John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 25:40 - 25:40

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John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 25:40 - 25:40


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Mat 25:40. Ἐφʼ ὅσον, inasmuch as, in as far as) An intensifying particle. Without doubt, even individual acts will be brought forward.-ἑνὶ, unto one) All things are accurately reckoned up; nothing is omitted. Even a solitary occasion is frequently of great importance in either direction; see Mat 25:45.-τούτων, of these) used demonstratively.-τῶν ἀδελφῶν Μου, My brethren) It is better to do good to the good than to the wicked; yet these are not excluded from the operation of Christian love (see Mat 5:44), provided that a due precedence be preserved in the character of the men and works. Men, the more that they are honoured, treat so much the more proudly those with whom they are connected (suos): not so Jesus: at the commencement of His ministry He frequently called His followers disciples; then, when speaking of His cross (Joh 13:33), He once called them little sons,[1103] and (Joh 15:15) friends; after His resurrection (Joh 21:5), παιδία, children,[1104] and brethren (cf. ch. Mat 28:10; Joh 20:17; and cf. therewith Ib. Mat 13:1); and this appellation He will repeat at the judgment-day. How great is the glory of the faithful! see Heb 2:10-12, etc. During the time of His humiliation (exinanitionis) the honour of Jesus was guarded, lest from such an appellation He might appear to be of merely common rank; but in His state of exaltation no such danger exists. Observe, however-(1) that Christ addresses no one as brother in the vocative; the case is different in ch. Mat 12:48-49, and Heb 2:11-12; (2) that Scripture does not call Christ our brother; and (3) that it would not have been suitable in Peter, for example, to have said, Brother, instead of Lord, in Joh 21:15; Joh 21:20; Joh 21:7 (see Ibid. Mat 13:13). Even James, called by others the Lord’s brother, calls himself the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jam 1:1. Jude also, in the first verse of his epistle, calls himself the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James; see also Mat 23:8; Luk 22:32. Amongst mortals, unequal fraternity is so maintained, that the superior friend honours the inferior by the title of brother; whilst the inferior addresses the superior by his title of honour. Thus also the heavenly court has its own etiquette, without any conflict between humility and confidence. Thus, also, the appellation of friend appears one-sided, so that the Lord calls His own, “friends,” but is not so called by them: see Joh 15:15. We must except the faith whose freedom of speech attains to that of the Canticles.-τῶν ἐλαχίστων, of the least) sc. outwardly, or even inwardly. A certain species is pointed out in the whole genus of saints: there are some who have received, others who have conferred favours.-Ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε, ye have done it unto Me) not merely to Me also, but TO ME absolutely; cf. οὐδὲ Ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε, neither have ye done it unto Me, Mat 25:45.

[1103] Filiolos. The word in the original is τέκνια, plural of τέκνιον, which is the diminutive of τέκνον-child or offspring-derived from τίκτω, to bring forth.-(I. B.)

[1104] Puerulos-παιδία being the plural of παιδίον, which is the diminutive of παῖς.-(I. B.)