19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so it is that those who over time work with what they are entrusted, in order to make a profit for their master, are rewarded for their faithfulness. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. 14(A)For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. This is a sobering question. man allocates his resources to servants, expecting them to make a profit in his absence. (M)There will be weeping and (N)gnashing of teeth.. For all the saints. Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. As we conclude, we should focus on what this parable is really about. He does not go to work with his masters money, over a lengthy period of time, and thus make a profit. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. He contended that this is why he was afraid to take a risk with any kind of investment. "Parable of the Talents" Bible Craft Demonstration Use these hands-on learning activities when teaching from Matthew 25:14-30, where Jesus told the Parable of the Talents. I will put you in charge of many things. Theparable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. Multiply Your Talents He does no work for a lengthy period of time and thus is useless. A talent of gold, for example, would be worth a whole lot more than a talent of bronze. The Parable of the Talents 21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities. 18 Then the second one came and said, Sir, your mina has made five minas. 19 So the king said to him, And you are to be over five cities. 20 Then another slave came and said, Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. Enter into the joy of your master. 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didnt deposit and reaping what I didnt sow? 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, (D)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. This is like one of those reality TV shows where people compete for money to invest in a project, only with a different agenda. Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has three slaves. Theres afamous scene in the movie Chariots of Fire where future Olympian Eric Liddell feels a tension between his chance to be an Olympic runner and his calling to be a missionary in China. Wrap a gift a number of times to create a few layers. Renny and Marina McLean, The Lord Teaches Us to Profit How can you take something away from a person who has nothing? 8 But you must require of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. The Parable of the Talents should encourage us and challenge us to take what God has given us and invest in the kingdom of God. The master told them to care for his money and the first two servants used the talents to trade and gain profit. Unwrap the Gift. It was his hope that in doing something spectacular he might receive a gift or donation. Why, then, did the third slave do nothing? As Dorothy Sayers put it in her essay Why Work? if we follow God properly, all the work will be Christian work, whether it is Church embroidery or sewage-farming.. These verses are the opening to what is known as the parable of the talents. 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. The degree to which our earthly labor has been faithful and profitable will determine the degree to which we enter into joyful labor in heaven. What is the meaning of the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price? NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. We need to pursue the element of work a bit further. He is evil in the sense that he is useless, or unprofitable. Notice how this same word279 is used in Matthew 7: In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad [literally rotten] tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17, emphasis mine). As I thought of this slaves attitude toward his master, I was reminded of this passage in the Book of Exodus: 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert. 2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? 275 See William Hendriksen, The Gospel of Matthew (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1973), p. 879. He has granted the time and the resources for men to make a profit for the kingdom of heaven, until He returns. Heavens work will be joyful labor. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And they were right because he praised them and invited them to join him as participants in his joy. The one-talent slave is clearly not saved; he is condemned to hell. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. The second and third soils represent those who initially show some interest in the gospel, but then reject it when the meaning of the gospel becomes clear. Players take turns to roll a dice. God expects a profit, and He holds us accountable for what we have done with what He has entrusted to us. Here, (P)you have what is yours. 26But his master answered him, You (Q)wicked and (R)slothful servant! 30And cast the unprofitable servant (L)into the outer darkness. 12:7, 11, 29; Eph. To gain, acquire, win (over), avoid loss. 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. ), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Then he went away. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well . What is the meaning of the parable of the friend in need (persistent neighbor)? Enter into the joy of your master!' 22 The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). Matthew 25:14. We should carefully note the outcome of faithful service, and of unfaithful service, in this parable. 29(S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once . I am suggesting that we have come to view retirement as that time in life when we can greatly reduce or terminate our giving, and when we can cease our service. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Trust in Jesus, for it is His work that will save you. a certain weight or 'talent'. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). Retirement is thought of more in terms of the golf course than finishing our course in the Pauline sense (2 Timothy 4:7). What is your ministry, your unique contribution to the kingdom of God? 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursedcut off from Christfor the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, 4 who are Israelites. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel. Our Lords emphasis here is not on putting the money to work, but on the servant going to work with his masters money. This parable is not primarily about faith, nor is it about being willing to take a risk (this was merely the wicked slaves excuse). 26But his lord answered and said to him, You (J)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. This story is called the Parable of the Talents. 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. This servant offered a feeble excuse for his conduct. Parable Of The Sower Further Parables Parables Parable Of The Pharisee And Publican Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Parable Of The Net Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard Parable Of The Tenants Parable Of The Good Samaritan Parable Of The Lost Sheep/Lost Coin Parable Of The Prodigal Son Parable Of The Wedding Banquet Parable Of The Fig Tree Rich Man And Lazarus Parable Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector Parable Of The Ten Virgins Parable Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower Parable Of The Tares Parable Of The Marriage Feast Parable Of The Great Supper Parable Of The Vineyard Talents Jotham By A Parable Rebukes Them, And Foretells Their Ruin Nathan's Parable Of The Ewe Lamb Causes David To Be His Own Judge Prophet, Under The Parable Of A Prisoner, Under The Parable Of A Vineyard, God Excuses His Severe Judgment His Incomparableness Idols Are Not Comparable To God For Power By The Parable Of Bottles Filled With Wine He Foretells Their Drunkenness In Misery Under The Parable Of A Wretched Infant Is Shown The Natural State Of Jerusalem Under The Parable Of Two Eagles And A Vine Lamentation For The Princes Of Israel, By The Parable Of A Lion Whelping In A Pit For Jerusalem, Under The Parable Of A Wasted Vine Under The Parable Of A Boiling Pot Parable Of The Sower And The Seed Parable Of The Weeds Explanation Of The Parable Of The Weeds Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Which He Sets Forth By A Parable Of The King Who Took Account Of His Servants, Jesus, By The Parable Of The Laborers In The Vineyard, Shows That God Is Debtor Unto No Man Rebukes Them By The Parable Of The Two Sons, Parable Of The Marriage Of The King's Son Parable Of The Ten Virgins, Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower, Parable Of The Seed Growing Secretly Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Tenants Illustrates The Matter By The Parable Of Patches. The disciples ask for details about the last days, and Jesus talks about how harsh they will be, warning them to look out for false teachers and so forth. 272 I am assuming that the second servant acted just as quickly as the first, because our Lord tells us that he acted in a similar manner. Is the salvation of lost sinners not profit in the eternal sense? Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities ("talents" in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth. He made his way up to the bars, and then proceeded to harass this awesome beast. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)? 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. Entering into the joy of our Master is, in the context of our text, entering into profitable labor for all eternity. Matthew 25:15. They returned to their master with double the talents! The third servant did not invest his masters money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money. This is the reason I was critical of the translation of verse 16 (see footnote 1 above). In the Book of Revelation, heaven is described as a return to paradise lost: 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of lifewater as clear as crystalpouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the citys main street. Read the full Bible passage of this story below and find related articles, videos, and audio sermons to help your understanding of this biblical lesson. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)? Its been referenced in many placeseven odd places like H.G. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). John Driver points out in his book Parable Church that at 2018s average household incomes, one talent would be about $1.2 million. I believe that there are other texts of Scripture which indicate that God has entrusted (by common grace, in some cases) certain assets to all men, and that all men are accountable to God for how they use (or do not use) these resources which God has entrusted to them. wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Working hard for the profit of the kingdom and the King is entering into the joy of our Master. This way the slave would not have to attend to the money on a day-by-day basis. average monthly wage for Americans in 2021. Father, deliver me from this hour? He doubled the money his master entrusted to him. 18But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Is retirement a denial, in effect, of the curse? A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined). Pertaining to self, i.e. The one who has been faithful on earth with a little thing like money will be given greater work to do in heaven. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 27 Now my soul is greatly distressed. master. ), [Rom. Indeed, they accused Him of being a wicked sinner, more worthy of death than Barabbas. Luke, the man who went away is a nobleman who leaves to obtain a kingdom; in Matthew, no such information is given. 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. He provides the money and the ability, but we are expected to work hard with what He has given us, for the profit of the kingdom. However, the talents (or minas in Lukes version) represent more than just the monetary resources God gives us. Have you trusted in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and in His death at Calvary for your sins, rather than in your works (Romans 3:21-26)? 14(B)For the kingdom of heaven is (C)like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.