The first servant has made the biggest return (10 minas from one mina, or 10 talents from five talents). In our text, the good slave is the useful or beneficial slave, for he has gained a profit for his master.278 He is also faithful because he has been at work with his masters money from the time he left until the time he returned. What is your ministry, your unique contribution to the kingdom of God? How different was the outlook of the first two slaves. Come and share your masters happiness! (Matthew 25:21). See, I have gained two more. 23 His master answered, Well done, good and faithful slave! 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. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In a similar way, in the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) the mere germination of the seed does not seem to represent salvation. So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didnt deposit and reaping what I didnt sow? 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Heaven is not to be thought of as me laying beside the pool, sipping a tall, cool one, as one of my fellow elders commented this past week. He admits he buried it in the ground because he was afraid to use it (Matthew 25:24-25, Luke 19:20-21). In the natural world, talents differ. I was talking about this text with a friend, and he said, God expects the principle, plus interest. I think thats right. John Driver points out in his book Parable Church that at 2018s average household incomes, one talent would be about $1.2 million. A footnote in the NIV translation says that a mina was about three months wages. Their trading of the talents signifies the faithful use that one should make of gifts and opportunities of service to God. 14 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. 4:10]. 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for and maintain it (Genesis 2:8-9, 15). 14 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. You have been faithful with a few things. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 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. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. It was his hope that in doing something spectacular he might receive a gift or donation. Traditionally, the parable of the talents has been seen as an exhortation to Jesus' disciples to use their God-given gifts in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. To give that up would be to hold him in contempt., This quote highlights that in the end, all talents are given by God to glorify him. One's own; by implication, private or separate. (17) Because thou hast been faithful in a very little.--More literally, because thou didst become faithful. If we loved our Master, we would view our labors for Him as joy. in Luke is there another group, in addition to the masters servants those who dont want this man to become their king, and who send a message asking him not to return. In Matthew, this is especially clear in 12:40; 24:27, 37. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. Verse Concepts. Dennis Rainey. Dont bury what God has entrusted to you; go to work with it, for the glory of God, and for your eternal rewards. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)? These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities ("talents" in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth. Jesus' stories had more than one meaning. Well talk about this a bit later, but for the moment, I am inclined to understand this expression in contrast to another in our text, And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). The Gospels make it clear many times that Jesus was the king of the Jews, but came in a way they did not expect, preaching a message many didnt want to hear. 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. 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)? Second, the faithful servants immediately went to work to increase their master's money ( Matthew 25:16-17 ). If we grew up in cultures where the individual is primary, we also tend to think we can live as we please. Hank Hanegraaff, Economy of God 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. English Standard Version (ESV). Other, another (of more than two), different. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. It is clear that our Lord Jesus intended for us to be found at work when He returns: 45 Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? and Christians should not be molded by worldly standards (Romans 12:2). We find our true joy and place in life when we serve God with our gifts. Start FREE. The word hard, which this slave used to characterize his master, is far from flattering. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Vineyard? Only the soil that produces a crop is good soil. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. A talent of gold, for example, would be worth a whole lot more than a talent of bronze. Specifically, I am speaking of Matthew 25:13: Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Wedding Feast? What is the meaning of the Parable of the Rich Fool? 12:6; 1 Cor. The fact the master owns the money he gave the servants, and he gets the results of their investments, highlights who is in control. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. When the third servants excuses are set aside, it becomes evident that this man is lazy he didnt do any work. The element of work. Talents. 28 Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again (John 12:27-28). A small gain could have been obtained without great risk or effort on the part of the slave, but he chose to do nothing at all. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure spiritual profit? Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions. If we seek to shun the work our Lord has given us, it betrays a wrong attitude and relationship with our Master. Heavens work will be joyful labor. The lazy, wicked slave in our parable is that person who refuses to go to work with the resources God has provided, to produce profit for the kingdom of heaven. He entrusted him with money, money suited to his abilities. Used by permission. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his masters money in it. We should be careful to recognize that in this parable the mere possession of a talent is not evidence of salvation. Luke, the man who went away gives each servant the same amount of money (one mina); in Matthew, talents are given to the three slaves according to their ability. Two of the slaves seem eager to show their master what they have accomplished in his absence. Those who know not the day of their visitation shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. If we were to make an equation of this parable, it would probably go like this: Resources (talents) + Labor (work) + Time = Profit. Pressing this matter just a little further, if the church were to be considered a business and every member were to be viewed as an employee, how many of us should reasonably expect to keep our jobs? 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. 18But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. The element of time. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. 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. Assuming, for the moment, that the slave was correct in his assessment, why would he not be motivated by his fear to seek a profit for his master? Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 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. (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. It is used in 1 Samuel 25:3 to describe Nabal, Abigails husband, who is a stubborn fool.281 Isaiah (48:4) uses this term to describe Israels abstinence. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Nicholas P. Constasobserves that early Greek church fathers described this event as Jesus tricking the devil, using his humanity as a lure to catch his adversary. This slave actually thinks of his master as though he were a Pharaoh in character. Enter into (I)the joy of your lord., 24Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you werefaithful over a few things,I will make you ruler over many things. Then he went on his journey. God entrusted Israel, and especially its leaders, with the truth, and they did not use it properly. The only difference seems to be in their abilities, and thus in the talents that were entrusted to them. Kathy Sweeny, Choices Determine Destinies Thus, time seems to be a more important factor in verses 14-31 than in 1-13. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. I believe that we see this in Romans 9, where Paul speaks of the things God has entrusted Israel: 1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying! Too often we think of our Lords words in Matthew 6 in terms of the offering plate. By faith, have you entered into His labor, His saving work on your behalf on the cross of Calvary? We take a little money and put it in the plate, and by doing so we are laying up treasure in heaven. I dont deny that this is true, in part, but it is not the whole of it. I fear that for all too many Christians (not all!) Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. The Parable of the Talents. 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. I am reminded of this passage in the Book of Hebrews: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel. 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. But each man doubled his masters money. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Most importantly, bringing glory to God is profitable. Beyond this, His return would come at a time when it was not expected (Matthew 24:44). The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? The original text is quite clear here it is the first servant (and we assume the second, as well) who immediately sets to work with his masters money. Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. We should carefully note the outcome of faithful service, and of unfaithful service, in this parable. In short, the talents represent what God has given usour monetary resources, our callings to positions within the church (Ephesians 4:11-16), our natural giftings. In one of my early trips to India, I went to the zoo. gained. One man may design a church building, a cathedral. And so I will conclude by asking you this, my friend: Do you know and love the Master, Jesus Christ? Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Two Sons? Proud member In my opinion, nothing in our text compels us to think (or even imply) that this might be the case. A talent, just so you know, was a measure of money. I will put you in charge of many things. Our Lords rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees is often couched in stewardship terms. Also the description of the last judgment. Is the salvation of lost sinners not profit in the eternal sense? I will put you in charge of many things. Therefore, the master represents Christ, while the three servants represent those who serve him. 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Romans 8:18-22). Never, other than in our text (according to most versions), is it employed to begin a new paragraph. 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. What if the church were to be scrutinized as a business? One must surely conclude that this parable is not just an interesting story, but a message of eternal significance. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, (P)you have what is yours. 26But his master answered him, You (Q)wicked and (R)slothful servant! Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. But Abraham said, Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish (Luke 16:25). 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, [1] each according to his ability. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. The parable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. third servant does not make a profit for his master. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. The day of account comes at last. Look, there you have what is yours.. master tells his unfaithful servant that he should have put the money in the bank. Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents (or the Talents' parable) to his disciples. And,. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). This is his excuse for doing nothing. It was not the masters problem; it was the slaves problem. What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? 276 Needless to say, bankers and banking were not the same in those days. The Christian should think about retirement in the same way he or she thinks of being single (if, indeed, you are): 32 And I want you to be free from concern. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unforgiving / Unmerciful Servant? 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). While commentators differ somewhat over the approximate value of a talent in todays economy, all would agree that it was a large amount of money. It is indeed unfortunate that the term talent means something very different today from what our Lord meant when He told this parable. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once . Did this third slave think that there would be no reward for his faithful service because his master was a hard man? 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. (3) In my opinion, the main reason for assuming that verse 13 belongs with verses 1-12 is that the term (Greek, ou=n) is most often inferential, with the meaning therefore or then.274 It is not always an indication of a logical conclusion, however. 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. The third servant is lazy, because he does not go to work with the money. Have you come to see that so far as your salvation is concerned, all of your works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-20)? This parable is not primarily about faith, nor is it about being willing to take a risk (this was merely the wicked slaves excuse). In order to understand the meaning and the application of the parable of the talents, we must take note of the crucial terms and their meanings. Our Lords teaching in the parable of the talents is that God expects profit that is the product of our labors. Jaye Martin, How to Know Your Life Purpose Both of these faithful slaves are rewarded well for their faithful service. The third servant has no profit, no gain, to give his master, so his talent is taken away and given to the one who went to work with his masters money and made great gains for him. Heaven involves work, but it is profitable work. Playlist: Go to the Parable of the Talents (topic) playlist . Then he (F)went away. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Im not saying that one should never cease their employment nor end their career. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. All rights reserved. Luke there are ten servants; in Matthew, there are only three. 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. 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Second, the faithful servants immediately went to work to increase their masters money (Matthew 25:16-17). 24:47; 25:34, 46; Luke 12:44; 22:29, 30; Rev. Jesus made it clear that His return would not be immediate, but after much trouble and the passing of a considerable period of time. He gives each of them some money. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more. 21His master said to him, Well done, good and (J)faithful servant. What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? 14 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. third servant seeks to excuse himself by accusing his master of being harsh. to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. third servant hides what was entrusted to him. When the third servant appears, hes done nothing with the money. In the end though, it doesnt matter whether we think Jesus is a hard or odd master, because we are neither all-knowing nor all-powerful. 12 And if you havent been trustworthy with someone elses property, who will give you your own? (Luke 16:10-12). 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Noelle Kirchner, The Generosity Of God 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. The, the definite article. Sharon Jaynes, Make the Most of Your Talents Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents (Matt. 271. But the master did provide the means for his slave to make a profit. Its also interesting that when the third servant returns his money, he accuses the master of being a hard man who reaps where he did not sow (Matthew 25:24). And the longer the master was gone, the more interest was lost by the slaves inactivity. Multiply Your Talents The term employed in Matthew 25:16 emphasizes work. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:13-14), according to plans he laid out before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5), to glorify him forever. God is both, and his plans will not necessarily make sense to our limited perspectives. 3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. It is a great responsibility with great reward as described in the Parable of the Talents. The talents Jesus Christ spoke of in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant ( Matthew 18:21-35) and the Parable of the Talents ( Matthew 25:14-30) referred to the largest unit of currency at the time. The Bible makes it clear that we dont really own our gifts. 2 Samuel 7:1-3 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; , 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader, 1 Chronicles 22:1-26:32 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. 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. To offer, give; I put, place. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. Yet is this not what our Lord is teaching us in this parable? It is from the use of the word "talents" in this parable that we moderns have derived its common meaning of natural gifts and endowments. Different. Since help was available to him in the Church, the man had no excuse. However, the talents (or minas in Lukes version) represent more than just the monetary resources God gives us. He gives each of them some money. In the parable, the gifts are given according to natural ability, but all who increase equally are rewarded equally. 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. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his . man allocates his resources to servants, expecting them to make a profit in his absence. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. This is like one of those reality TV shows where people compete for money to invest in a project, only with a different agenda. Wrap a gift a number of times to create a few layers. The master rebuked this slave for being evil and lazy. 20So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. 21His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were (E)faithful over a few things, (F)I will make you ruler over many things. He demanded that they make something out of nothing, so to speak. Sometimes the term is not translated at all. This gift is for us to share with others through our words and actions. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. which was given to the third (unfaithful) servant is taken away and given to the faithful servant who gained the most for his master. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats? 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. And what should I say? 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of Gods utterances. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made. It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. 273 William Hendriksen, in his commentary on Matthew, finds enthusiasm and joy in the accounting the first two servants gave to their master. Weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness must, on the other hand, involve spending eternity without God, and without joy. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). A popular job website lists theaverage monthly wage for Americans in 2021 as $5,555 per month. [15]And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every . And part of the reward the faithful slave is entering into is the joy of his Master in bringing salvation to men. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. 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. 274 If my concordance program is correct, this term occurs 526 times in the New Testament. God made me for a purpose, for China, Liddell says, But he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well .
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