].
These points will furnish occasion for two important observations:
I.
God bestows gifts on every man according to his own sovereign will
God is the source and author of every blessing we enjoy
[To him we owe it that we were brought into the world of Christian, rather than of heathen, parents. From him we have received all our bodily and intellectual powers. We possess nothing good, which we have not derived from him [Note: Jam 1:17.].]
He dispenses extremely various gifts to various persons
[The greater part of the world are left by him in gross darkness. To the Jews he vouchsafed the light of his revealed will. The light that just dawned on them, has visited us in its meridian splendour. But some in this Christian land are scarcely more instructed in the knowledge of Christ, than if they had no concern with him: others again have had their eyes opened to behold his glory. Great was the diversity of gifts bestowed on the Christians of old [Note: 1Co 12:5-12.]; and there is the same distinction made in the Church at this day [Note: Eph 4:7.]. Hence we are called stewards of the manifold grace of God [Note: 1Pe 4:10.].]
These he bestows according to his own sovereign will
[The rich man in the parable gave to each according to his several ability [Note: ver. 15.]. Thus while he acted sovereignly, he acted also wisely, and in this point of view only can that circumstance be applied. It is not true that God bestows the richest talents on the most able men [Note: 1Co 1:26-27.]: besides, the very abilities we possess are derived from him alone; and, if mans ability were the measure of Gods gifts, man would have room to boast [Note: 1Co 4:7.]. God acts in all things according to his sovereign will [Note: Dan 4:35.]. Nevertheless his will is guided by consummate wisdom [Note: Eph 1:11. The counsel of his will.]: and every person, whatever his lot be, must confess with the Apostle [Note: Eph 1:8.]. These considerations are indeed humiliating to our proud hearts; but they are inexpressibly comforting to those whose talents are small, and whose afflictions are many. Let such persons weigh them well, and make use of them for the suppressing of envy and discontent [Note: This is a little digression from the subject; or rather an application of it: but it is peculiarly proper in this place, in order to shew that the sovereignty of God is not a speculative point merely, but a practical, and most comforting doctrine. We are all placed, like the different members of the body, each in the fittest place: and were our situations altered otherwise than God has ordained, the change would be to the detriment both of the individual member, and of the whole body. See 1Co 12:11-12; 1Co 12:18.].]
We may well be satisfied with his conduct in this respect; for,
II.
He will reward every man, not so much according to the talents he possesses, as according to his fidelity in improving them
A man, endued with great gifts, will not be the more approved on that account
[The mere possession of great talents does not alter our moral character. Judas was not at all inferior in knowledge to the other Apostles; nor was he less endued with a power of working miracles than they. All his opportunities of spiritual improvement were the same as theirs; but his heart was not changed by means of these privileges; nor was his person the more accepted of God on account of them. On the contrary, the greater his privileges, the greater was his guilt in neglecting to improve them; and he now surpasses others in nothing but shame and misery [Note: Act 1:25.]. To this purpose are those warnings which our Lord gave to the cities of Juda [Note: Mat 11:21-24.]: nor are those warnings inapplicable to those who hear his Gospel now.]
Nor will a person of the smallest talents be on that account overlooked
[God looks not at the outward appearance, but at the the heart [Note: 1Sa 16:7.]: he notices them that are of a broken and contrite spirit [Note: Isa 66:2.]. Few perhaps have been more destitute of gifts than Lazarus: yet how far better is his state now than the Rich Mans [Note: Luk 16:23-24.]! The widow that possessed but two mites, was destitute enough; but the use she made of them was more acceptable to God than all the rich offerings of the opulent [Note: Mar 12:43-44.]. Thus, if we only improve what we have, we cannot fail of a reward. On the contrary, if we bury our talent, though it be but one, we shall be punished for it.]
The Scriptures speak strongly upon each of these points
[They plainly declare that there are degrees of reward and punishment [Note: 1Co 15:41-42. 2Pe 2:21.]. Our Lord assures us, that the punishment of men will be proportioned to the light against which they have sinned [Note: Luk 12:47-48.]: and St. Paul affirms, that our services shall be accepted in proportion as they corresponded with our ability to perform them [Note: 2Co 8:12.].]
Infer
1.
What little reason is there to envy those who have great talents!
[It is evident that an increase of talent only increases our responsibility. To many, the advantages they have abused are now their greatest torment; and what reason have we to think, that our diligence in serving God would be excited in proportion as our opportunities were enlarged? We all have too much reason to lament our past unprofitableness. Let us therefore rather improve what we have, than covet what we have not.]
2.
How earnest should every one be in trading with the talent committed to him!
[The time is shortly coming when we must give up our account to God: and how awful will it be to be cast out as wicked and slothful servants! How will such characters weep and wail for the opportunities they have lost! On the contrary, how delightful to hear the Saviours plaudit! What a recompence, to enter into the joy of our Lord! O let every soul exert itself to the utmost in his service. Let none be discouraged because they can do but little for God. Many who condemn themselves as vile and faithless, shall hear him say, Well done, good and faithful servants: and many, who are ready to tremble with apprehensions of his wrath, shall be made partakers of his felicity and glory.]
3.
How little should we regard the attempts of the ungodly to repress our zeal!
[Men never condemn their own stewards for being too faithful or diligent: yet if any of the Lords stewards labour to improve their talent, the world cry out against them as over-righteous. But it is a very small matter to be judged of mans judgment. Let the world exclaim against us as hypocrites or enthusiasts, if the Judge of all do but account us good and faithful: His plaudit will abundantly compensate for the obloquy we endured. Let us then, every one for himself, stir up the gift of God that is in us; and let us exhort one another in the words of inspiration [Note: 1Co 15:58.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 22. Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents ] It is with Christians as with planets. The moon goes her course in a month, the sun in a year, the rest not but in many years, yet at length they finish. Let us be doing as we can, and our reward is sure with God. Covet rather graces than gifts; as to pray more fervently, though less notionally or eloquently. Stammering Moses must pray, rather than well spoken Aaron. The Corinthians came behind in no gift, 1Co 1:7 , yet were Babes and carnal, 1Co 3:2-3 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I have: Luk 19:18, Luk 19:19, Rom 12:6-8, 2Co 8:1-3, 2Co 8:7, 2Co 8:8, 2Co 8:12
Reciprocal: Pro 27:18 – shall be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:22
This servant’s report was exactly the same kind as that of the first one, namely, that he had doubled his lord’s money by trading.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 25:22-23. He also that had received the two talents said, Behold, I have gained two other talents Here we see that he who had received only two talents, gives up his account as cheerfully as he who had received five; for our comfort and reward in the day of reckoning will be according to our faithfulness, not according to our usefulness; our sincerity, not our success; according to the uprightness of our hearts, and not the degree of our opportunities. We may, therefore, well rest contented with the talents our Master has allotted us, how few or small soever they may be, especially considering, 1st, that they are intrusted with us by him who knows infinitely better than we do what we are capable of managing, and who gives to all his servants according to their ability, or according as he knows they are able to cultivate or improve more or fewer: and considering, 2d, that if more and greater talents had been vouchsafed us, more care, caution, and diligence would have been requisite, and our account would have been more difficult. But these considerations should not only make us easy in every situation of life, but should incline us to constant activity in our sphere, be it what it may. Men frequently deceive themselves, (and the delusion is specious,) by supposing if they were in such a state, and had such and such opportunities, how much they could do, what good they might effect; by which means they are led frequently to overlook the advantages and means of good in their own state, and are carried out in fond desires after that imaginary one; falling short of which, they do no good at all. So the tempter gains his end. It is our wisdom to improve the present state, the present means, the present hour. All is in Gods hand, and he best knows where and how his servants may or may not be subservient to his glory, and there can be no doubt but he will dispose of us accordingly. Some, says Henry, make it an excuse for their laziness, that they have not the opportunities of serving God which others have: and because they have not wherewithal to do what they say they would, they will not do what we are sure they can, and so sit down and do nothing: it is really an aggravation of their sloth, that when they have but one talent to take care about, they neglect that one; as is represented in the next character.