In the case of the unprofitable servant as it emerges in the latter portion of the parable, three points demand our attention separately and successively the Reason, the Nature, and the Reward of his unfaithfulness.
I. The reasonof his unfaithfulness, as explained by himself is, "I knew thee that thou art an hard man," etc. The parable represents at once, with rich personal effect and strict logical exactness, the legal relation of sinful men to a righteous God, apart from the peace that comes through the Gospel. While you think of the Judge recording now your thoughts, words, and actions, in order to render unto you what you deserve at the great day you cannot love Him, and you do not like to retain the knowledge of Him in you mind. Whatever your ears may hear, or your lips may speak, you know God only as the disturber of your joy in life, and the inexorable exacter of impossible penalties at last. The natural and necessary, as well as actual, result of this knowledge or conception of the master, is the utter idleness of the servant.
II. As to its nature,the disobedience was not active but passive; he did not positively injure his master's property, he simply failed to turn it to profitable account. The terror of this servant was too lively to admit of his enjoying a debauch purchased by the treasure which had been placed under his charge. Fear is a powerful motive in certain directions and for certain effects; it makes itself felt in the heart, and leaves its mark on the life of a man; unfruitfulness includes both those that bear bad fruit and those that bear no fruit. The idleness of the servant, who knew his master only as a hard man, reproves all except those who obey the Lord whom they love, and love the Lord whom they obey.
III. The rewardof unfaithfulness is: "Take the talent from him and cast him out." In both parts the sentence of condemnation corresponds to its opposite in the reception of those who had been faithful to their trust. These retain their employed gifts; from him the unused talent is taken away. These are received into their master's favour; he is cast out of his master's sight. The stumbling-block at the outset that turned the unfaithful servant aside was his conception of his lord as a hard master; it is the experience of the master's love that impels the servant forward in the path of duty. When we know God in Christ we know Him reconciled to ourselves. Christ, therefore, is the way; by Him we go into the Father for acceptance, and by Him we go outfor needful work upon the world.
W. Arnot, The Parables of Our Lord,p. 299.
Different Talents yielding Equal Rewards.
I. In interpreting the introductory portion of this parable the word "talents" must be taken as including all that fits a man for God's service as well what belongs to his own nature as what is external to himself. The "ability" is a gift from God as well as the goods. When considering what we possess as fitting us for doing the will of God, each one may hear the question, "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" All that a man is and has must be included among God's gifts, to be made account of when the working season here is over. Talents, means, and opportunities must all be reckoned as Divinely supplied. When so regarded there is great diversity among the disciples.
II. In the picture of the meeting-time and reckoning, the truth lying nearest, full of encouragement while we are in the present work, is, that results proportionate to opportunities will fill each servant with satisfaction on the great and solemn occasion when he renders account of his earthly life. Our responsibilities are fixed for us; what they are is discovered to us by each day of service as it comes; to meet daily obligations, by a day of faithful work, is to do the part our Master requires of us, and thus prepare for ourselves a harvest of joy on the day of His coming. The joy of the faithful servant has its counterpart in the joy of his Master. Our Lord's gladness is as His servants', and His servants' is as their Lord's; His joy finds its objects in their work, with its abiding results. As He manifests and expresses this joy it awakens new gladness in their hearts; their joy is thenceforth embraced in His. To long-tested faithfulness our Lord appoints enlarged service and greater rewards. Devotedness in this world introduces to enlarged opportunities in the next world. In the heavenly kingdom, where righteousness reigns in man, extended favour comes from God, life is progressive in ever-increasing ratio.
III. (vers. 24-30). The parable closes with a vivid and impressive representation of unfaithfulness on a servant's part and the consequent displeasure of his master. That the man who received the single talent is taken to represent unfaithfulness in God's service is a significant fact. Remembering the principle of distribution acted upon by the master, the smallness of the trust committed to the third servant was in accordance with the judgment formed of him. We are thus guided to the state of his character first and only afterwards to the extent of ability. The result shows that it is character, not restricted ability, which determines the form and direction of life. Common faithfulness has common approval; unfaithfulness must meet its condemnation. The test is found in the state of the heart, not in the extent of the possessions. Hard thoughts of God will find their condemnation when brought to the test of Divine requirements. It will then appear that God did not seek to reap where He had not sown; that He did not expect of any one that which He had not Himself provided in means and opportunity. He shall ask no more than that He receive His own with its produce. Before that demand, hard thoughts shall recoil on the mind which cherished them. The rules of Divine judgment now become apparent in two distinct forms. (1) The unemployed talent is transferred to one who will use it well. There are many Divinely given talents which so belong to personal existence, that we cannot think of them being transferred to others. In view of this, it will be remarked, that our Lord has taken external possessions as affording illustrations of the truth proclaimed. He that hath not in the form of produce shall have taken from him even that which for a season he has been allowed to hold as a possession committed to his trust. (2) The unfaithful servant is himself cast out from the presence of the Lord.
H. Calderwood, The Parables of Our Lord,p. 404.
References: Matthew 25:14. Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxviii., p. 4; Parker, Inner Life of Christ,vol. iii., p. 133.Matthew 25:14-16. J. Crofts, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 15.Matthew 25:14-27. E. M. Goulburn, Thoughts on Personal Religion,p. 340. Matthew 25:14-30. Christian World Pulpit,vol. v., p. 180; Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 387; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 483; W. M. Taylor, Parables of Our Saviour,p. 180. Matthew 25:15. J. M. Neale, Sermons for Children,p. 9; M. Dods, The Parables,p. 257.