Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
After a long time, the Lord of these servants cometh,.... Either in a providential way, by a fit of illness, or in a time of persecution, and awakens the conscience, and calls them to give an account of their stewardship; or by death, when their trading or working time is over, and they become accountable for their whole conduct, throughout their ministrations; or rather, at...
Verse 19. After a long time, etc. By the return of the lord of those servants to reckon with them, is denoted the return of Christ to call men to an account for the manner in which they have improved their talents. See Reckoneth with them. To reckon is to settle accounts. Here it means to inquire into their faithfulness, and to reward or punish them accordingly.
Note here, 1. That the wisdom of God dispenses his gifts and graces variously, as so many talents to his servants, to be employed and improved for his own glory, and his church's good. 2. That all such servants as have received any talents, must look to reckon and account for them: that this account must be particular, personal, exact, and impartial. 3.