And cast ye the unprofitable servant, &c.— This punishment must have been greatly embittered to him by the happier lot of his fellow-servants, who were highly applauded for their diligence, and gladdened with the prospect of their reward. See on ch. Matthew 8:12.
In this parable, by the man travelling into a far country, is represented to us our Saviour, who is said to do so, either in reference to his ascent into heaven, or to that long-sufferance of his, whereby he waiteth for the fruit of our works. By his own servants are meant the subjects of his gospel kingdom, who are entrusted with his spiritual gifts and graces; and of necessity, by the goods or talents intrusted to them, must be meant, not only the gifts of nature, but of grace. By the servants who improved their lord's talents, are meant those who diligently labour to improve all the gifts of God, natural and spiritual, agreeable to the will of their heavenly Master, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord; while by the slothful servant, such are pictured out to us as live solely to themselves, without regard to the glory of God, or the good of mankind. "He who lives not solely to his own profit, (says Theophylact,) but whether he have prudence or riches, or power and authority with the great; or whatever influence and heart he hath, endeavours thereby to serve and be useful to others, this is the man who doubles that which is given him; but he who hides his talent, is the man who has regard solely to his own advantage, and not to that of others; and therefore is condemned. And whenever you see a man of good understanding and industrious, using his parts in the pursuit of worldly things, and earthly devices, of him you may say, that he hides his talent in the earth; to take an account whereof, the Master will one day come—the eternal judge of heaven and earth, whose future coming for that great purpose is figured out to us by the return of the lord of those servants, after a long time, to reckon with them. And as by the reward of the good and faithful servant the blessedness of all true Christians is shewn; so by the punishment of the wicked and slothful one, is declared to us the misery of all nominal and merely outward professors of thefaith and religion of Christ, who, on the day when, vested in terrible majesty, the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, &c. (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:12.) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."