Parable of the Talents

Zephaniah. Judah. “Yahweh has hidden/protected.” During reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). “Israel” in the prophecy refers to the remnant remaining in Judah and its capital of Jerusalem. Josiah a reforming king.

Overall theme: The day of the Lord. Two facets: one of judgment against those who sin against God, and one of blessing for those who follow him. God will show himself just in both punishment and praise.

Event though northern kingdoms have fallen, the people are not fully repenting. Zephaniah warning them about the consequences of their choice.

Zephaniah 1:7 NRSV

Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.

Zephaniah 1:12–18 NRSV

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.” Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Second Reading Context

Matthew. Jesus is just outside of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives. Offering a view of the city. Lamenting over how they are rejecting him. His disciples have asked him, When will the End come?

The parable he tells this morning is one of the parables he uses to answer this question. The focus on the parable is not so much a statement of when the Lord will come, but how faithful disciples should use the time they have until he does.

Matthew 25:14–30 NRSV

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Introduction

Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)

not nothing. Care for loved ones; church; items. Make a difference!

not do nothing!

We’ve gotten a lottery of spiritual wealth.

Exegesis 1: The Free Gift of the Master

The Master generously entrusts his property to his servants.

He gives according to their abilities.

Talent is a measurement of weight. 75:lbs. If silver, the value....15yrs.

To one 5, 2, and 1.

He goes away for a time, but will come back. He is going on a journey.

Jesus is the property owner.

The property is the Kingdom of God.

Elsewhere a pearl of great price. Field with a treasure in it.

He is going on a journey to heaven and will come back.

Going to heaven after his death and resurrection but will come back on the great day of the Lord.

The servants are his disciples.

To you has been entrusted the meaning of the parables.

He appeared not to all, but to us who ate and drank with him. He has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.

NB: the disciples, when will the end come? The Kingdom is not yet. Yet, Jesus starts with the kingdom is also already here. You have some of it.

Jesus treasure of heaven and earth

Implication 1: We are entrusted with the Kingdom of God today

The spiritual property is still the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is still the owner. He has gone on his trip. He is in heaven.

Who are today’s servants? We are.

Behold how generous and affirming God is. He gives us the Kingdom of God.

We have the KofG right now, in the in between time until he comes back.

Each of us given a share according to God’s generosity and wisdom and knowledge of us.

Key, all of us given something… given a lot! One talent a lot!

Jesus treasure!

Exegesis 2: Result to the servants who did well

The servants have been entrusted.

The master leaves and they make their choices about what to do.

Two servants go out and invest.

work, they choose, they risk, they plan. They watch the clock and the days and the market.

When the master returns, they show the profit.

You gave me 5. Here is 5 more.

You entrusted me with 2. Here is two more.

The master praises them. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.

Spiritual: The Lord approves and rewards those who invest in the KofG. Invest the Kingdom of God itself. Who realize the value of the opportunity given them and make the most of it.

Example in the work force. Who do you promote? The one who is active.

One of the outcomes of this teaching among the disciples is that they shared the message of Jesus. The saw that as investing. Multiplying what had been entrusted to them.

To be called a servant or slave or steward was a compliment to the earliest apostles and evangelists.

I have been given some. Here Lord are many more than just me. Paul referred to his converts as the proof of his apostleship.

Jesus said, Here I am and the brothers you have given me.

Enter into the joy. A statement about the afterlife. Come in to heaven…and come in with approval and joy!

Share in the joy: It was important. I made the sacrifices and investments. Shared what was important with others effectively. Now the kingdom is increased. Sharing in Jesus’ joy of having saved others. We get to experience being saved and savior.

Jesus treasure of heaven and earth

Implication 2: We gain the Lord’s approval and a joyous welcome to the Kingdom when we have invested.

Each of has been given some share of the Kingdom.

Are we making the kingdom grow around us.

Do people around you know that you are Christian?

Entrusted with many gifts of the kingdom.

preaching, teaching, servicing, governing, praying, giving. Epistle list.

The settings are many. The challenges and opportunities.

the central thing love for God and others in the love of Christ.

The Book of Order. The church, we, share in God’s mission. Even if we have no marriage, no kids, no job, we have been entrusted with a role in the Kingdom of God.

We value what we have been given and sharing it with others.

The spiritually alert Christian Intentionally leading people through life toward the Kingdom.

When the Lord returns. Enter into my joy. You are here, it gives me great joy to welcome you. As you welcome another who is here because of your efforts/faithfulness you feel joy, the same joy I have. I share my joy with you. Being saved and saving.

Exegesis 3: Result to the servant who did badly

One servant, given the least is summoned.

He has not done anything with the talent given to him.

His rationale is to blame the master: You are harsh. You always turn a profit, even when it seems like you shouldn’t. i.e., no room for failure. So I was afraid of you. I hid it in the ground.

But the master uses the accusation against him. If you knew that I always turn a profit: You should have at least put it in the bank, not in the ground. Minimal action. Even that, even something minimal would be enough. But no. Nothing.

Rejects the characterization and reverses. You are the one who is wicked and lazy. Not me.

The master takes his wealth and gives it to the one with the five.

The master casts him out. Darkness and gnashing of teeth. Out of the property.

It is possible to be given the the Kingdom and to scorn it and Jesus who gives it.

Jesus the master, makes it clear that at the end, there will be an accounting. Jesus will ask each disciple what have you done with the KofG that I entrusted to you. No accusations against God will stand. God has been nothing but generous.

Rather, a fundamental mistake in life: to bury it in the ground. To take the Kingdom of God that was given to you, that should lift you up, and instead staying earthbound.

Jesus was placed in the ground. But did not stay there. The kingdom of God does not belong in the ground. Lifts us up.

No one hides a lamp. If the salt loses its taste. No servant given a talent hides it in the ground.

Two futures: Certain joy or just as certain sorrow. Sorrow NOT imposed by God but chosen or not chosen by the person.

Implication 3

we are here to day. Not going to say any of us are completely discounting the gift we are given.

But we are all susceptible to the danger.

Spiritually lukewarm.

traditional term: sloth. Apathetic about the things of God.

I’m not interested in spiritual goods.

Maybe God is not that good. unfair, too demanding harsh.

Result, we are earth bound. Our interests are in the ground. We only think about physical health, intellectual, earthly accomplishments.

What does it profit to gain the whole world but loose your soul.

Two directions ahead. The KofG is given now. What you do with it right now will directly translate to what is experienced later.

Conclusion

lottery of Jesus treasure of heaven and earth!

Right now, the present, is a gift from God. Fraught with opportunity and with responsibility.

How are you using the life given to you. Kingdom of God?

Prayer of Intercession

We pray for all leaders and people of the world that we may expose the powers and principalities of injustice and work together to build your reign of peace.

We pray for all who yearn for your light to break forth in places of sickness, toil, or danger, that we may find our way to your glorious realm through our love for one another.

Your coming is the dawn of a new day that brings hope and healing to our lives. Fill your church with the light of your love that we may be still and know that you are God and stand in wonder of your majesty.

Rouse us to live in this present age in light of our hope for your return. Inspire us to encourage each other to tend the earth and to press harder than we think we can to work toward your new creation.

Give us the courage to acknowledge human frailty, limitation, and even death, with confidence in your eternal plan. For we dwell forever in light with you, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

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