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The Parable Of The Talents
Matthew 24 & 25 Study - Lesson Nine
Introduction - In our previous two lessons we have looked at the parable of the unjust servant and the parable of the ten virgins. These parables were given as an explanation to the disciples so as to describe what His second coming would be like. The parables were given as analogies and warnings so people would be watchful, ready, and prepared for His return. This third parable of the talents is no different. Through this parable Jesus declares of the responsibility of stewardship in His absence. All people are blessed of God, some with little and some with much. Contained within those blessings are opportunities; opportunities to know God and to serve God. There will come a day of judgment when men will give an account of all the opportunities they had in this life concerning knowing and serving God.This parable has nothing to do with giving to the church or working for one’as salvation, but it does have everything to do with a proper response to the responsibilities and opportunities that God has given to each person. The message is far greater than giving and serving. It is another warning of coming judgment to the unwise and another promised blessing of reward for those that are wise.
Matthew 25:14-30 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. (16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (19) After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. (20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: (27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Setting The Scene
Jesus uses this parable as another opportunity for people to understand how the invisible kingdom of heaven works. Though invisible now, one day it will be very visible and will be established on the earth. Only certain prepared people will be allowed to be a part of that kingdom (See Mat. 7:21-23) The unprepared will be judged and excluded forever from the kingdom in eternal punishment.
In this parable Jesus illustrates a man who travels into a far country. (That means the man is going away on a trip that could take years before he returned.) In preparation for that journey the man gives three of his chief servants significant amounts of money to be be invested and increased during his absence. The money was distributed in accordance to the individual abilities of each servant. The money was distributed to each men by the weight of a talent. A talent was a sum of money, or weight of silver or gold amounting to approximately 94 pounds. We are not told whether the talent was gold or silver so I will give the modern equivalents of both.
Approximate Modern value of a talent of silver or Gold
One Talent of Silver = $10, 760.00 Two Talents = $21,520.00 Five Talents = $53,800.00
One Talent Of Gold = $1, 278,400.00 Two Talents = $2,556,800.00 Five Talents = $8,920,010.00
The master having taken leave, the servants took action concerning the responsibilities charged to them by their master. The two servants given five and two talents used the money to make more money. The servant given one talent buried the money in the ground so as to not lose any of it.
Finally, after a long period of time the master returns home and each of the servants have to give an account of their stewardship of the talents.
The Parallel Of The Parable
Jesus is the man that left for a season and will come back a second time. The servants given the five and two talents may be seen as true believers. They take what Christ has given to them and in accordance to their individual measure of grace invest in the kingdom of heaven (see Eph. 4:7). The servant that buried his talent may be seen as an unbeliever. Though he is given much by his master he chooses to do nothing with it at all and fails to invest in the kingdom of heaven.
All believers have varied amounts of resources given to them by God, whether it be education, intelligence, skills, power, money, etc. There are big churches and little churches, gifted speakers and non-gifted speakers, gifted teachers and preachers and not so gifted preachers and teachers. The idea isn’t about what one has but the opportunities that one takes with what one does have. All of God’s people are to be stewards and each steward must be faithful. At the Bema seat of Christ that stewardship will be examined. (See II Cor. 5:10, 1 Cor. 3:11-15)
So much of good stewardship stands or falls on our love of our master and our willingness to use all the opportunities He gives us to invest in His kingdom. Each of us stand in a place of opportunity. We either seize the opportunity or bury the opportunity. The more a person has, the greater responsibility a person is in the kingdom of heaven. Everyday we are given opportunities to glorify God and invest in His divine purpose or will. As we walk in grace and are filled with the Holy Spirit we are enabled by God to invest in ministry and spiritual growth in such a way as to maximize spiritual returns for His glory.
Question:
Are you a faithful steward? Do you use the resources (skills, talents, educations, gifts, money) God has given to you in order to invest in the kingdom of heaven?
Can people be too occupied with the return of Christ? (See I Thess.
The Reckoning Of The parable
(19) After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
This simply means that the lord of the servants inspects and compares each individual account of each servant. A scrutiny and accountability is at hand. Now each man must answer for what he did with the supplied resources of their lord. All three were given opportunity and privilege for service to their master.
As we look at the accounting of the first two faithful stewards we see that both were rewarded with greater authority because they were faithful in a few things. They were both complemented and were invited into the joy of their lord. This joy is the result of the grace and goodness the lord provided for them. The servants had no resources of their own. Every opportunity came only as a result of what had been given to them. To utilize God’s resources in our lives brings only joy. Joy of His heaven, joy of His presence, joy of His commendations, joy of His reward, and joy of eternal service. Our joy will be eternally connected with His eternal glory.
Once again in this parable is a hint of significant time passing by before Christ returns is hinted at as it was in the parable of the ten virgins. Just as believers should watch and be ready they should also continue to serve faithfully. (See I Cor. 15:58) By way of application, the two servants in the parable were willing to spend their time for His sake and used their opportunity to serve the Lord, and thus showing forth fruit which revealed that their salvation was genuine.
Notice - There is no mention of fear of the master concerning the first two servants.
Did you know that we can have boldness in front of God? In I Jn. 4:17 we are told we can have “boldness in the day of judgment” and in I Jn. 2:28 that we can stand before Him and not be ashamed. The Apostle Paul as a faithful servant declared his anticipation and confidence before God in II Tim. 4:6-8 just prior to his beheading. He ran well, fought well, kept the faith and was filled with anticipation of seeing Jesus. .
The Compliment and Reward To The Faithful
20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Questions:
What are some truth observations you can see in this portion of scripture?
We see the faithful rewarded with authority through rulership in this parable. What do you think heaven and eternity will be like?
As we think of our reckoning day, what kinds of thoughts do you have concerning giving an account of your life
If everyone is glorified in perfect bodies throughout eternity who are the ruled?
What does it mean that we will reign with Jesus as Kings and priests?
Is this only during the millennium or does it continue throughout eternity? (see Rev. 1:6; 2:25-26; 5:10; Rev. 21:24-26)
The reckoning of the unfaithful
(24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: (27)
The first thing that comes out of his mouth is justification of his unfaithfulness. Though he calls his master lord, he did his master no service. His excuse basically had a rational something like this, “I knew you are hard to serve and please. You are very austere, and require from men unreasonably and are dissatisfied with what is attainable. I was afraid to do anything so I buried your money.
How telling this is as to how so many men view God. They see Him as mean, unreasonable and hard to satisfy and thus blame Him for their inaction. (See Rom. 3;19)
The master's response to the unfaithful - 26-27
The master rebuked the servant because the servant knew how he judged things and with that knowledge he failed to take advantage of the opportunity that was given to him. Instead, he hid his talent in the ground and spent his time doing what he wanted to do. He called himself a servant, but was he?. He said he belonged to the master, but he wasn’t. His ultimate end was that of judgment and was thrown out.
Question:
What is Jesus warning men about in this parable?
What s the proper relationship between faith and works/service? Read Romans 4 and Eph. 2:8
Can one argue or justify themselves against God and expect to win? Will men argue with God in that day?
Do you think about your personal stewardship concerning the kingdom of God? If so, what do you believe God is showing you through this lesson?