SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:14
¶ Porque es como un hombre que yndose lejos, llam a sus siervos y les entreg sus bienes.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:14
Verse 14. Called his own servants] God never makes the children of men proprietors of his goods. They are formed by his power, and upheld by his bounty; and they hold their lives and their goods, as in many of our ancient tenures, quamdiu domino placuerit-at the will of their Lord.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. For [the kingdom of heaven] is as a man travelling , etc.] Our Lord adds another parable to illustrate the Gospel dispensation, or its visible church state; or the state of things respecting the church of Christ, before, and at his second coming, and during the interval between his ascension and that: for by the man here, is meant Christ, who in the everlasting covenant agreed to become man, was prophesied of as such, frequently appeared in human form, under the Old Testament dispensation; and in the fulness of time, really became man; though he was not a mere man, but was God as well as man; having all the perfections and fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him: this man is said to travel into a far country ; by which heaven is designed, and is so called, not only because of its great distance from the earth, and which is very great indeed; but because the better country and land afar off, is out of sight; and what views we have of it, are very distant ones; and is afar off, in respect of our state of pilgrimage in this world, in which, whilst Christ was here, he was a pilgrim and a stranger too; who might be said to be as a man travelling, whilst he was in it, and when going out of it, and ascending to heaven: he came from thence, and stayed here a while, walking up and down, and doing good; and when he had finished what he came about, he ascended on high, went to his God and Father, entered into heaven, where he is received until the times of the restitution of all things: who called his own servants ; before he took his journey, to commit some things to their trust and management; and to give them some instructions how to behave during his absence: for, according to the Jewish canons, a master that had a mind to go out of the land (of Israel) could not take his servant with him, unless he pleased; and this is a rule at all times, even at this time, that the land is in the hand of the Gentiles. And here no mention is made of any going with him, only how they were to be employed whilst he was gone: by his own servants are meant, not all mankind; for though they are all in some sense his servants, or ought to be, yet they are not so called in Scripture, much less with such an emphasis, his own servants; and besides, more than what are in the kingdom of heaven, or Gospel church state, cannot be intended; since the parable reaches to, and concerns no other: nor all the elect of God only, or all are not the elect of God that are designed; for though these are the servants of Christ, and his own peculiarly, yet all intrusted with talents, are not such; one of these was wicked, slothful, graceless, and at last was eternally lost, and perished; which is not true of anyone of the elect: but ministers of the word are here meant, who are eminently the servants of Christ, his own, whom he has called, qualified, commissioned, and sent forth; for the ministers of the word, whether faithful or slothful, good or bad, are in a very lively manner described in this parable, which is a distinct one from the former; for whereas that gives an account of the different members of the visible church, this describes the several ministers of it: nor can it be any objection to this sense of it, that these servants are all of them said to be his own servants, and called, commissioned, and gifted by him; since Judas, as well as the rest, was called, ordained, qualified, and sent forth by Christ, as an apostle. And delivered unto them his goods ; the Gospel, that rich treasure of divine truths, the dispensation of it, and gifts to preach it; all which are Christs goods and his gifts, and not mans; and which was in a very eminent manner done, when Christ ascended on high, and received gifts for, and gave them unto men. Just before it, as he was ready to go, he gathered his disciples together; he renewed and enlarged their commission to preach the Gospel; and quickly after it, gave them greater and larger gifts of the Spirit than before; and has been ever since giving ministerial gifts to men, to some more, others less, and which are signified by the talents following.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-30 - Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receivin from Christ is in order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The day of accoun comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have go to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty an privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and ros again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They complain tha He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes the for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, the dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant i sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those wh know not the day of their visitation, shall have the things that belon to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into oute darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned i hell. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviou goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serve as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions.
Greek Textus Receptus
ωσπερ 5618 ADV γαρ 1063 CONJ ανθρωπος 444 N-NSM αποδημων 589 5723 V-PAP-NSM εκαλεσεν 2564 5656 V-AAI-3S τους 3588 T-APM ιδιους 2398 A-APM δουλους 1401 N-APM και 2532 CONJ παρεδωκεν 3860 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM τα 3588 T-APN υπαρχοντα 5224 5723 V-PAP-APN αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
14. Travelling (apodhmwn). The sense is more nearly about to travel, like our going abroad.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
25:14 {Going into another country} (apodm"n). About to go away from one's people (demos), on the point of going abroad. this word in ancient use in this sense. There is an ellipse here that has to be supplied, {It is as when} or {The kingdom of heaven is as when}. this Parable of the Talents is quite similar to the Parable of the Pounds in #Lu 19:11-28, but they are not variations of the same story. Some scholars credit Jesus with very little versatility. {His goods} (ta huparconta autou). His belongings, neuter participle used as a substantive.
