The Parable of the Talents

A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had never seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that a traveling circus was coming to town. He ran home with the glad news and the question, "Daddy, can I go?"

Although the family was poor, the father sensed how important this was to the lad. "If you do your Saturday chores ahead of time," he said, "I’ll see to it that you have the money to go."’

Come Saturday morning, the chores were done and the little boy stood by the breakfast table, dressed in his Sunday best. His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill.

The Parable of the Talents

As he neared the outskirts of the village, he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening. Lo and behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade! Caged animals snarled as they passed, bands beat their rhythms and sounded shining horns, midgets performed acrobatics while flags and ribbons swirled overhead. Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, brought up the rear.

As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill. Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home. What had happened? The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade! (Ryan Johnson, Sermon Central)

The Parable of the Talents

This parable is a parable of lost and missed opportunities. There is nothing more tragic than for someone to miss great opportunities in their life that God sends their way. The fact is, God desired His children to live fruitful and abundant lives. To be rich in God. Unfortunately we miss many opportunities God sends our way.

"The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car ... a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little." (Sermon Central)

Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” (Richard Tow, Sermon Central)

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Context

Now, as it is with every parable we study we have to 1st understand the context. The context of the parable of the talents is situated right after the parable of the Ten Virgins. All of this is centered around Jesus is teaching on his return.

Matthew 24:36 ESV

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

The Context

The disciples have been discussing with Jesus signs of his return. What Jesus foremost warns his disciples is that there will be increasing deception leading to the great tribulation. The world would witness birthing pains as the coming of the Messiah drew closer. All of this centers around Israel and Jesus repeatedly tells his disciples to be ready.

The Context

We are to remain in a constant state of readiness. The US military has a level of readiness at all times that at the sound of an alarm Soldiers, Marines, the Navy, or Airmen are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice to anywhere in the world and respond to any threat to the US. It is what makes The US military the finest in the world.

So it is to be with Christians. Today more than ever a person who claims to be a Christian and a slumbering is in peril. This is the heart of the message found in the Parable of the Ten Virgins which Tim is speaking on in a couple of weeks. The Parable of the Talents and the Ten Virgins are linked together by verse 13

Matthew 25:13 ESV

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Are you waiting and anticipating the coming of your Lord? However waiting is not an excuse for inactivity and slothfulness. For a while we are anticipating and looking for the coming of the Lord, we are also growing in our faith, we are working and serving, and we are being stewards of everything that God has given us. That is a balance of the Christian life that all believers must possess.

Responsibility to Receive (vv. 14-15)

Matthew 25:14–15 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Responsibility to Receive (vv. 14-15)

This parable begins with a description of a man, evidently a very wealthy business man, who is going on a long trip. We must understand that when Jesus is talking about someone going away for a long trip, He's not talking about going away for a couple weeks. To go away on a long trip means that you would be gone for many months or even years.

Someone of that stature would leave the care of his affairs in his estate to his servants. Much as the way that Jesus left the affairs of his church to the disciples. That is you and I. Until he makes his return. The word Jesus uses for servant is DOULOS which means slave or employee. The “servants” are not like butlers or groundskeepers.

Responsibility to Receive (vv. 14-15)

These were high level employees. They were responsible for acting in proxy of the master. These were men of high rank who could act in authority of the master in his absence. This is the image of the church. Pastors and teachers, leaders, elders, and the Saints. The church is responsible for handling the fares of the master here on earth until he returns.

And so, as the parable goes, the master calls together the Saints. Verse 15: “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” it says he gives each one talents according to their ability. He's delegating authority. Now talent wasn't measured in value, it was measured by weight, About 80 lbs. This was the equivalent of 6000 denarii, a single denarius being worth a day's wages. So, depending upon whether the measurement was gold or silver, a single talent was equal to about 20 years of Labor. In other words, each man was entrusted with them quite a bit.

Responsibility to Receive (vv. 14-15)

Everyone of you are entrusted with something, but not everyone is entrusted with the same. Some of that is based on our spiritual capacity and our responsibility. But the remaining truth is all of us have a bag full of talents in our life. All of us have value in the Kingdom of God that we are to invest into that Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Abilities and skills, wealth, family and friends, church ministry, opportunities and life, spiritual gifts, our very life, our property, our intelligence, or anything else are gifts from God that we are entrusted to use for the Kingdom. Our responsibility is to be faithful in the cultivation of these “talents” for the fruitful cultivation for the Lord.

Our Response to God (vv. 16-18)

Matthew 25:16–18 ESV

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Our Response to God (vv. 16-18)

The job of the servants was to invest what was given to them. Two of the servants invested What was given to them, doubling the treasure. They did something productive, But it required risk. This is the image of the believer who uses faith, boldness, passion, and is ready to be productive waiting for the lord to return. There is a love for the lost And there is trust in the master.

But notice one servant (v.18) did nothing. He dug a hole in the ground and put the talent in the ground. This was a common way to save money in the 1st century. You can think back to Matthew 13 where we studied the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.

Our Response to God (vv. 16-18)

And it's not that he did anything wrong or illegal. It's not that he squandered the money. It's that he did nothing. Remember, one pallet is a lot of money.

We are responsible to give back to God. Slothful faith is no faith at all. Jesus says, it is the mark of a false servant.

James 2:17 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

When our so-called faith does not incite action in the world around us, in other words when we do not invest in what was given to us, it is really no faith at all. It's evidence of no relationship, self centeredness, indifference, and questioning if Jesus is really returning at all.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The Judgement We Face (vv.19-27)

Now the story comes to the point where the master returns. This is pointing to the second coming of Christ and judgment day. Looking at the parable of the wheat and the tears. There is a reckoning that is going to happen. All people will be judged by Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne. Believers will also be judged by Jesus Christ. We call that the Bema Seat of Christ.

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

The Judgement We Face (vv.19-27)

The man who was given 5 talents doubled the investment with another five talents. The man who was given two talents likewise doubled the investment. Notice there was no expectation of ownership

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

The Judgement We Face (vv.19-27)

The response from the master two the faithful servants his commendation and reward in verse 21: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Proverbs 14:25 ESV

25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

The Judgement We Face (vv.19-27)

But the man who was given one talent and buried it returned with nothing else but the talent he was given. This is the image of the unfruitful believer. Knowing nothing to gather in the Kingdom. Notice how he gives his own opinion of the master in verse 24. He describes the master as a “hard man” “Scleros” Is where we get our word sclerosis, for hardening of the arteries. It's used to define someone as unforgiving, unrelenting, unmerciful, and unkind. The servant also accuses the master of being a thief, stealing someone else's crop.

This is the man who chooses to stand in judgment of God. The person who decides what his destiny is going to be, rather than the submission and worship to God. There's no worship, there's no glory. In verse 25 when he says ‘I was afraid and I went and hid,’ is reminiscent of the garden is it not?.

Proverbs 20:4 ESV

4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The Judgement We Face (vv.19-27)

The masters response and anger is justified. In biblical times to invest money into a bank or money changers would return as much as 12% interest.

The Reward Given (vv 28-29)

Just as in the parable of the wheat and the tears, and the parables of the separation of the sheep and the goats, there is reward that is given to those who are faithful.

Matthew 23:12 ESV

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The faithful servants are given more. The slothful servant has his status and everything given to him taken away.

Matthew 25:30 ESV

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Reward Given (vv 28-29)

The image Jesus is giving here in verse 30 is an image of hell. This is meant to be a sobering image. It should cause us to take an inventory of our faith. It should motivate us in our zeal.

We are to be ready for the master's return now. There's no cramming for the test for the Kingdom of God. We are to our best, sell, and give all we have for the glory of the Master, As we await his return. We are to be serving with passion in his church and to others. We are to be telling others of his imminent return.

ABC’s of Salvation