Potts(1905-1910) 4422
4422. Genesis 34
THE LAST JUDGMENT
Prefatory to this chapter the Lord's words in Matthew 24, verse 42 to the end, remain to be unfolded. These words are the last in that chapter which treat of the consummation of the age, or the advent of the Lord, and which in the letter are these: Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord cometh. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would assuredly have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready, for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man will come. Who therefore is the faithful and prudent servant, whom his lord hath set over his domestics, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all his goods. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth to come; and shall begin to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. What these words involve may be seen from the series of things, for the subject treated of in this whole chapter of the evangelist is the last period of the church, which in the internal sense is the consummation of the age and the advent of the Lord. That this is the case is evident from the explication of all the contents of the chapter, as may be seen in the prefaces to the immediately preceding chapters of Genesis (namely, 26, n. 3353-3356; 27, n. 3486-3489; 28, n. 3650-3655; 29, n. 3751- 3757; 30, n. 3897-3901; 31, n. 4056-4060; 32, n. 4229-4231; 33, n. 4332-4335). [2] What these contents are in a series has also been there stated, namely, that when the Christian Church that was set up after the Lord's coming began to vastate itself, that is, to recede from good, then: (1) They began not to know what good and truth are, but disputed about them. (2) They despised them. (3) Next they did not at heart acknowledge them. (4) Afterwards they profaned them. (5) And as the truth of faith and the good of charity were still to remain with some, who are called the "elect," the state of faith at that time is described. (6) And then the state of charity. (7) Lastly, the beginning of a new church is treated of; and, (8) The state as to good and truth within the so-called church, when that church is being rejected and a new church is being adopted. From this series it may appear what is involved in the words that have been transcribed above, and are the last of the chapter, namely, that they are words of exhortation to those in the church, that they should be in the good of faith, and that if not they must perish.
Elliott(1983-1999) 4422
4422. In the preliminary section of this chapter the Lord's words in Matthew 24:42-end come up for explanation. These last verses in that chapter concerning the close of the age or the coming of the Lord read in the letter as follows,
Watch therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, if the master of the house knew at which period of the night the thief is coming, he would watch, and would not let his house be broken into. Therefore you also, be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and careful servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his goods. But what if that wicked servant shall say in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and he shall begin to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with drunkards? The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and in an hour he does not know. And he will cut him off and assign him his part with the hypocrites, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.
What these words hold within them may be seen from the train of thought, for the subject throughout this chapter in the gospel has been the last days of the Church, by which in the internal sense are meant the close of the age and the coming of the Lord. This can be seen plainly in the explanation of every statement in that chapter, in the preliminary sections of the chapters of Genesis immediately previous to this. That is to say, see 3353-3356, 3486-3489, 3650-3655, 3751-3757, 3897-3901, 4056-4060, 4229-4231, and 4332-4335, the preliminary sections of Chapters 26-33.
[2] The sequence of thought contained in this chapter of the gospel has also been stated in those paragraphs, that sequence being as follows: When the Christian Church established after the Lord's Coming began to ruin itself, that is, to depart from good,
1 People ceased to know what good or truth was and began to argue with one another about them.
2 They treated them with contempt.
3 Then they did not in their hearts acknowledge them.
4 After that they profaned them.
5 And because the truth of faith and the good of charity were still to remain in existence with some who are called the elect, the state of faith as this will be at that time is described.
6 Then the state of charity as this will be.
7 Finally the beginning of a new Church is dealt with, and
8 The state of good and truth within the Church, so called, when that Church is set aside and the new one adopted.
From this sequence of thought one may come to see what is included within the final verses of Matthew 24, which are set out above. That is to say, they contain an exhortation to those within the Church to keep to the good of faith or else they will perish.
Latin(1748-1756) 4422
4422. GENESEOS CAPUT TRIGESIMUM QUARTUMAnte hoc caput veniunt explicanda verba Domini apud Matthaeum xxiv a vers. 42 ad finem, quae sunt ultima in illo capite de consummatione saeculi seu adventu Domini, quae sunt (o)haec in littera Vigilate ergo, quia non scitis qua hora Dominus vester venit {1}. Illud vero scitote, quoniam {2} si sciret paterfamilias, qua custodia {3} fur venit {4}, vigilaret utique, et non sineret perfodi domum suam. Propterea etiam vos estote parati, quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet. Quis ergo est fidelis servus et prudens, quem constituit {5} dominus ejus super famulitium suum, ad dandum {6} illis cibum in tempore? Beatus servus ille {7}, quem veniens dominus ejus invenerit facientem ita. Amen dico vobis {8}, quod super omnia bona sua constituet {9} eum. Si vero dixerit malus servus ille in corde suo, Moratur dominus meus venire, ceperitque {10} percutere conservos, edere vero et bibere cum ebriosis. Veniet dominus servi hujus in die quo non exspectat, et in hora qua {11} non novit. Et dividet {12} eum, et partem ejus cum hypocritis ponet: ibi est planctus et stridor dentium. Quid haec involvunt, constare potest a serie rerum; actum enim est in toto hoc capite apud evangelistam de ultimo tempore Ecclesiae, quod in sensu interno est consummatio saeculi, et adventus Domini;
quod ita sit, ab explicatione omnium illorum quae in illo capite, patere potest, quae videantur in praemissis ante capita quae proxime praecedunt, nempe ante caput xxvi, n. 3353-3356; xxvii, n. 3486-3489; xxviii, n. 3650-3655; xxix, n. 3751-3757; xxx, n. 3897-3901; xxxi, n. 4056-4060; xxxii, n. 4229-4231; xxxiii, n. 4332-4335: [2] quid in serie continuerunt {13}, ibi etiam dictum est {14}, nempe, cum Ecclesia Christiana post adventum Domini instaurata se vastare inciperet, hoc est, recedere a bono,, (o)quod tunc I. Non inciperent scire quid bonum et verum, sed litigarent de illis: II. Quod contemnerent illa: III. Quod (o)dein non corde agnoscerent: IV. (o)Postea quod profanarent: V. Et quia adhuc permansurum verum fidei et bonum charitatis apud quosdam qui electi vocantur, describitur status fidei tunc: VI. Et dein status charitatis: VII. Demum agitur de initio novae Ecclesiae: et VIII. De statu quoad bonum et verum intra Ecclesiam sic dictam, cum illa rejicitur et nova adoptatur: ex hac serie constare potest quid illa verba quae supra exscripta sunt, et ultima illius capitis sunt, involvunt; quod nempe sint exhortationis ad illos qui in Ecclesia, ut in bono fidei sint, et {15} si non, quod perituri. @In A S copied this passage exactly from Sch but later altered all words in footnotes to those in text. This occurs elsewhere also, but this is given as an example of his method. Here Sch had venturus sit$ @2 cognoscite$ @3 hora$ @4 venturus esset$ @5 constituerit$ @6 ut det$ @7 hic$ @8 omits$ @9 constituturus sit$ @10 verberare$ @11 quam$ @12 dissecabit$ @13 continuerint$ @14 o est, i, quod$ @15 i hoc est, in charitate$