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32 Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For, as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not, until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming

36 But of that day and hour of the Son of man be.

32. A parable; instruction by way of resemblance. The Saviour was now on the mount of Olives, which abounded with fig-trees as well as with olives.

33. These things; particularly the things spoken of in vs. 5-12, 24. It is near; the ruin predicted in v. 2. Luke (2128) says, "your redemption draweth nigh;" that is, the deliverance of Christians from the persecutions of the Jews. This would be connected with the overthrow of their city. In v. 31, Luke also says, "the kingdom of God is nigh at hand;" that is, the Messiah's reign will then be established, the new dispensation will have triumphed over its deadly foes, and the Messiah will reign gloriously in

the extension of his cause.

tion of the certainty of the events predicted. Compare 5: 18.

36. Of that day and hour, &c.; of the precise day (compare v. 50) no one but God knows. General information was given, namely, that the time would be during the lives of some then living; but a more particular designation was withholden. Mark (13: 32) says, "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Jesus here probably spoke of himself, in his capacity as a prophet, authorized to communicate the will of God; he spoke in respect to his human nature.

37. The days of Noe; the time when Noah lived, particularly just before the flood. See Gen. 6:5-7.

ed them.

34. This generation, &c. The de- 33. Eating and drinking, &c.; re struction of Jerusalem and of the Jew-gardless of the calamity which await ish state, happened about forty years from the time the Saviour was speaking this prophecy; so that many who were then alive, and were daily seeing the temple in its glory, lived to behold its desolation, and to experience the calamities connected with its destruction.

35. Heaven and earth; the visible creation. Though this visible creation shall perish (2 Pet. 3: 7, 10), yet my predictions shall stand; a strong asser

39. Knew not; considered not, were inattentive to the warnings of God. Thus it would be, the Saviour said, at the time when he should come to execute vengeance on the Jews. And thus it was; for though calamities were thickening around them, and the Roman army was drawing nearer and nearer, multitudes of the Jews were cherishing the vain confidence, that these very troubles were assurances

40 Then shall two be in the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

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 know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the

of the speedy coming of the Messiah as their conquering prince, and that deliverance would arise to them by his sudden appearing to rout the Roman army. 40, 41. Some would still be engaged in the ordinary affairs of life, not expecting the final calamity which awaited them; and while thus occupied, sudden destruction would come on them, so that scarcely any would escape. Two might be together in a field; but so unexpected and so general would be the calamity, that only one of them would escape. So of two grinding at a mill. Vomen. Mills were among the Hebrews driven by the hand; and two persons, generally women, were employed in the operation. The mill consisted of two circular stones; the lower one having a slight elevation in the centre, the upper, in order to fit to the lower, being slightly hollowed. In the middle of the upper was a hole, into which the grain was put. To the upper a handle was attached, by which it was turned round; one person pushing it half-way, and the other pulling it wholly round. Compare Luke 17: 35. 42. Ye know not, &c. Since no information could be given of the precise hour when judgment upon the nation would be consummated, it was incumbent on all to be in a waiting posture, to take seasonable warning, and to be habitually ready. The Saviour so shaped his language here, as to make it applicable at all times, and to all men, and thus prepared the minds of his hearers for exhortations

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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, to give them meat in due season?

which have particular respect to each one's end of life, and each one's being called to judgment; and thus he passed on, in his discourse, to give information respecting the general judgment at the end of the world.

43, 44. The Saviour first noticed, in the way of illustration, that if a master of a family knew the particular time at which a thief would come, he would put himself in readiness. But since no information is given, as to the precise time of the Lord's coming, either for the destruction of Jerusalem, or for the end of the world, or (which to each individual is, for all practical purposes, the same) for calling each one to his account, it is incumbent on each to be habitually in a watchful frame of mind; lest the Lord should come when the person was off his guard. Good man of the house; an old expression for head of the family, or master of the house. || In what watch. The night was divided into four watches. See on 14: 25. || House to be broken up. See on 6: 19.

45. The Saviour next inculcated diligence in duty, and watchfulness, by noticing the manner in which a servant would be treated by his master who had entrusted him with a particular charge. Who then is, &c. This question is equivalent to the expression If a servant is faithful and wise. See a similar expression in James 3: 13. Deut. 20: 5. || His lord hath made ruler; to whom his master hath given authority as a superintendent, to direct the other ser

46 Blessed is that servant, shall come in a day when he whom his lord, when he cometh, looketh not for him, and in an shall find so doing. hour that he is not aware of,

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 :

50 The lord of that servant

vants. || His household; family of servants. When there was a number of servants in a family, one was selected to have charge over the rest. A peculiar responsibility thus rested on him; and it became him to be prudent and watchful. To give them meat; to furnish provisions.

46. So doing; intent on the business entrusted to him. || Blessed; happy. His master will honor him.

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47. Ruler over all his goods; put into his charge all his affairs. Compare Gen. 24: 2. Such a servant would be promoted to a more honorable station. Having conducted erly in the charge of steward of the servants, so as to furnish them seasonably with provisions, he would be promoted to the higher office of a general superintendence over his master's affairs. Thus watchfulness in spiritual concerns will be approved by our heavenly Master, and will secure to us his continued and increased favor.

48. Evil servant. But should a servant thus entrusted prove himself bad, and neglect his master's orders, and abuse his office, he would surely be detected, and consigned to merited punishment.

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth.

CHAPTER XXV.

THEN shall the kingdom of

heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, the right hand and the left foot; or both feet and hands were cut off at the joints. || The hypocrites; those servants who have been detected as unfaithful, as merely pretending to render service, but being in reality unworthy of confidence, and therefore consigned to punishment. | Gnashing of teeth; extreme anguish.

REFLECTION. Let us all be impressed with the need of constant watchfulness, and habitual readiness for the coming of our Lord. Whether we are in public life, or private, we have a trust committed to us; and it is only by being habitually occupied in our duties, that we shall be ready for our Lord's approach. We do not, indeed, now expect the speedy dissolution of the world; but we are all exposed at every moment to death; and death is to each one as really the end of his probation, as if the world should, at his departure, have actually come to an end.

CHAPTER XXV.

1. Then; at that time, when the Messiah shall be entering upon the consummation of his reign. The Saviour proceeded in his exhorta51. Cut him asunder; severely tions, directing his disciples to the punish him. This manner of speak-final coming, which, as being the final ing was drawn from a mode of punishment which was practised in some Eastern nations. Different parts of the body were cut off, as, for instance, the left hand and the right foot; or

redemption of his people and overthrow of his adversaries, would be intimately connected in his mind with the coming to destroy Jerusalem. In the disciples' minds, the two

and went forth to meet the | the wise, Give us of your oil; bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto

for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: buż go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and

said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch, therefore, for ye

and to wait for them at a proper place. When notice was given that the bridegroom was approaching, the female friends could then arise to meet and join the procession. Ten was probably the usual number of virgins

the number was never less than ten.

3. Lamps. What are here called lamps, were probably flambeaux or torches. They consisted of small bars of iron or brass, inserted into a stick, to which pieces of linen dipped in oil were fastened. The bottom of the stick was furnished with a small vessel of brass or iron, to receive the oil that would flow down from the burning linen.

events were probably united; and it was not material specially to correct their misconception, as the Saviour's object was the practical benefit of his disciples and followers, and they would soon learn to distinguish between the two events. The king-who performed this service; some say dom of heaven; the Messiah's administration consummated; the state of glory. To meet the bridegroom. The importance of being habitually ready for the coming of the Lord, is urged by an allusion to the manner of performing marriage ceremonies among the Jews. On such occasions a sumptuous feast was prepared, and the celebration usually occupied a week. The bridegroom, clothed in the festival-robe, attended by a company of young men of about his own age, with music, conducted from her father's house the bride, who was also accompanied by virgins of her own age, to his father's house, or to the house where the nuptial entertainment was to be given. In case this was done in the evening, the procession was furnished with suitable torches. Went forth. It is said to have been the practice for the female friends of the bride to go forth some time before the bridegroom and bride,

5. While the bridegroom tarried. The case is here supposed, that some unexpected delay detained the bridegroom.

11. Lord, Lord. These are the terms by which the virgins addressed the bridegroom, or sent in a message to him; equivalent to our form of address, Sir, sir.

12. I know you not; I acknowledge you not; you were not among my attendants and friends.

13. This verse contains the point of instruction illustrated by the para

know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cómeth.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; 21 His lord said unto him, and straightway took his journey. Well done, thou good and faith16 Then he that had received ful servant; thou hast been the five talents, went and traded faithful over a few things, I with the same, and made them will make thee ruler over many other five talents. things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

17 And, likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other two.

22 He, also, that had received two talents, came, and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I

18 But he that had received one, went, and digged in the ble; namely, heedless and unwatch-mates, a talent was equal to fifteen ful persons will be rejected.

without the means of accomplishing much for his master; and these means were proportioned to the circum stances and ability of each.

19. The lord; the master. || Reckoneth; makes settlement.

20. Lord; master, or sir.

hundred dollars of our money; accord14. By another similitude, the Sa- ing to others, it was worth nine hunviour showed the need of every one's dred or a thousand dollars. As here paying a diligent and watchful atten- used, the word merely signifies a tion to his duties, as the Lord's ser- large and adequate amount of propyant. All will be called to an ac-erty. None of the servants was left. count, and will be dealt with according to the manner in which they have regarded the trust committed to them. The kingdom of heaven; the future state of glory, the consummation of the Messiah's administration on earth. The manner in which the retributions of eternity will be awarded is represented by the manner in which a person having been long absent from his accustomed residence, and having assigned to his servants certain duties with the requisite means of performing those duties, called those servants to account, and awarded to each a recompense suited to the conduct of each. His goods; his property. 15. Talents. The word talent was a pecuniary term, like our word dollar, only it was of a much larger amount. According to some esti-pected by them.

VOL. I.

18

21. I will make thee ruler over many things; I will give thee increased authority; I will promote thee to a higher station. || Enter thou into the joy of thy lord; enter upon the enjoyment which thy master has prepared for thee. The Sa viour probably meant to represent the master as having provided a sumptuous entertainment for his faithful servants, as a token of his approbation, and as a sort of pledge of continued enjoyment to be ex

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