Luke 19:22

Out of thine own mouth. No further examination of the facts was necessary. The third servant had proved himself utterly unreliable. Those who are forever placing the blame for their lack of success on others thereby clearly announce their own defects of character. They make it obvious that they cannot be trusted with major responsibilities of any kind.

Judge. Or, “condemn” (see on Matt. 7:1).

Thou wicked servant. He had abused his master’s trust and neglected the opportunity provided him to succeed. Those who accomplish nothing with the talents entrusted to them are, in the sight of Heaven, “wicked,” and are certain to reap the reward of the wicked. In the parable of the Talents the third servant is censured for being “slothful” as well as wicked (see on Matt. 25:26).

Thou knewest. The remainder of the verse could be considered as interrogative, “Didst thou know?” This servant’s failure was not due to ignorance, but to laziness. He knew better. He knew that his master would require a strict account of the use made of the opportunity afforded him — and if he knew, why did he not do something about it? This it was clearly in his power to do. Herein lay his guilt.