And cast ... - See the notes at Matthew 8:12. The spiritual meaning of the parable may be thus summed up:
- The servants of God are not all endowed with equal gifts and talents.
- All, whatever may be their ability, are bound to employ their talents in promoting his honor, and in a proper improvement of them.
- By employing their talents in a proper manner, they improve and strengthen them.
- They will be judged according to the improvements which they have made.
- All sinners look on God as a hard master, and as unreasonable and tyrannical.
- People will be judged not merely for “doing wrong, but for neglecting to do right.”
- If the servant who kept the talent entire without injuring it, and who returned it to his master as he received it, was nevertheless judged, condemned, and cast away, what must they expect who abuse their talents, destroy by drunkenness and lust the noble faculties conferred on them, and squander the property that might be employed in advancing the interests of morals and religion!