- [Narrator] Parable of the Talent.
Why did God punish the foolish servant?
In chapters 24-25, Matthew records the unchanging holiness
that characterized the Lord's heart.
This warning contains final warnings,
prophecies and encouragements to his people.
Jesus uses the parable of a master
who briefs his servants on what is expected
of them before setting out on a lengthy journey.
Matthew 25:14-15, Amplified Bible:
For it is just like a man who is about to take a journey
and he called his servants together
and entrusted them with his possessions.
To one he gave five talents,
to another two and to another one,
each according to his own ability
and then he went on his journey.
"This was not strange in the ancient world
where servants were often given great responsibility
and this was often the safest
and smartest thing a man could do with his money.
The best thing he could do with his money in his absence,
dividing it among carefully selected slaves
and leaving them to do their best with it," Bruce.
"A talent was not an ability.
Although this parable has application to our capabilities
but rather a unit of money equivalent
to at least 1,200 in current dollars.
The talent was not a coin,
it was a weight and therefore its value obviously depended
on whether the coinage involved
was copper, gold or silver," Bartley.
"The English use of talent for a natural
or supernatural aptitude derives from this parable.
But of course the Greek talentum is simply a sum of money.
It was generally regarded as equal to 6,000 denari," France.
"If a talent were worth 6,000 denari,
then it would take a day laborer 20 years
to earn so much," Carson.
"The talent which each man has suits his own state best
and it is only pride and insanity
which lead him to desire and envy the graces
and talents of another.
Five talents would be too much for some men.
One talent would be too little," Clarke.
Matthew 25:16-18:
The one who had received the five talents went at once
and traded with them
and he made a profit and gained five more.
Likewise, the one who had two made a profit
and gained two more
but the one who had received the one went
and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"Went and traded implies direct action.
The point is that the good servant felt the responsibility
for their assignment
and went to work without delay," Carson.
What did the servant trade with their coin?
We're not made aware
of how they bartered with their abilities.
It's possible that they loaned the money out
of interest attached or used it to buy things
and then resold them for a higher price.
The important thing is that they used what they already had
and as a result gained more.
Regarding the work done by the first two servants,
we have many complimentary things to say.
First and foremost, they completed their assignment on time.
Number two, they were steadfast
in their efforts to complete the task.
The third point is that they were successful
in completing their work.
Number four, they were ready
to give an account to their master.
Matthew 25:19-23, Amplified Bible:
Now after a long time, the master of those servants returned
and settled accounts with them.
And the one who had received the five talents came
and brought him five more saying,
"Master, you have entrusted to me five talents.
See, I have made a profit and gained five more talents."
His master said to him,
"Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little.
I will put you in charge of many things.
Share in the joy of your master."
Also, the one who had two talents came forward saying,
"Master, you have entrusted two talents to me.
See, I have made profit and gained two more talents."
His master said to him,
"Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little.
I will put you in charge of many things.
Share in the joy of your master."
The lengthy wait would tend the servants to believe
that they would never have to account for their management
yet they most certainly would.
We read: You have been faithful over a few things.
I will make you ruler over many things.
Most people do not realize
that the reward was the same for both servants.
Even though one was given five talents
and the other was given two talents.
Each performed the same according
to the resources that they had received.
We then read: Well done, good and faithful servant.
This demonstrates that the master sought for goodness
and faithfulness in the people who worked for him.
Because of their excellent character
and unwavering commitment
these servants were rewarded handsomely for their hard work.
The master didn't care as much
about the exact sum of money as he did
about specific character attributes.
"It is not: Well done, thou good and brilliant servant
for perhaps the man never shown at all
in the eye of those who appreciate glare and glitter.
It is not: Well done, thou great and distinguished servant,
for it is possible that he was never known
beyond his native village," Spurgeon.
"Better to be faithful in a cottage meeting,
speaking of Christ crucified to half a hundred villages
than to be unfaithful in a great building
where thousands congregate.
Enter into the joy of your Lord.
This has the echo of heaven in it.
The idea that a place of joy belongs
to the master of these servants
and they are invited to join the master in that place.
There is something heavenly about the fate that is
in store for the two faithful servants.
This is not the servant's portion
but the master's portion shared with his faithful servants.
Not so much that we shall have joy of our own
as that we shall enter into the joy of our Lord," Spurgeon.
Regarding the reward for the first two servants,
we can say the following.
First and foremost,
their master complimented them on their performance.
Number two, they received a promise of future blessing.
Number three, they received glory,
also known as the joy of your Lord.
The third servant gives account.
Matthew 25:24-25:
The one who had received one talent
also came forward saying,
"Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man,
reaping the harvest where you did not sow
and gathering where you did not scatter seed.
So I was afraid to lose the talent
and went and hid your talent in the ground.
See, you have what is your own.
"Their performance was very satisfactory as a whole.
Eight talents contributed
and 15 talents were received in return,
but in the end, each person was evaluated based
on their level of loyalty and effort.
Remember my hero that in the day of judgment
thy account must be personal.
God will not ask you what your church did.
He will ask you what you did yourself," Spurgeon.
The servant who merely buried his talent
tried to excuse himself because of his master's great power.
He believed his master to be in some sense omnipotent,
reaping where you have not sown
and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
The third servant believed that
because the master was powerful
and in the servant's opinion did not require his help,
the master would be delighted that he did nothing
and that he would be able to say,
"Look, there you have what is yours."
It appeared as though he was unaware
of how much he had upset his master.
Regarding the task done by the third servant,
we can say the following.
The first problem is that he didn't think.
Number two, he didn't work.
The third point is that he didn't even bother to attempt.
He made excuses.
Matthew 25:26-30, Amplified Bible:
But his master answered him, "You wicked, lazy servant.
You knew that I reap the harvest where I did not sow
and gather where I did not scatter seed.
Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers
and at my return
I would've received my money back with interest,
so take the talent away from him
and give it to the one who has the 10 talents.
For to everyone who has and values his blessings
and gifts from God and has used them wisely,
more will be given and he will be richly supplied
so that he will have an abundance.
But from the one who does not have because he has ignored
or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God,
even what he does have will be taken away
and throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness.
In that place of grief and torment
there will be weeping over sorrow and pain
and grinding of teeth over distress and anger.
The judgment of this third servant here referred to
as wicked and lazy servant was strong.
The master's dominion never excused the servants idleness
and it condemned that laziness all the more.
"Those who do not work for the Lord,
do not pray and do not evangelize
because God is sovereign condemn themselves.
They demonstrate they are like the wicked servant
in the parable through their deeds or lack thereof.
They do not know their master's heart at all.
The Lord of the unprofitable servant tells him
that the fault lay in his own sloth and wickedness
and his dread of his Lord's security was
but a mere frivolous pretense
and unreasonable excuse," Paul.
The accusation leveled against this servant
who had just buried his talent was
that he was wicked and lazy.
We rarely consider idleness an actual sin
that must be repented before the Lord.
If laziness had been a calling or a spiritual gift
this man would have excelled at it.
With what he had, this man could have done something,
even if it hadn't doubled,
the master's money would've earned some interest.
If we cannot trade directly and personally
on our Lord's account, if we have not the skill
nor the tech to manage a society or an enterprise for him
we may at least contribute to what others are doing
and join our capital to theirs so that by some means
our master may have the interest to which he is entitled.
While the Old Testament prohibits Israelites
from charging interest against one another,
interest on money loaned to Gentiles was permissible.
We read a phrase that has become famous:
For to everyone who has more will be given,
but from him who does not have
even what he has will be taken away.
Some have things but hold them in such way
that it's as if they have nothing.
These will find what they had taken away.
To those who hold what they have received
as faithful men and women more will be given.
John Tramp, an English commentator, notes:
See that you receive not any graces from God in vain
neither envy those that have much.
A proportion is expected.
F.B. Meyer, an English evangelist notes this:
We need not wait for the great future
to obtain this multiplication
or withdrawal of our talents.
They're already waxing or waning in our hands.
The third servant showed
that he was not even somewhat deserving
of the title of true servant to his lord.
It is only that he, and those who exhibit the same heart,
were expelled from the presence of the master for all time.
There is a strong sense of torment
in the destiny of the unfaithful and slothful servant
just as there was a sense of heaven
in the destiny of the two honest servants.
This parable's fundamental theme is crystal evident
when viewed in the broader context of Matthew 25.
Our level of preparedness for the return of Jesus
is directly proportional to how well
we manage the resources that he has entrusted to us.
Some people have the misconception
that being prepared for the second coming of Jesus
is an extraordinarily ethereal and abstract matter.
It isn't.
It is simply a matter
of going about our business for the Lord.
In light of this parable, we must consider the following.
What have we accomplished with the information that we have?
Our time, our money, our abilities, sins of omission,
what we don't do may be more detrimental
in the long run than sins of commission, what we do do.
There are times when Christians talk
as if God views expansion, production
and return on investment as a sinful thing.
However, that preconceived view is challenged
by this parable.
Our knowledge, expertise, and ability, in addition
to the resources that are made available to us at work
should all be put toward advancing God's kingdom.
The gifts that God gives
to individuals are seldom identical
nor are they always equal.
If you use the gifts God has given you
to the best of your ability,
you'll hear from him that you have done a good job.
The two successful servants are awarded in separate sums
and however they are both lauded in the same way.
The parable implies that we are to use
whatever skill we have been given
to the best of our ability for God's glory.
The Parable of the Talents drives home to them the gravity
of the obligation and the severe repercussions
of failing to comprehend
and act upon his instructions appropriately.
In addition, there is a message for all of humanity.
The judgment day is a great warning to us all.
To learn more about this day, click here.