"PARABLE OF THE TALENTS"

Proposition - As we continue in our study of Matthew this morning we are going to see 1) the foundation of the parable, 2) the investments of the parable, 3) the explanation of the parable and 4) the ramifications of the parable.

Interrogative question - What are you doing with the Jesus you say that you know?

1. The Foundation of the Parable - vs. 14-15

Matthew 25:14–15 NASB95

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.

Summarize these verses in your own words?

How many people are mentioned?

Who represents who?

25:14–30 The parable of the talents illustrates the tragedy of wasted opportunity. The man who goes on the journey represents Christ, and the servants represent professing believers given different levels of responsibility. Faithfulness is what he demands of them (see note on v. 23), but the parable suggests that all who are faithful will be fruitful to some degree. The fruitless person is unmasked as a hypocrite and utterly destroyed (v. 30). MacArthur, J., Jr., ed. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1441). Word Pub.

2. The Investments of the Parable - vs. 16-18

Matthew 25:16–18 NASB95

16 “Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

What do they do with the money?

How much did each on get?

What is the value of what they received?

25:15 five talents The Greek text indicates an amount equal to 75 years’ wages (see note on 18:24). Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 25:15). Lexham Press.

Matthew 13:44 -

Luke 19:20 -

3. The Explanation of the Parable - vs. 19-25

Matthew 25:19–25 NASB95

19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

What is the point of this parable?

Why do you think Jesus tells this one?

25:19 after a long time Three parables in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:1–25:46) involve a delay (24:48; 25:5). Jesus drives home the point that, since no one knows the time of His return, people must always be ready (see note on vv. 1–13). Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 25:19). Lexham Press.

25:20–23 Well done, good and faithful servant. The master’s identical statements of praise to both servants show that what was important was not the total amount earned but faithfulness in utilizing their gifts and potential. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Faithful stewardship in this life will result in being given greater responsibility and stewardship in the life to come. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1876). Crossway Bibles.

4. The Ramifications of the Parable - vs. 26-30

Matthew 25:26–30 NASB95

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What do you learn from these verses?

What’s the main lesson?

25:27 you ought to have invested my money with the bankers. In the OT, Israelites were forbidden from charging interest to other Israelites (Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:35–37; Deut. 23:19), but it was permissible to charge interest on money loaned to Gentiles (Deut. 23:20). In any case, the central point of the parable concerns the importance of being a faithful servant of all that God has entrusted to one’s care. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (pp. 1876–1877). Crossway Bibles.

SO WHAT??

25:14–30 The man on the long journey symbolizes Jesus and the lengthy delay that will precede his second coming. The talents (whose value equaled six thousand days of wages) represent the financial resources, gifts, privileges, and opportunities that Jesus entrusts to his disciples. The faithful servants (true disciples) used their gifts and resources responsibly and were generously rewarded. The evil, lazy servant (a false disciple) failed to use the resources and was severely punished. He attempted to excuse his failure by assaulting the character of his master (v. 24). However, the master’s treatment of the other servants demonstrates that the wicked servant’s slander was unfair. Quarles, C. L. (2017). Matthew. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1545). Holman Bible Publishers.