凡有的,还要给他;没有的,要从他夺去
二十八节说,“从他夺过这他连得来,给那有十他连得的。”夺过这他连得来,表征在要来的国度里,主的恩赐要从懒惰的信徒夺去。给那有十他连得的,表征忠信信徒的恩赐要增加。
二十九节继续说,“因为凡有的,还要给他,他就充盈有余;没有的,连他所有的,也要从他夺去。”凡在教会时代赚得利润的,在要来的国度时代要得着更多的恩赐;但在教会时代没有赚得利润的,在要来的国度时代,连他所有的恩赐也要从他夺去。
无用的奴仆—丢在黑暗里,在那里必要哀哭切齿
三十节说,“把这无用的奴仆,扔在外面黑暗里,在那里必要哀哭切齿了。”这话与二十四章五十一节者同,指明二十五章十四至三十节是二十四章四十五至五十一节的完成,都是论到忠信为着主的工作。马太二十四章四十五至五十一节,在完成主托付的事上,已经对付奴仆的不忠,还需要二十五章十四至三十节,在使用主银子的事上,对付奴仆的不忠。
在二十四、二十五章,我们看见赏赐和惩罚的事。按照二十四章四十七节,主对忠信精明之奴仆的赏赐,乃是要派他管理一切的家业。那动手打同作奴仆的,又和酒醉的人一同吃喝的恶仆,要被割断,并和假冒为善的人同受处分,在那里必要衷哭切齿了(太二四49-51)。在二十五章,那领五他连得和领二他连得的,得着赏赐,管理许多事,并且进去享受主人的快乐。然而,那领一他连得的懒惰奴仆,受到惩罚,被扔在外面黑暗里。对许多基督教教师而言,被扔在外面黑暗里是指假信徒永远的沉沦。但上下文证明这不是正确的领会。这不是对假信徒的惩罚,乃是对不忠信的真信徒的惩罚。这不是指永远的沉沦,乃是指要来国度时代的惩罚。
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Who Does Not Have It, It Shall Be Taken Away – Matt. 25:28-29
From Him Who Does Not Have, Even That Which He Has Shall Be Taken Away From Him
Verse 28 says, “Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.” Taking away the talent signifies that the Lord’s gift will be taken away from slothful believers in the coming kingdom. The giving of the talent to the one with ten talents signifies that the gift of faithful believers will be increased.
Verse 29 continues, “For to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him.” To everyone who gains profit in the church age, more gift shall be given in the coming kingdom age; but from him who has not gained profit in the church age, even the gift he has shall be taken away from him in the coming kingdom age.
Useless Slave Being Cast Out Into the Outer Darkness, In That Place There Will Be the Weeping and the Gnashing of Teeth
Verse 30 says, “And cast out the useless slave into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” This word, the same as in 24:51, indicates that 25:14-30 is a completion to 24:45-51 concerning faithfulness for the Lord’s work. Matthew 24:45-51 has dealt with the slave’s unfaithfulness in fulfilling the Lord’s commission, but 25:14-30 is still needed to deal with the slave’s unfaithfulness in using the Lord’s talent.
In both chapters twenty-four and twenty-five we see the matters of reward and punishment. According to 24:47, the reward to the faithful and prudent slave is that the Lord will set him over all his possessions. The evil slave, who beats his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with the drunken, will be cut asunder and have his portion with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 24:49-51). In chapter twenty-five the five-talented one and the two-talented one are rewarded by being put over many things and by entering into the joy of the Lord. The slothful, one-talented slave, however, is punished by being cast into outer darkness. To many Christian teachers, being cast into outer darkness denotes eternal perdition of a false believer. But the context proves that this is not an accurate understanding. This is not the punishment of false believers, but of genuine believers who are not faithful. It does not refer to eternal perdition, but to punishment during the coming kingdom age.