Matthew 25:14-30 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.… The servants in our parables seem to have erred from an opposite excess of temperament. His melancholy broodings prevented the unprofitable servant from a right use of his master's talent; the virgins were over sanguine that their oil would hold out. I. OBSERVE THIS MAN. 1. He has begun with less than the others had. The melancholic mind is apt to exaggerate this fact. 2. Yet he was treated according to his ability. He was not expected to render more than he could. 3. We see the influence of his temperament in disparagement of the largeness of his Lord's purposes and dealings; he interprets everything after his own spirit. Toil for such a master must be thankless and graceless indeed. II. Looking at the man, therefore, as representing the peculiar dangers attaching to certain temperaments, I think we see sufficiently THE NATURE OF THE WARNING HE FURNISHES US. 1. It is essential to all profitable service of our Master, that it shall be hearty service. What heart can there be in any such labour as shall have no generous thoughts of Him for whom it is done. We must get a better conception of God, and create in our souls a healthful moral incentive to doing right. 2. Again, to be a profitable service, it must be felt also to be a service that shall react upon ourselves. It must improve us as well as glorify God. God puts joy and consolation into any duty; he who does the duty has the joy. III. THE WRONG CONCEPTION OF GOD WHICH GAVE STRENGTH TO THE MELANCHOLY AND ENERVATING TENDENCIES OF THIS DARK-SOULED SERVANT IN HIS RELATIONS WITH HIS MASTER. Have we put this "hard man" upon the throne of the universe? This conception of God is at the bottom of most of the hindrances in the way of Divine faith. It is the "hard man" that comes to throw a false light upon our conception of the atonement; so much suffering for so much sin. Is this the God that Jesus Christ depicted? IV. THE PHRASES INTRODUCED TO DARKEN THE PICTURE ARE WORTHY OF NOTICE. "Reaping where thou hast not sown." "Gathering where thou hast not strawed." What a contrast to the "Refiner" in Malachi. To the diseased vision all things are distorted. 1. We may all at times have intervals of gloom corresponding to those which our text has suggested. 2. Do not darken your life by fear. "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear." 3. God is love. (G. J. Proctor.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. |
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