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Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable Of
The Talents
Setting In Jerusalem during Jesus’ last week
Most likely, late Tuesday afternoon or early Tuesday evening
Jesus has finished His public ministry His last words = a lament for
Jerusalem’s destruction Mt 23:37-39
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
Setting In Jerusalem during Jesus’ last week
His comments in Mt 24-25 were spoken privately to the disciples
The Ten Virgins parable = preparation This parable = work while waiting
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The characters aren’t “hired servants”
as Mt 20:1-16 They are “slaves” (bond-slaves)
Those not even in possession of their own bodies
Appropriate re: disciples 1 Cor 6:19-20
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Neither are the characters “bridesmaids”
as in Mt 25:1-13 [previous parable] Emphasis on waiting for the groom
In this parable, they are more like stewards who must be busy…who must give an account of their activities
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Before going on a journey, a man
entrusts “talents” to 3 slaves vv. 14-15 A “talent” = 6,000 denarii [sizeable] Each one entrusted “…according to his
own ability” [5, 2, & 1 respectively] Not equally able…but, equally responsible
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Before going on a journey, a man
entrusts “talents” to 3 slaves vv. 14-15 Important…the master knows what each
slave can do What about our “talents?” Rom 12:3-8
1 Cor 12:4-11, 14-28
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The first 2 slaves respond vv. 16-17
The “5-talent” slave immediately [NASV] trades, doubling his master’s money
The “2-talent” slave does likewise They did not delay [urgency] They understood their responsibilities
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The first 2 slaves respond vv. 16-17
No matter the level of responsibility, the slave is duty-bound re: the master’s work
Eph 4:11-12, 16 Diligence…not negligence Rom 12:11 Every joint supplies something Eph 4:16
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The “1-talent” slave’s response v. 18
He did not try to increase his master’s money
He thought only of not losing it He dug a hole and buried it
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Contrasting the 3 slaves
The “5-talent” & “2-talent” slaves acted on faith and their awareness their master had entrusted them
The “1-talent” slave was afraid v. 25 Fear does nothing
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Contrasting the 3 slaves
The difference… Faith acts despite the possibility of
failing…knows rewards outweigh the risks Fear thinks it best not to lose what it
has…risks are too great to “chance it”
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable Have slaves been entrusted to simply
watch the master’s goods, or do something with them? Rom 12:4, 6
The “certainty” v. 19 The master’s return…the accounting “Theme” Mt 24:36-39, 42, 44 25:6, 13
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “5 & 2-talent” slaves vv. 20-23 Judged to be equally faithful…they were
commended the same vv. 21, 23 Not based upon each one’s gross gain Different expectations…same reward
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “5 & 2-talent” slaves vv. 20-23 Based upon what each one did with what
he had been entrusted No matter the # of talents, the master was
pleased with each one’s performance
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “1-talent” slave vv. 24-30 He first “slanders” his master v. 24 He admits his motivation (fear) and
proudly presents his “not lost” talent v. 25
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “1-talent” slave vv. 24-30 If he were truly “afraid” wouldn’t he have
been more diligent, not less? His problem…he didn’t even try to do
anything to increase his master’s money
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “1-talent” slave vv. 24-30 The master was not impressed He labels him “wicked & lazy” v. 26a At the least, the money could have been
deposited in the bank v. 27
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Parable The accounting vv. 20-30
The “1-talent” slave vv. 24-30 This type of service won’t produce praise
& commendation…only judgment vv. 28-30
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Application Re: the “1-talent” slave…
The notion of “not losing” what one has is appealing to the disciple who doesn’t really want to do anything anyway
If this is where we are, we need to realize just how much we are in danger
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Application Re: the “1-talent” slave…
Some modern-day disciples are heard to complain at how “hard” the Lord’s demands are
Is this true? 1 Jn 5:3 Determining factor? Attitude Gen 29:20
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Application Re: the “1-talent” slave…
Such disciples won’t get any farther “mischaracterizing” the Lord as did this “1-talent” slave in slandering his master
There is always a way to serve his Lord… love finds a way to be useful Mk 14:8
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Application Re: the “1-talent” slave…
Some have also convinced themselves that “sins of omission” aren’t as bad as “sins of commission”
Obviously, Jesus thinks otherwise in this parable v. 26 Jas 4:17
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Application Re: the “5 & 2-talent” slaves…
What greater joy could there be than to hear “Well done…enter in…”
Wouldn’t you work 1,000 lifetimes to hear Jesus say this to you?
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Lesson While I’m waiting… Mt 25:1-13
…what am I doing with what the Master has entrusted to me?
Am I busy using my “talents?” Am I doing nothing Have I buried my “talents?”
The TalentsMatt 25:14-30
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