Matthew 25:10-30
“THEN ALL those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” As Christians we ought to have our lamps trimmed, for it is possible to possess the oil, and yet our light be very dim. May we seek grace to remove from our lives everything that hinders the light of our testimony for Christ shining forth. “Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3.
The foolish virgins, with their lamps going out, go out to buy, by their own efforts, that which alone can be had as a free gift from God on the principle of faith. But it is too late! “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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” What a solemn time it will be for many in these favored lands who have heard the gospel and the truth of the Lord’s coming proclaimed, to find the door of mercy shut forever and themselves left outside for judgment.
In the parable of the talents which follows, the Lord illustrates the responsibility of His servants left bind to carry on His business while He is away from earth. “And unto one of them he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey... After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” The one to whom he had given five talents in the meantime had traded with the same and gained five talents more which he presented to his master. “His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee a ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ "
He who had received two talents had gained two other talents and received the same word of approval from his lord as the first.
But the servant who had received but one talent had hidden his lord’s money in the earth, which shows that I he did not have his master’s interests at heart. He went and brought the talent to his lord, saying, “Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed [scattered]: and I was afraid.” His master takes him up on his own ground and tells him he had not acted according to his own convictions. If he had such thoughts of his master, he ought to have put his money to the exchangers so that when his lord returned he should have received it with interest. He orders the unprofitable servant to be cast out into outer darkness, where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In the first two servants we have those who appreciate the goodness of the Lord. They know He is gracious, and they understand that the gifts He has put into their hands are given in order that they might use them for the Master during His absence, whether it be in serving His own or going forth with the gospel of His grace to the world. They know their Master’s heart and desire His profit and honor. Their zeal springs from this knowledge they have of Him. Those who are faithful to the light they possess acquire still more.
On the other hand the last servant represents those who know not the heart of their Master. Man has hard thoughts of God. They have not the true knowledge of God revealed in Christ, and when His love is unknown, His authority is despised. The slothful servant’s unfaithfulness springs from the false and guilty thoughts he has formed of His Master’s character. His judgment is just.
ML-01/27/1963