Matthew 18:23-35 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants.… This "servant," or "minister," must have been some high functionary of state, who manipulated the revenues of provinces. He represents the sinner — every sinner. The debt for which every sinner is accountable, or liable, to God is enormous. It is not easy to determine exactly what was the value of the Hebrew talent. It contained 3,000 shekels of the sanctuary, and is supposed by some to have corresponded exactly to the Greek AEginetan talent, which exceeded the common Attic commercial talent. This common Attic talent is estimated by Boeckh as equivalent to 1,375 German thalers. Taking the German thaler as equivalent to 3s. sterling, a single Attic talent would amount to a little above £200; so then ten thousand talents would be something more than £2,000,000 sterling, an immense sum. more especially in those ancient times, when the relation of bullion to commodities was such that the prices of commodities in bullion were far smaller relatively than now. with our vast importations of gold from America and Australia. This immense sum, almost; baffling ordinary conception, represents the sinner's spiritual debt or guilt. (J. Morison, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. |
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