Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 25].
25:12 {I know you not} (\ouk oida hum•s\). Hence there was no
reason for special or unusual favours to be granted them. They
must abide the consequences of their own negligence.
25:13 {Watch therefore} (\gr•goreite oun\). This is the refrain
with all the parables. Lack of foresight is inexcusable.
Ignorance of the time of the second coming is not an excuse for
neglect, but a reason for readiness. Every preacher goes up
against this trait in human nature, putting off till another time
what should be done today.
25:14 {Going into another country} (\apod•m•n\). About to go away
from one's people (\d•mos\), on the point of going abroad. This
word in ancient use in this sense. There is an ellipse here that
has to be supplied, {It is as when} or {The kingdom of heaven is
as when}. This Parable of the Talents is quite similar to the
Parable of the Pounds in Lu 19:11-28, but they are not
variations of the same story. Some scholars credit Jesus with
very little versatility. {His goods} (\ta huparchonta autou\).
His belongings, neuter participle used as a substantive.
25:15 {To one} (\h•i men, h•i de, h•i de\). Demonstrative \hos\,
not the relative. Neat Greek idiom. {According to his several
ability} (\kata t•n idian dunamin\). According to his own
ability. Each had all that he was capable of handling. The use
that one makes of his opportunities is the measure of his
capacity for more. One talent represented a considerable amount
of money at that time when a \denarius\ was a day's wage. See on
¯18:24 for the value of a talent.
25:16 {Straightway} (\euthe•s\). Beginning of verse 16, not the
end of verse 15. The business temper of this slave is shown by
his promptness. {With them} (\en autois\). Instrumental use of
\en\. He worked (\•rgasato\), did business, traded with them.
"The virgins wait, the servants work" (Vincent). {Made}
(\epoi•sen\). But Westcott and Hort read \ekerd•sen\, gained, as
in verse 17. \Kerdos\ means interest. This gain was a hundred
per cent.
25:19 {Maketh a reckoning} (\sunairei logon\). As in 18:23.
Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 117) gives two
papyri quotations with this very business idiom and one Nubian
ostracon with it. The ancient Greek writers do not show it.
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