Bible Commentary

Matthew 25:16

The Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 25:16

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Went. The one who had received the five talents, the mark of the greatest trust, lost no time, but betook himself to business with zeal and energy. Traded with the same ( εἰργα ìσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς, made gain with them).

The verb is applied to husbandry or any work by which profit is obtained. A special method of increasing the allotted sum is mentioned in ; but here the term is general, and implies only that the slave used the money in some business which would prove to his master's advantage.

In other words, he exercised his faculties and powers in his master's service and with a view to his master's interests. Made [them] other five talents. The addition "them" is unnecessary. He doubled his principal—"made" being equivalent to "gained."

In the parable of the "pounds" we find the same sum increased in different proportions; here we have different sums multiplied in the same proportion.

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