Stop Playing Safe (With Jesus)
Introduction- The Risk In Playing It Safe
Transition To Body- The Obligations of the Spiritually Gifted/Entrusted to God’s Property
The third in the series of judgment parables focuses not on the accountability of church leaders as does the first (24:45–51), nor on the general responsibilities of ordinary Christians as does the second (25:1–13), but on the obligations of those who have been granted special gifts.
The theme of ‘being ready’, which dominated the last section, is still at the centre of this parable, which again portrays a ‘coming’ and its consequences for those who should have been preparing for it. But this parable takes up the question which that of the bridesmaids left unanswered: what is ‘readiness’? It is not a matter of passively ‘waiting’, but of responsible activity, producing results which the coming ‘master’ can see and approve. For the period of waiting was not intended to be an empty, meaningless ‘delay’, but a period of opportunity to put to good use the ‘talents’ entrusted to his ‘slaves’.
Relationship between Talent & Readiness
The English use of ‘talent’ for a natural (or supernatural) aptitude derives from this parable, and represents a common application of it to the need to ‘live up to our full potential’. But of course the Greek talanton is simply a sum of money, part of the story-content of the parable, and our interpretation should not be influenced by the subsequent use of the word in English. In the context of Jesus’ ministry the sums of money entrusted to the slaves are more likely to represent not natural endowments given to men in general, but the specific privileges and opportunities of the kingdom of heaven. The opportunities open to a disciple may differ in character and magnitude, but they are all to be faithfully exploited before the master returns. ‘Readiness’, therefore, consists in having already faithfully discharged our responsibilities as disciples, whether they have been small or great. It is the master who allocates the scale of responsibility; the slave’s duty is merely to carry out faithfully the role entrusted to him.
Body- Faithful Stewardship To Jesus
Pursue Steady Progress (While Serving)
Valuing What Jesus Entrusts To Us
Although the exact value of a talent varied from period to period and place to place, we may estimate the values of these investments at roughly fifty thousand, twenty thousand and ten thousand denarii. Since one denarius was a day’s wage, this would be a “small sum” (25:21, 23) only to a very rich master, who would probably entrust his wealth only to his most dependable and prudent servants.
At Once
a point of time immediately subsequent to a previous point of time (the actual interval of time differs appreciably, depending upon the nature of the events and the manner in which the sequence is interpreted by the writer)—‘immediately, right away, then.’
{
Pursue Steady Progress (While Serving)
}
Never Stand Still (While Serving)
Misunderstanding God’s Character
Great Lengths Church Folks Go Just To Keep Things The Same (“Follow The Letter of the Law” while practicing false piety)
Burying the bag of gold underground was not necessarily easier than investing the money, considering the amount of work required to do so (finding a location to bury the gold, time spent in digging, scheduling the work and marking the spot while making sure no one could discover the hidden treasure). The highlight of what the third servant did, however, was not the burying of the talents entrusted to him, but his returning of the full amount intact, which is a metaphor that ancient Jewish teachers would understand as a reference to keeping the Law. Keeping the Law for the sake of keeping the Law was not what Jesus wanted for his disciples. On several occasions, Jesus distinguished between true and false piety (for example, Matt 6); he also used metaphors to illustrate real piety such as producing fruit (13:23; 21:19, 43), or the doubling of the talents (25:19, 22). The master’s giving the one talent that was not invested properly by the third servant to the first servant was not unexpected (25:28), for if the first servant could double five talents, he would now have more to trade. This parable, like the three other illustrations in this section, is clearly against the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
The third servant accused the master of being “a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed” (25:24). There is no question that this description reflects the system of exploitation during Jesus’ days. However, this does not imply that the first two servants represent those who were devoured by this system and have become corrupt themselves, while the third servant serves as the whistleblower who exposed the corruption of the master. Again, Jesus did not raise ethical questions about the master’s unjust practice, which the Bible clearly condemns. The assessment of the third servant as a “wicked, lazy servant” (25:26) and his punishment of being thrown out “into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (25:30) are enough to associate him with those who practice false piety (24:51).
Regarding Not Taking Risks Out of Fear
Why are you afraid?
The people experienced God’s presence while Jesus was physically with them, teaching and preaching, healing and casting out demons, and even in his confrontation with the religious leaders. His ascension marks the beginning of the temporary period of Jesus’ physical absence from his people; nonetheless, Jesus promised his continuous presence (28:20). In short, even in Jesus’ absence, the divine presence remains with his people.
{
Pursue Steady Progress (While Serving)
Never Stand Still (While Serving)
}
Give Your Very Best (While Serving)
Each According to Their God Given Ability
The Bible Says In
Diversity of Ability Within the Church
Paul Calls This God’s Manifold Wisdom
pertaining to that which is different in a number of ways—‘many and diverse, manifold, many-sided.’
The Key Word Here In The Text Is Faithful
Both the five-talent man and the two-talent man made full and responsible use of what had been entrusted to them. Both received the identical commendation when the Master returned: ‘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!’ (21, 23). Both found their opportunities doubled. It is not the quantity of talents that matters: it is how we use them. If we deploy them responsibly, we have the Master’s commendation and his renewed and enlarged commission. It is those who will not try who are condemned.
Not Really An Issue of Laziness
All Are Expected To Do Their Best as Faithful Stewards
The allocation of these huge sums according to ability is not only commercial sense, but recognizes that God reckons with his people as individuals whose circumstances and personalities differ. The third servant failed to recognize his master’s intention, and substituted security for service.
