Parable of the Minas and Talents

Intro:

This morning we are going to look at two parables that are similar in meaning. They are the parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents. To begin this will be a little bit more reading than usual, but I want you to hear both parables fully and then we will break down and find the application. Turn with me first to Matthew 25:14-30. Luke 19:11-27.

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Submit:

Matthew 25:14-20 ““For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “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.’”

Matthew 25:21-26 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then 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. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.”

Matthew 25:27-30 “So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Now turn with me to Luke 19:11-27.

Luke 19:11-17 “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”

Luke 19:18-23 “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’”

Luke 19:24-27 ““And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ””

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Apply:

Both parables reference someone who is in charge giving something of worth to servants to keep and do business with while He was gone. In both parables when He returned he had the servants give account for what they had done. Although similar in application. The two parables differ slightly in context.

In the parable of the talents: the quantity of talents is different. One receives five, another two, and the last one.

In the parable of the minas: they all received the same amount.

Both parables: have an expectation of increase. Along with similar outcomes for increase, and lack of use.

Important to note about these parables is that they are prophetic parables speaking no only to the time of Jesus physical ministry, but also to the second coming of Christ.

Both parables give context that what is given to the servants belongs to the master. He delivered His goods to them, and his wealth. The instruction from the Nobleman with the minas was to do business until I come. Though the parable of the talents doesn’t explicitly say it, there is a inferred expectation of increase with what was given to each person.

They were to trade, and increase what was given to them.

In the parable of the talents they were given in proportion to ability. (*note that God doesn’t give more than a person has the ability to use). The Lord never gives Christians things beyond their ability. All can serve the Lord according to their measure; no less and no more. To serve the Lord to the best of our ability is all that He requires. God isn’t asking for perfection, but he is looking for participation. Acts 11:29. Ezra 2:69.

Acts 11:29 “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.” Ezra 2:69 “According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.”

In the parable of the minas each received the same amount. The minas given are likened to a talent, gift, skill, ministry, or ability which the Lord gives to every member of the body of Christ. They are to be used for His glory and to spiritually trade with others and gain for the kingdom of God by using what the Lord gave us.

Each receiving the same amount in this parable shows that there is an equal responsibility and accountability. We are to serve the Lord to the extent of our ability. 1 Peter 4:11.

1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

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Closing:

The instrumental truth weaved into the application of this parable is the second coming of Christ. He conveys that He has given us talents and responsibility, and ultimately that He will come back. When He comes each one will give an account of His own works. For those who have been faithful rewards are given. The unfaithful will receive judgement.

Concerning judgement Jesus is very clear. In both parables the servant who did not use what he gave them was deemed a wicked servant. In the parable of the talents the wicked servant is cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the parable of the minas he commands the enemies of his, who did not want him to reign over them to be slain before him.

This picture of Jesus as judge can seem to conflict with the picture of Jesus as savior. We must remember that he came first as a lamb to be slain. He will come the second time as a lion and conquering king.

I want to leave you with a few simple ways to serve the Lord faithfully in your life.

1. Be unwavering in your belief in Him

No matter what happens stay strong and immovable in your belief in Him. We will face trials and tribulations, mountain tops and valleys. Establish yourself in the truth of His word, and believe who He is and what He has said no matter what.

2. Separate yourself from the world's thought patterns and practices

Being a citizen of heaven, we must set our mind on things above, on the very things of heaven. Study the Word and find out what pleases the Lord, and do them. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern and practices of the world.

3. Choose to do what is right all the time

Even if it hurts, choose to do what is right and God-pleasing all the time. When you are faced with making decisions, choose to please God, even if it means being ridiculed and made fun of.

4. Obey what God said in His Word

The Lord Jesus said that if you love Him, then you should do what He says. (see John 14:15) John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.””

5. Love your neighbours in obedience to God

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

God is watching over our lives and He sees how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those who are not in the family just yet. He sees all our actions, and because He loves everyone in the world (see John 3:16), it matters to Him that we love our neighbours, too.

My prayer for each us today is that we would go all in without reservation. Don’t be like the servant who allowed fear of failure to rob him of eternal rewards. Serve the Lord with everything within you! Step out in faith and trust Him to use your life. Equip yourself through the study of the word and then put your hand to the plow and work for His kingdom.

Let’s Pray!

Help us to be unwavering.

Salvation.