The Meaning of Matthew 25:27 Explained

Matthew 25:27

KJV: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

YLT: it behoved thee then to put my money to the money-lenders, and having come I had received mine own with increase.

Darby: thou oughtest then to have put my money to the money-changers, and when I came I should have got what is mine with interest.

ASV: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou  oughtest  therefore  to have put  my  money  to the exchangers,  and  [then] at my coming  I  should  have received  mine own  with  usury. 

What does Matthew 25:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 25:14-30 - By Faithfulness Win Reward
We are not only guests, but servants, who must give an account of their stewardship. Each bond slave has been entrusted with at least one talent. The number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never overtasks. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do twice as much as at the outset.
Christ is always coming to reckon. Every communion season, every birthday, is a standing at the judgment seat of Christ, preliminary to the great white throne, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Let those who are entrusted with one talent only be specially on the watch, for they are most exposed to the temptation of saying, "We can do so little, we will do nothing." What you can do best, and which most accords with your circumstances, is probably your talent. If you cannot do much yourself, work with your church and under the direction of your pastor, Matthew 25:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 25

1  The parable of the ten virgins,
14  and of the talents
31  Also the description of the last judgment

Greek Commentary for Matthew 25:27

Thou oughtest therefore [εδσι σε ουν]
His very words of excuse convict him. It was a necessity (εδει — edei) that he did not see. [source]
The bankers [τοις τραπεζειταις]
The benchers, money-changers, brokers, who exchanged money for a fee and who paid interest on money. Word common in late Greek.I should have received back (εγω εκομισαμην αν — egō ekomisamēn an). Conclusion of a condition of the second class (determined as unfulfilled). The condition is not expressed, but it is implied. “If you had done that.”With interest Not with “usury” in the sense of extortion or oppression. Usury only means “use” in itself. The word is from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. Compound interest at six per cent doubles the principal every twenty years. It is amazing how rapidly that piles up if one carries it on for centuries and millenniums. “In the early Roman Empire legal interest was eight per cent, but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty-four, and even forty-eight” (Vincent). Such practices exist today in our cities. The Mosaic law did not allow interest in dealings between Hebrews, but only with strangers (Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20; Psalm 15:5). [source]
I should have received back [εγω εκομισαμην αν]
Conclusion of a condition of the second class (determined as unfulfilled). The condition is not expressed, but it is implied. “If you had done that.” [source]
With interest [συν τοκωι]
Not with “usury” in the sense of extortion or oppression. Usury only means “use” in itself. The word is from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. Compound interest at six per cent doubles the principal every twenty years. It is amazing how rapidly that piles up if one carries it on for centuries and millenniums. “In the early Roman Empire legal interest was eight per cent, but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty-four, and even forty-eight” (Vincent). Such practices exist today in our cities. The Mosaic law did not allow interest in dealings between Hebrews, but only with strangers (Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20; Psalm 15:5). [source]
Put [βαλεῖν]
Lit., throw or fling down, as one would throw a bag of coin upon the exchanger's table. [source]
Exchangers [τραπεζίταις]
Taking their name from the table or counter at which they sat ( τράπεζα )The Jewish bankers bore precisely the same name. [source]
Usury [τόκῳ]
A very graphic word, meaning first child-birth, and then offspring. Hence of interest, which is the produce or offspring of capital. Originally it was only what was paid for the use of money; hence usury; but it became synonymous with extortionate interest. Rev., better, with interest. The Jewish law distinguished between interest and increase. In Rome very high interest seems to have been charged in early times. Practically usury was unlimited. It soon became the custom to charge monthly interest at one per cent a month. During the early empire legal interest stood at eight per cent., but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty-four, and even forty-eight. The Jewish bankers of Palestine and elsewhere were engaged in the same undertakings. The law of Moses denounced usury in the transactions of Hebrews with Hebrews, but permitted it in dealing with strangers (Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20; Psalm 15:5). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 25:27

Luke 19:23 Bank [τράπεζαν]
Lit., the table of the money-changer. Wyc., board. See on exchangers, Matthew 25:27. [source]
Luke 19:23 Usury [τόκῳ]
Better interest, as Rev. See on usury, sa40" translation="">Matthew 25:27.sa40 [source]
Luke 19:23 Into the bank [επι τραπεζαν]
Literally, upon a table. This old word τραπεζα — trapeza from τετραπεζα — tetrapeza It means then any table (Mark 7:28), food on the table (Acts 16:34), feast or banquet (Romans 11:9), table of the money-changers (John 2:15; Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:12), or bank as here. Our word bank is from Old English bench.With interest (συν τοκωι — sun tokōi). Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27.Should have required it Conclusion of second-class condition the condition or apodosis being implied in the participle “coming” (ελτων — elthōn), and the previous question. On this technical use of πρασσω — prassō (επραχα — epraxa) See note on Luke 3:13. [source]
Luke 19:23 upon a table []
. This old word τραπεζα — trapeza from τετραπεζα — tetrapeza It means then any table (Mark 7:28), food on the table (Acts 16:34), feast or banquet (Romans 11:9), table of the money-changers (John 2:15; Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:12), or bank as here. Our word bank is from Old English bench.With interest (συν τοκωι — sun tokōi). Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27.Should have required it Conclusion of second-class condition the condition or apodosis being implied in the participle “coming” (ελτων — elthōn), and the previous question. On this technical use of πρασσω — prassō (επραχα — epraxa) See note on Luke 3:13. [source]
Luke 19:23 bench []
.With interest (συν τοκωι — sun tokōi). Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27.Should have required it Conclusion of second-class condition the condition or apodosis being implied in the participle “coming” (ελτων — elthōn), and the previous question. On this technical use of πρασσω — prassō (επραχα — epraxa) See note on Luke 3:13. [source]
Luke 19:23 With interest [συν τοκωι]
Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:10 That each may receive [ινα κομισηται εκαστος]
Receive as his due, κομιζω — komizō means, old verb. See note on Matthew 25:27. Bad (phaulon). Old word, akin to German faul, worthless, of no account, base, wicked. [source]
Hebrews 10:36 Which [ητις]
Your boldness of Hebrews 10:35. Recompense of reward Late double compound, like μισταποδοτης — misthapodotēs (Hebrews 11:6), from μιστος — misthos (reward, wages) and αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi to give back, to pay (repay). In N.T. only here, Hebrews 2:2; Hebrews 11:26. Of patience Old word for remaining under trial (Luke 8:15). This was the call of the hour then as now. Having done the will of God This is an essential prerequisite to the exercise of patience and to obtain the promised blessing. There is no promise to those who patiently keep on doing wrong. That ye may receive the promise (ινα κομισηστε την επαγγελιαν — hina komisēsthe tēn epaggelian) Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist middle subjunctive of κομιζω — komizō old verb to carry (Luke 7:37), in the middle to get back one‘s own (Matthew 25:27), to receive. See also Hebrews 11:39. Now the author is ready to develop this great idea of receiving the promise in Christ. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 25:27 mean?

It behooved you therefore to put the money of me to the bankers and having come I would have received - - my own with interest
ἔδει σε οὖν βαλεῖν τὰ ἀργύριά μου τοῖς τραπεζίταις καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐγὼ ἐκομισάμην ἂν τὸ ἐμὸν σὺν τόκῳ

ἔδει  It  behooved 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δεῖ  
Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.
βαλεῖν  to  put 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.
ἀργύριά  money 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἀργύριον  
Sense: silver.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τραπεζίταις  bankers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: τραπεζίτης  
Sense: a money changer, broker, banker.
ἐλθὼν  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἐκομισάμην  would  have  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: κομίζω  
Sense: to care for, take care of, provide for.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐμὸν  my  own 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐμός  
Sense: my, mine, etc.
τόκῳ  interest 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: τόκος  
Sense: birth.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 25:27?

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