Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 25:27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
27. put my money ] It was not thine own.
to the exchangers ] i. e. “to the bankers,” literally, to those who stand at tables, (Lat. mensarii), because the bankers had tables before them. This was the very least the slave could have done, to make money in this way required no personal exertion or intelligence.
with usury ] In modern language “with interest.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The exchangers – The exchangers were persons who were in the habit of borrowing money, or receiving it on deposit at a low rate of interest, to be loaned to others at higher interest. They commonly sat by tables in the temple, with money ready to exchange or loan. See Mat 21:12. This money was left with the servant, not to exchange, nor to increase it by any such idle means, but by honest industry and merchandise; but since he was too indolent for that, he ought at least to have loaned it to the exchangers, that his master might have received some benefit from it.
With usury – With interest, increase, or gain. The word usury, in our language, has a bad signification, meaning unlawful or exorbitant interest. This was contrary to the law, Exo 22:25; Lev 25:36. The original means gain, increase, or lawful interest.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. With usury.] , with its produce – not usury; for that is unlawful interest, more than the money can properly produce.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
27. thou oughtest therefore to haveput my money to the exchangersthe bankers.
and then at my coming Ishould have received mine own with usuryinterest.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,…. “Trapezites”, or “tablets”, the same whom the Jews z call , and is the same word which is here used in Munster’s Hebrew Gospel; who were so called from the table that stood before them, on which they told, and paid their money, and the exchange and use: hence all the Oriental versions here read, “thou shouldest have put my money to, or on the table”; put it into the hand of these bankers, where it would have been not only safe, as in the earth, where it was hid, but also would have made some increase, and would have been returned with profit;
and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury: this is said not so much to encourage usury, though it may be lawful; and it seems to have been a practice in those times to put money out to use upon a reasonable interest; but to reprove the sloth and inactivity of this servant, upon his own reasonings, and the character he had given of his master.
z Maimon. Hilch. Shekalim, c. 1. sect. 9. & c. 2. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thou oughtest therefore ( ). His very words of excuse convict him. It was a necessity () that he did not see.
The bankers ( ). The benchers, money-changers, brokers, who exchanged money for a fee and who paid interest on money. Word common in late Greek.
I should have received back ( ). Conclusion of a condition of the second class (determined as unfulfilled). The condition is not expressed, but it is implied. “If you had done that.”
With interest ( ). Not with “usury” in the sense of extortion or oppression. Usury only means “use” in itself. The word is from , to bring forth. Compound interest at six per cent doubles the principal every twenty years. It is amazing how rapidly that piles up if one carries it on for centuries and millenniums. “In the early Roman Empire legal interest was eight per cent, but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty-four, and even forty-eight” (Vincent). Such practices exist today in our cities. The Mosaic law did not allow interest in dealings between Hebrews, but only with strangers (Deut 23:19; Deut 23:20; Ps 15:5).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Put [] . Lit., throw or fling down, as one would throw a bag of coin upon the exchanger’s table.
Exchangers [] . Taking their name from the table or counter at which they sat [] . The Jewish bankers bore precisely the same name.
Usury [] . A very graphic word, meaning first childbirth, and then offspring. Hence of interest, which is the product or offspring of capital. Originally it was only what was paid for the use of money; hence usury; but it became synonymous with extortionate interest. Rev., better, with interest. The Jewish law distinguished between interest and increase. In Rome very high interest seems to have been charged in early times. Practically usury was unlimited. It soon became the custom to charge monthly interest at one per cent a month. During the early empire legal interest stood at eight per cent, but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty – four, and even forty – eight. The Jewish bankers of Palestine and elsewhere were engaged in the same undertakings. The law of Moses denounced usury in the transactions of Hebrews with Hebrews, but permitted it in dealing with strangers (Deu 23:19, 20; Psa 14:5).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
(27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers.Literally, table or counter-keepers, just as bankers were originally those who sat at their bancum, or bench. These were the bankers referred to in the Note on Mat. 25:14. In that case, if the servant had been honestly conscious of his own want of power, there would have been at least some interest allowed on the deposit.
Usury.Better, interest; the word not necessarily implying, as usury does now, anything illegal or exorbitant. The questionWhat answers to this giving to the exchangers in the interpretation of the parable?is, as has been said, analogous to that which asks the meaning of them that sell in the answer of the wise virgins in Mat. 25:9. Whatever machinery or organisation the Church possesses for utilising opportunities which individual men fail to exercise, may be thought of as analogous to the banking-system of the old world. When men in the middle ages gave to a cathedral or a college, when they subscribe largely now to hospitals or missions, doing this and nothing more, they are giving their money to the exchangers. It is not so acceptable an offering as willing and active service, but if it be honestly and humbly given, the giver will not lose his reward.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Thou oughtest therefore In view of my very supposed hardness. Men sometimes think that the doctrine of eternal condemnation is too terrible to believe, and so refuse to believe or repent. The infinitely better way is to say, “The eternal damnation is so terrible I will make sure not to incur it.” Exchangers Brokers, or men whose business it is not only to give one kind of coin for another, but also to take money as loan and pay interest upon it. Usury The word, in the time it was used by the New Testament translators, meant lawful interest. Our Lord then, in this verse, reasons with the culprit. If I am, as you say, a hard exacter, you ought at least to have done justice; if you dared not trade for fear of loss, you might at least have put the money in a savings bank, where a legal interest would have accrued. If a man will not in his place and according to his ability try to win laurels by extra good, he certainly may not damage his place by sinking below his ability, or by wasting what powers he has.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Ver. 27. Received the same with usury ] Our Saviour doth no more patronize usury here than he doth injustice,Luk 16:1Luk 16:1 ; theft,1Th 5:21Th 5:2 ; dancing, Mat 11:17 ; Olympic games, 1Co 9:24 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 25:27 . , etc., you ought in that case to have cast my silver to the money-changers, or bankers. That could have been done without trouble or risk, and with profit to the master. , apparently intended to be emphatic, suggesting a distribution of offices between servant and master = yours to put it into the bank, mine to take it out. So Field ( Otium Nor. ), who, following a hint of Chrys., translates: “And I should have gone ( ) to the bank and received back mine own (or demanded it) with interest”. , literally, with offspring: a figurative name for interest on money.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
exchangers = bankers. So called from the tables or counters at which they sat. Greek. trapezites. Occurs only here.
usury = interest. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 23:19, Deu 23:20). Compare Psa 15:5. Hebrews were forbidden to take it from Hebrews, but allowed to take it from foreigners.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 25:27. , …, therefore, etc.) The goodness of the Lord remains unknown to the wicked servant, by whom it had been denied.-, to have put out) The labour of digging was greater than this would have been; see Mat 25:18.- , Mine) corresponding with , Thine, in Mat 25:25; but in this instance the words , with interest, are added.[1096]
[1096] Mat 25:28. , who hath the ten) Who was not even bound to share with him, who had the five talents. See herein how great distinctions in retributive rewards and punishments shall hereafter be made manifest.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
oughtest: Luk 19:22, Luk 19:23, Rom 3:19, Jud 1:15
with: Deu 23:19, Deu 23:20
Reciprocal: Gen 3:17 – Because Exo 22:25 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:27
Oughtest therefore. If this lord was as exacting as the servant pretended to think he was, that was one great reason he should have been eager to do something that would satisfy him and hence avoid receiving his severe rebuke and sentence. Exchanger is from TRAPEZITES which Thayer defines, “A money-changer, broker, banker, one who exchanges money for a fee, and pays interest on deposits.” Such a business in Palestine was occasioned by the coming of people from various countries. Their money was not good in the local markets, which made it necessary to exchange it for current money of Palestine. Usury is the interest these exchangers would pay local citizens who were willing to lay their money on the banker’s table to be used in the exchange business. In the spiritual application it means that if we make the proper use of the opportunities the word has furnished us, we will become better and improve as the years go by. The third man was not condemned for not having as much to give his lord, but for not having any interest at all. In other words, he was condemned on the principle of being unfaithful to the trust that was given over to him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
[Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, etc.] the lord did not deliver the talents to his servants with that intent, that they should receive the increase and profit of them by usury; but that, by merchandise and some honest way of trade, they should increase them. He only returns this answer to the slothful servant, as fitted to what he had alleged; “You take me for a covetous, griping, and sordid man: why then did you not make use of a manner of gain agreeable to these qualities, namely, interest or usury (since you would not apply yourself to any honest traffic), that you might have returned me some increase of my money, rather than nothing at all?” So that our Lord, in these words, doth not so much approve of usury, as upbraid the folly and sloth of his servant.
Exchangers; answering to the word trapezita very usual among the Talmudists: “An exchanger (trapezita) sells money; and because a table is always before him, upon which he buys and sells, therefore he is called mensarius;” one that stands at a table.
Of the same employment was the shopkeeper of whom is as frequent mention among them. He exercised the employment of a usurer in buying and changing of fruits, as the other in money: for in these two especially consisted usury: of which you may see, if you please, the tract Bava Mezia.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 25:27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put. Lit. thrown, i.e., thrown on the money-table, which required no exertion.
My money. The trust demanded this.
To the bankers; the Greek word has the same etymology as the English one. These probably represent stronger spiritual characters who would have quickened his spirituality. If the talents be understood as including temporal trusts, such as money, then religious and charitable societies, as Alford suggests, fulfil this office.
Mine own with interest, It is implied that the duty, profit, and pleasure of the servant should have been in gaining for the master. The theory of Christianity is, that laboring for Christ is not a matter of bargain, but of loving, interested service. When the servant came with a false plea of returning to the master what was justly his, he was condemned on his own showing. Those who treat the service of Christ as a bargain, will be justly condemned.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the {e} exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
(e) Bankers who have their shops or tables set up abroad, where they lend money at interest. Usury or loaning money at interest is strictly forbidden by the Bible, Exo 22:25-27 De 23:19,20 . Even a rate as low as one per cent interest was disallowed, Neh 5:11 . This servant had already told two lies. First he said the master was an austere or harsh man. This is a lie for the Lord is merciful and gracious. Next he called his master a thief because he reaped where he did not sow. Finally the master said to him sarcastically why did you not add insult to injury and loan the money out at interest so you could call your master a “usurer” too! If the servant had done this, his master would have been responsible for his servant’s actions and guilty of usury.