The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 (Part 3 The Meaning of the Parable of the Talents)

_______________________________________________________________________The Story Matthew 25:14-30 14“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28“‘Take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For those who have will be given more, and they will have an abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Bible Background The background for our text today comes from Luke chapter 12 as there is a parallel account of Matthew 25:14-30 in Luke 12:41-48. In addition we will look at Matthew 6:24-33 which is brought in by the context of Luke 12:22-31 and Matthew 7:12-23 as background for Matthew 25:30. We begin with Luke 12, which provides many insights for our text. First, we learn in Luke 12:48b “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” This teaches us that everyone will be held accountable for the talents and abilities that God gives us (please listen to our first week’s podcast in this series Part 1: Psalm 139:13-18 The Uniqueness of Every Individual for an expanded understanding of this concept from the account of Moses in Numbers 20). Second, the context of Luke 12:22-31 brings the parallel account of Matthew 6:24-33 into play. This has an incredible effect on the parable of the talents and is the very basis of our ministry’s name, Talents 633 Ministries. Matthew 6:24-33 tells us that no one can serve two masters and we should not worry about or use our talents and abilities to chase after the things that this world says are so important for the pagans run after all these things (6:24-32) but instead 6:33 tells us that we should use all of our talents and abilities to, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God’s kingdom and His purposes always must come first above everything else in our lives. Third, there is a concept that comes from Mark’s gospel that is picked up by Luke and Matthew. It is the understanding that there are three groups of people in the world in relation to God, the insiders, the outsiders and the crowd. The insiders and outsiders are always derived from those referred to as ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’ i.e. those who claim to know and follow God. The difference between the two is that the insiders have true faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah (the eleven disciples and all those who really trusted Jesus like Mary Magdalene and Mary whose brother was Lazarus just to name a few) and the outsiders (all the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees as well as disciples like Judas Iscariot), although they claim to know God, they do not have true faith. The important thing to note is that both these groups have made a concrete decision, the insiders believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the outsiders claim to know God but do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, i.e. someone or something else is their god other than Jesus. The last group is the crowd. When our text is referring to the crowd it usually mentions them by name as ‘the crowd’ and is characterized by indecision, division or the groupings of wise and unwise. These lines can sometimes be blurred as wise and unwise can also refer to ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’ however, unless ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’ are specifically mentioned in the

text we are better served by understanding the designations of wise and unwise to refer to the crowd. The wise being those who choose to become insiders and the unwise those who choose to become outsiders or make no decision at all. We need these distinguishments in place to properly understand why the parable of the virgins is included with the parable of the talents in between Jesus’ discourses on the end times in Matthew 24 and Matthew 25:31-46. Many commentators say that these two parables are basically identical illustrations with the exact same point coming from two different perspectives for the purpose of emphasis. I would agree that this is mostly true, however, it seems that Matthew may have understood Jesus to intend more here. Although we could view the ten virgins as ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’, five wise who did well with what they were given and five unwise who did poorly with what they were given (all were given lamps and invited to the banquet), nowhere in Matthew’s gospel are these virgins actually called ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’. At first, this little detail may seem insignificant but upon closer evaluation of Matthew’s gospel it becomes extremely important. Why you may ask? Well, all commentators would agree that in the parable of the ten virgins we are dealing with a ‘kingdom of heaven’ parable compared to a wedding banquet. I say this because in Matthew 25:1&10 the text tells us both of these facts. This becomes extremely important because earlier in Matthew 22:1-14 we are dealing with a ‘kingdom of heaven’ parable compared to a wedding banquet. In this earlier parable ‘servants’ are sent out to invite guests to the wedding and they are called ‘servants’ by name. Because of this earlier context we can see that Matthew does use ‘servants’ when he wants ‘servants to be understood and so we are more correct to understand the ten virgins as guests who have been invited to the wedding. This insight then directs us to see the ten virgins as part of the crowd, five who transition to insiders and five who do not. So by including the parable of the ten virgins along with the parable of the talents between Jesus’ discourses on the end times, Matthew correctly understands Jesus’ intention to address everyone in the world, the insiders, the outsiders and the crowd not just the ‘servants’ or ‘disciples’ who comprise only the insiders and the outsiders. In addition, we can see that this makes more sense because everyone in the world will be included in the final judgment which Jesus speaks about in Matthew 25:31-33. We will talk more about this in our theme and understanding section.

Seeing How the Old Testament is Used in the New Testament _ Once again we turn to Psalm 139:13-18 for insight into our text and the connection we are making here is not grammatical or lexical but a theological connection (please listen to our first week’s podcast in this series Part 1: Psalm 139:13-18 The Uniqueness of Every Individual for an expanded understanding of this concept). For we must consider, when we speak about the talents that we have been given, how we have been created by the Master who made us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, each one of us unique with talents and abilities that no one else has which are meant to be used to build up the church and bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. John Calvin insightfully comments on the Psalmist’s writing, “His declaration to the effect that his soul should well know these wonders, which far transcends human comprehension, means no more than that with humble and sober application he would give his attention and talents to obtaining such an apprehension of the wonderful works of God as might end in adoring the immensity of his glory…” Calvin is brilliant in his understanding as he realizes that our talents are to be used to apprehend God and ultimately to give Him glory!

Theme & Understanding______________________________________________________ __ As with any parable, the story is meant to represent real things in this life and most importantly to drive home a vital point or truth from the teacher. The challenge is that unless Jesus explains to us what everything represents (like He does with His disciples in the parable of the sower), we are left to our own understanding to make the connections. It is to this endeavor that we now turn our attention. We begin by determining what kind of parable we are dealing with and verse 14 provides our clue by stating, “Again, it will be like…” When we look back to verse 1 of Matthew 25 we find that the previous parable begins, “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like…” So we are dealing with a ‘kingdom of heaven’ parable and we are meant to understand that the characters in this story translate into a reality that will impact each and every one of us in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity. Now the man who is going on the journey, the master of the ‘servants’, is often understood to be God by many commentators and this is true. However, more correctly we should see the man as Jesus because in the parable, he has the authority to judge the ‘servants’ performance and to throw one outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Also, in verses 31-32 we are told, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory…he will sit on his glorious throne…and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” One of Jesus’ favorite names for Himself in Matthew is ‘Son of Man’ where it is used 30 times, which is more than anywhere else in the New Testament (cf.

Matthew 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8,32,40; 13:37,41; 16:13,27-28; 17:9,12,22; 19:28; 20:18,28; 24:27,30,37,39,44 & 26:2,24,45,64). The ‘servants’ in the parable are meant to be all mankind, everyone who has ever been created but more specifically, those who claim to have a relationship with the Master, Jesus. The first two ‘servants’ belong to our group of people known as the insiders and the third ‘servant’ belongs to the outsiders but even more correctly, like Judas Iscariot, he is a member of the crowd who transitions to become an outsider by virtue of his choice to bury his talent. Remember, to be an outsider, someone or something else besides Jesus must be god but a member of the crowd is simply someone who is undecided about Jesus. It is likely that this third ‘servant’ who received one talent was undecided and this is why he buried his talent. It is important that we know that a talent, especially if it was a talent of gold, was an incredibly vast sum of money, which today would be worth well over a million dollars by comparable weight and measurement conversions. So let’s follow the logic of the undecided ‘servant’. He says to himself, “I will bury my talent because if the Master really is the Messiah then when He returns I can give Him back what belongs to Him but if He is not and He never returns then I can keep the talent for myself.” Notice the cunning of this last ‘servant’, which Jesus exposes in verse 27 when He says, “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers…” You may ask, “Why is this statement so revealing?” The answer is that the undecided ‘servant’ buried his talent because if he had deposited it with the bankers, then there would have been a record of the transaction and if his Master failed to return, the money would have went to the Master’s estate and relatives. Instead, by burying the talent, there were no records and so if the Master failed to return, the undecided ‘servant’ could keep the talent for himself and no one would be the wiser. Jesus’ question then is quite revealing for He sees the ‘servant’ for who he really is and pronounces proper judgment upon him because by virtue of his own choice he has transitioned himself from the crowd into the outsiders. Therefore, Jesus sends him where he belongs, outside into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Next, the talents in our story represent the talents and abilities that each one of us has been given by virtue of how we were created, each unique, fearfully and wonderfully made. This is why verse 15 tells us that each one was given according to his own ability or uniqueness. Well known New Testament scholar, D. A. Carson states, “Attempts to identify the talents with spiritual gifts, the law, natural endowments, the gospel, or whatever else, lead to a narrowing of the parable with which Jesus would have been uncomfortable. Perhaps he chose the talent or mina symbolism because of its capacity for varied application (D. A. Carson, 'Matthew' in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (ed. Frank E. Gaebelein; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984): 516). Indeed, we are meant to understand that these talents include everything that we have been given. Now, we must examine the two ‘servants’ who did well with what they were given. First, we must note that it has nothing to do with how much they had been given, for both receive the same reward to come and share in their Master’s happiness and are put in charge of many things (we will talk more about rewards in heaven in a future series). Second, following in line with Luke 12:48b “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked,” there is an acknowledgement of the ‘servant’ of whom more was required because the one talent is taken away from the wicked ‘servant’ and is given to the ‘servant’ who has ten. Finally, the point of the parable and the truth that Jesus is trying to drive home is that what we do with what we have been given, our talents, will have an impact on our position in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity. And, it is not possible to multiply one’s talents without true faith in Jesus as the Messiah. For the three groups, the insiders, the outsiders and the crowd, shall become two groups. The Son of Man, Jesus will separate them, the insiders who are the sheep on His right will enter the kingdom of heaven and share in the Master’s rewards and the outsiders as well as the undecided crowd who are the goats on His left will be thrown outside into eternal darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Summary & Life Application There are four points that we need to remember from today’s devotion. 1) The parallel account of Luke 12:48b points out “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” 2) The parallel account in Luke 12 brings Matthew 6:33 into play and so we see that in order to multiply our talents it takes true faith in Jesus. We must put Him first above all the things that this world says that we need. Hear Matthew’s words, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 3) There are three groups of people in this world, the insiders, the outsiders and the crowd. Which one are you? If you are serving anyone or anything else other than Jesus Christ or if you have been undecided about whom Jesus is, repent and ask for forgiveness. Put your faith and trust in the One and only True God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 4) The three groups of people in this world will be divided into only two: the sheep

who will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” and the goats who will hear, “throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In conclusion, I re-emphasize that same closing statement that I made in our last devotional: What we do with what we have been given will have an impact on us for all eternity. Jesus carefully selected the parable of the talents and positioned it in an end times discourse so that we might understand its importance with regards to the end of the age. We are truly responsible for everything that we have been given! This concludes our devotional for this week and now, receive the benediction: Come quickly Lord Jesus as we look forward to and anticipate Your return where You will judge righteously from Your glorious throne. How good it will be for the sheep to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Amen.