An analysis of the parable of the talents, and a discussion on various interpretations.
Scripture:
- Matthew 25:14-30
- Matthew 25:21;23
- Luke 21:1-4
- Revelation 3:15-16
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
- Matthew 25:25
Outline:
- Review
- Parable of the Talents
- Biblical Context
- Cultural Context
- The Story
- Interpretation of the Parable
- We All Have Talents
- To Everyone Who Has, More Shall Be Given
- Fear Not
Review
The Kingdom of God
What does it mean to enter the Kingdom?
- “Kingdom” means “reign” or “rule”
- God’s reign over the earth and the hearts of men
- The plan for God’s future Kingdom is the same as what He intended with Adam and Eve
- To have His will implemented upon the earth through mankind
About Parables
A parable is a short story that illustrates one or more lessons or principles
- A parable is a type of analogy
- A parable has a surface story and a deeper meaning
- A simple story helps to explain a more complex or hidden story
No single parable gives a complete picture of the Kingdom. Each parable is meant to describe certain aspects of it.
For example: God is also like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in order to search for the single sheep that has wandered away from the flock.
- Yet God does not “leave” anyone alone
No single story or image tells it all. Therefore Jesus needed to use multiple parables that each illustrate different aspects of the Kingdom.
Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30*
14 "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.
20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'
21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'
23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
29 "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.
20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'
21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'
23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
29 "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Context of the Parable
Biblical Context
This is in response to the disciples questions
- Give us a sign of your return
- Tell us the dates
Jesus is explaining some details about His return, and about the future Kingdom of God
Matthew 25
- Parable Of ten virgins - be ready for His return
- Parable of talents -
- Sheep and goats -
Cultural Context
Talent
A talent was a large stone used to measure money
- It wasn’t a specific coin
- It was the amount of gold or silver that weighed the same as the large stone - 75-90 lbs
- It would have been gold or silver - coins or bars
- In Israel at that time it would have most likely have been silver coins
Today that would be worth $1.4 million
- A talent was between 4 and 20 years labor
A talent is 2,500 - 3000 shekels of silver
- Judas sold out Jesus for 30 shekels of silver
- 1000 times more
The first thing many Americans notice when reading this story is why did he give them equal amounts of money.
- The first thing the disciples would’ve thought is why is he giving them so much money.
- This guy is extremely wealthy and generous.
The Story
Example: give a slave $1million and leave
- what would happen?
Distribution of the Talents
Each person was given enough to make a profit
Ability
They were given money according to their ability
dynamis
- strength power, ability
- inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
- power for performing miracles
- moral power and excellence of soul
- the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
- power and resources arising from numbers
- power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Example: skrull - it takes talent
- It take individual skill
- He didn’t make more just because he was given more
The Servants
16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
Immediately
- The first two servants immediately went out and started doing what they were supposed to do.
- They did not wait even though would have time later.
The Return
- He was gone a long time
Master
They all called Him Master
The Reward
The master gave the same response to the second as he did the first.
5 talent Response
Matthew 25:21
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
2 Talent Response
Matthew 25:23
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
You’re A Hard Man
- The last servant blamed the master
'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
The master said the problem isn’t that He was a hard man
- But that the man was lazy
The Punishment
The lazy one was punished severely
The surprise, when he gives the talent to the most successful one
“to everyone who has, more shall be given”
“Weeping and gnashing of teeth”
The Interpretation
This is about the time in between Christ death and his return
- This is about Jesus’ Second Coming
- The nobleman is Christ
- The servants are (proclaimed) believers
- Some say: all Jews, or non-believers, all people
This was a warning first, to the disciples and also to us
What Are The Talents?
- Skill and ability - talent
- But the talents were given according to ability
- Resources, money, material goods
- Talents are whatever worldly possessions you get
- Mercy and love
- The Holy Spirit or spiritual gifts
- Holy Ghost power / anointing
- Fruits of the Spirit
- The talents are people
- One discipled 5 people
- One discipled in 2
- One talent man discipled no one
- The word of God
- The message of the gospel
- Good Works
- Dispensationalist - millennium
In the parable of the talents Jesus is teaching that everyone has received a blessing of some kind that is to be used for God's glory
Ability
Point: With ability comes accountability
- To he whom much is given much is expected
- Regardless of what the talent is, more was expected from the one with more ability
Ability could be the measure of faith that you were given
- Your ability to believe
- Each person was given the amount of resources he could handle and still believe
- You get enough where you are able to still call Jesus “Master”
- Some people can’t handle success
Main points:
- Everyone has a different ability to produce fruit
- The master knows how much ability each person has. This is not something a person needs to prove.
- What you were given is depending on your ability
- What is expected of you is dependent on your ability
- To whom much is given much is required
Distribution of the Talents
God gives to each according to his ability
We don’t have the same
- Talent
- Intelligence
- Opportunity
Opportunity includes:
- Being able to read and write
- Having the Bible in English
- Being born to a rich and powerful family
- Not living in a war zone
The Wait
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.
- It says “ after a long time “the master returned
- Jesus is again warning them that He will not come back soon
Still Called Him “Master”
- The man with five talents didn’t get changed by his success.
- He never lost fact that Jesus was Lord.
- The one service called Jesus “Master”
The Judgment
Did they bear fruit?
The servant with two talent hears the exact same words as the guy with five talents
- The master is pleased with both
- It is not clear whether the extra talent was given to the servant with 10 because of his productivity or because of his ability
The Parable of the Talents teaches that we are not all created equal.
They may have done the same amount of work
- Some things are easier for some people
Like affirmative action
- Admission to the Kingdom takes into consideration your abilities and the opportunities you were given
- Not just the results you produced
We will be held responsible for what we do for God with what we have been given
The Widow’s Mite
Luke 21:1-4
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”
The master understood that the one-talent servant was not capable of producing as much as the five-talent servant.
Your reward will be based on how well you use what you have been given
- Not the quantity of your results
Don’t be Idle
A safe bet doesn’t just miss getting rewards.
- It gets punished
Many of us have a goal of getting to the point where we are not doing anything bad.
- Jesus is warning us about doing nothing
- There is no neutral position in the kingdom.
Quote: “All that it takes for the forces of evil to rule the world is for enough good people to do nothing”
Revelation 3:15-16
'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Your goal should not only be that you stop doing bad
Your goal should be that you are bearing fruit
The unfaithful steward in this parable didn’t so much waste the master’s money – he wasted his opportunity.
Not About Works Salvation
It is easy to see how this parable can be Interpreted as salvation by Works.
Paul speaks directly to this...
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
- The quality of your work will be revealed
- If your work was fruitful to the kingdom you will be rewarded
- If not your work will be destroyed, but you will still be saved
The question is, was the method of salvation one of the points that Jesus was trying to teach in this parable.
The Moral
We learn:
- Everything we have belongs to God
- Everyone has a different ability to produce fruit
- The amount of resources you were given is dependent on your ability
- What is expected of you is dependent on your ability
- God will look for results not excuses
- Don’t waste your life on things that don’t profit the Kingdom
- When Jesus returns, some will rejoice and some will weep
We All Have Talents
ask yourself:
- What has God entrusted into my life?
- How do I use my time?
- What are the resources at my disposal?
Resources
The parable is not just about money
- It’s about your work
- It’s about your relationships
- it’s about your family
- It’s about the way you steward your money
- It’s about the way you steward your time
In the parable of the talents, Jesus is teaching that everyone has received a blessing of some kind that is to be used for God's glory
- Some received a speaking talent
- Some received good health
- No Migraines
- No disease
- Energy - Don’t need much sleep
- Intelligence
- Make friends easily
- Physical talent
- Spiritual gifts
- The preferred race in your country
Each person will be held responsible for what they have done with their gift
- Children
- Family
- Good conversationalist
- Public speaking
- Influence - you can convince others to do things
- Patient
- Compassion
Testimony
Story: My testimony in Zambia
- Did not realize how valuable it was
Beauty
Esther used her gift of beauty
- She used it to serve her people
- Some will use it for money and fame
Time
Example: Movie: Out of Time
How do you use your time?
Forgiveness
Some people have a deep knowledge of forgiveness
- To whom much has been forgiven they love much
Example: woman’s washing Christ feet
- She use what she had
Everybody gets something
Irony
Some people are distracted by the talent that God gave them
- Their talent is what they spend their time on instead of serving God
Comparison
- We aren’t given the same amount of resources
- We aren’t expected to produce the same amount of fruit
- To he who much is given much is required
We wish we had other peoples
- Looks
- Spouse
- Money
We covet other people's resources
Story: Chris at Val’s funeral
- Find someone you’re better than
Work With What You Have
Story: David
- David used the resources that he had to fight Goliath
- If he had to use the sword offered by the king to likely would have died
God has already given you the resources that you need
- When you covet someone else’s dream or opportunity you become blind to the opportunities in front of your face
- We should not covet what someone else has the grace to handle
Your Destiny is Unique
- God doesn’t want to empty you out
- He wants to use your unique abilities
- Your destiny can only be accomplished by you
We have everything inside of us to be the person God designed us to be
God wants you to be the you that he imagined you to be
Source vs Resource
Example: lights go out
- You don’t get mad at the light bulbs if all your lights go out
- You call the power company
Remember God is the source
- Don’t put your faith in your resources
To Everyone Who Has, More Shall Be Given
Do you see yourself as a steward or an owner?
- A steward lives for the day he will return the Master’s goods to Him.
- An owner believes his possessions are his to spend in any way he sees fit.
All we have–our material goods, our abilities, and even our very lives–belong to someone else.
- We are merely holding them for the day of reckoning.
The money that is given to the servants is not their own.
- The servants are only stewards of the master’s investment
- Jesus help them accountable to how well they stewarded His resources
We should maximize the use of our talents not for our own selfish goals
- But to profit the master
A Gift
Every resource that God gave to us was given to us in gift form.
- You cannot hold onto it as if it belongs to you.
God wants to use you as an outlet to give to others
- To aid others
- That is why it says whoever has to him more will be given.
- If you’re using it for the glory of God, God will get more glory the more he gives him
If you’re not using the resources that you currently have to glorify God, why should He give you more?
Fear Not
Sometimes our view of the Second Coming is so centered on the Judgment of God that we have overlooked the joyful nature of his return for those who are prepared.
When we focus on the negative consequences we become afraid
Matthew 25:25*
25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
Note the phrase “I was afraid”.
The last servant viewed the Master as a harsh and unrelenting taskmaster, and the servant’s fear caused him to make unwise choices.
Our view of God will determine the choices we make.
Do you see God as “a hard man” with unfair and unrealistic expectations?
If we do, it will cause us to live our lives in fear, with unprofitable results.
What you believe about the master will directly impact how you live your life
People who don’t love or trust the Lord are in danger of being lazy servants
If you view God as a punisher
- You live a life full of guilt and shame
- You blame God for every bad thing that happens
- You can never fully accept and experience the love of God
- You can’t fully believe that He would love someone like you
God’s love for you doesn’t change because of your sin
Some people are scared to serve or build relationships at church because they're afraid people will find out that they’re frauds
- “If only they knew how I really live”
God loves you just how you are
He knows how He made you
- He doesn’t expect the same from you as everyone else
Just make sure you do the most that you can with the measure of faith that you’ve been given
Start Today
You can’t start over, but you can start...
- Today can be the day that you change your life.
You don’t have to necessarily move and become a missionary
Each day ask yourself: what is the one thing that I know I’m supposed to do today?
- And do it
We get nudgings and promptings from the Holy Spirit and we brush it off or ignore it or rationalize why we should not do it.
When are you going to stop talking yourself out of the things that God is trying to talk you into?
When you add up all of those little yeses you’ll see a life change.
- When you’re supposed to have the conversation
- When you’re supposed to give money...give money
- When you need to apologize...apologize
- When you need to defend someone’s honor … defend it
Start today...
Presenter: Michael Leadon
References
Parable of the Talents | by Joshua Eze
What does the parable of the talents really mean?
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25: 14-30 -- Parable of the Talents (06/24/2018)
"The Parable of the Talents" - Matthew 25:14-30 - Pastor Jason Fritz
Five Lessons for Our Lives from the Parable of the Talents
The Parable of Talents explained in context
Extra
Introduction
There was a survey done they found that asked Americans about the things they regret it the most.
When people look back over the short term a few days or a few weeks they regret it actions they took:
- They ate an extra piece of pie
- They said the wrong thing to their spouse
- They said something bad to their coworker
When they look back over a long period of time as in years, they regret the things they did not do:
- I should have pursued that relationship
- I should have change careers or went back to school
- I should have lived a more healthy life
Matthew 25:31-46
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41 ¶ "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not fntake care of You?'
45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41 ¶ "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not fntake care of You?'
45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Other
Judas had spiritual gifts
Evidence of your salvation is the fruits of the spirit
Sheep and goats
- Those with true gifts of the Spirit didn’t get in
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