Parables of Jesus: The Talents

Introduction:

When I was a Resident at First Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, there were times when the senior pastor, Chip, would be away, and I’d be in charge of Sunday worship. Toward the end of my time there, the church was searching for the next resident. I invited a friend, Dan, to apply. He interviewed, and eventually, the church flew him down to preach. That Sunday, Chip was out, so the responsibility of running everything fell on me. To make things more interesting, a storm rolled in from the Gulf that morning, and the power kept going out—pitch black in the sanctuary, no sound, no livestream, nothing. Before the service, I had people asking me, “What are we going to do about the music, the kids, the sermon?” It felt like everything was on my shoulders. But we improvised. We lit every candle we could find, had the kids stay with their parents, livestreamed using a cellphone, and asked everyone to sit in the first three rows of the sanctuary in case the microphone failed. It felt like a small miracle when they got up out of their chairs and were so willing to adapt to the problem at the hand. By God’s grace, it all worked out. Dan preached, people worshipped, and the storm cleared up. As for Dan, he didn’t end up going to Corpus Christi. Instead, he found a church in Massachusetts and started working alongside some guy named Jason Sentas.

This story sticks out in my memory. Why? Because there have been so many moments in my life—and probably in yours—when I’ve dropped the ball, botched something up, or let fear or laziness keep me from doing what needed to be done. Looking back on that day, I think about how easily I could have panicked, frozen, or pushed the responsibility onto someone else. But I knew that what mattered wasn’t just surviving the morning—it was stepping up to honor the trust that had been placed in me and working together to use what we had to the best of our abilities.

Jesus tells a parable that invites us to consider how we handle the trust God places in us—not just in calm and predictable times, but especially when life throws us into the middle of a storm. And he also invites us to ask, not whether we’re doing more, but whether we’re being faithful with what we already have in hand.

Big Idea: We must actively invest our lives in God’s Kingdom as a response to His trust in us and as preparation for Christ’s coming again.

Let’s look at Matthew 25:14–30 to hear what Jesus has to say.

Hear now the Word of the Lord:

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30, NRSV

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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; 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 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? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 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. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Transition:

So, what’s going on here? Why does the master respond differently to the last servant? At first, it might feel a bit harsh, but Jesus is showing us something really important about trust, responsibility, and how we live in light of His Kingdom. Let’s take a closer look at the problem in this parable.

1. Problem In the Text

a. Problem In the Immediate Context of Parable

The parable introduces a master and three servants, each entrusted with different amounts of the master’s wealth, according to their ability, (that’ll be important later). The master gives them talents and in your Bibles, there should be a footnote, that a talent was a unit of currency, usually weighed in silver, and one talent was worth about 15-20 years worth of wages for the average worker at that time. A lot of money being handled here. The master gives them his talents then he went away. The first two servants act boldly, immediately going and putting the talents to work and doubling what they were given. But the third servant’s response is troubling, it’s meant to be unsettling: Jesus tells us that he went off and dug a hole and buries the talent he was given. We don’t know how much time has passed, but eventually, the master returns. When the master returns, we see that the third servant acted out of fear and a grave misunderstanding of the master’s character. He perceived the master to be harsh and unfair, which we can see influenced his behavior, his lack of action. He was afraid to do something with the talent, lose it, and afraid of the master’s response. He also might have been afraid that no matter what he did with it, the master was going to be cruel and disregard any work he did with it. Regardless of the possible reasons, this fear, coupled with laziness, earns him the label “wicked and lazy” and results in his punishment. The punishment was that his talent was removed and given to the first servant who was faithful with what he was given; then this “worthless slave” was thrown out of the master’s presence… I would say that the main problem wasn’t just his lack of action—it’s his flawed view of the master, which shaped his behavior.

Here’s a challenging thought from pastor and writer, A.W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”[1] The third servant’s actions sprang from his perception of the master. What if he truly believed the master was trustworthy and good, wouldn’t his response be different?... But instead, his perception led to lack of action and that is what leads the master to punish this servant by casting him out of his presence.

TRANSITION:

Now, Jesus is not telling this parable in a vacuum. To fully grasp the weight of this parable, we must step back and understand its place within Jesus’ broader teaching in Matthew 23-25. These chapters form a cohesive and climactic moment in Jesus’ ministry, where he transitions from addressing the crowds and religious leaders for the last time to preparing his disciples for what is to come.

b. Problem In the Surrounding Context of Matthew 23-25

i. Warnings In Matthew 23

Matthew 23 records Jesus’ final public address, often called the “Seven Woes,” where He critiques the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy and failure as stewards of God’s Word. These leaders prioritized outward appearances while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus says, “…they tie up heavy burdens for others to carry but refuse to lift a finger [themselves] to help” (23:4). Their neglect, greed, and rejection of God’s messengers led to their ultimate failure—they rejected the Messiah standing before them, and judgment was coming for Jerusalem and Israel.

ii. Readiness In Matthew 24

In Matthew 24, Jesus shifts His focus to the disciples, warning them about the coming destruction of the temple and the signs of the end times, and the imagery Jesus gives here is vivid and unsettling: : wars, famines, false prophets, and persecution. He also emphasizes that no one knows the day or hour of the return of the Son of Man, except the Father, and urges His followers to stay vigilant: “Be ready and faithful, no matter what happens or when it happens.”

iii. The Parables of Matthew 25

And this call for readiness transitions into Matthew 25, where Jesus gives the final 3 parables in the Gospel of Matthew.

The parable about the Ten Virgins (25:1-13) underscores the importance of preparation. Five bridesmaids were ready when the bridegroom returned, as was customary, from building the home he would live in with his bride; but when he returned, five were unprepared and they were shut out of the wedding feast.

The parable of the Talents (25:14-30), our focus today, shifts from readiness to faithfulness. The servants were entrusted with resources and expected to invest them. The harsh judgment of the unfaithful servant highlights the seriousness of failing to steward what God has given.

Finally, Jesus ends his teaching with the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (25:31-46) concludes with a vision the Son of Man and his judgment, where Jesus will separate the faithful (the sheep) from the unfaithful (the goats), reinforcing that our actions—how we use our time, talents, and opportunities—carry eternal significance.

iv. The Broader Problem

Together, these passages paint a sobering picture of the consequences of unfaithfulness and poor stewardship: judgment and separation from God’s presence await those who squander what they’ve been entrusted with, whether the Pharisees, the foolish virgins, or the wicked servant.

TRANSITION:

How does this connect to our world today? Do we wrestle with similar struggles—fear, complacency, or reluctance to step out in faith? Are these holding us back from fully embracing what God has entrusted to us?

2. Problem In the World

a. Perception Of the Master

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” How we perceive God shapes everything about our relationship with Him. Think about prayer, if we see Him as distant and indifferent—a ruler far away on a throne—we may hesitate to approach Him and to pray. But if we see Him as a loving Father or a compassionate Shepherd, prayer becomes inviting, even comforting, like returning to a safe home.

Yet many in the church would avoid prayer, or many avoid church altogether, because they feel like they’ll never measure up to God’s standards. They think their efforts are insignificant or that they don’t make a difference in His Kingdom. This distorted perception of God keeps people trapped in discouragement or avoidance.

b. Failure To Act

Another challenge is failing to act on what God has entrusted to us. For me, it’s easy to grow comfortable when life feels smooth. But the real test comes in the day-to-day moments, especially in the moments when we think no one is looking or God isn’t paying attention: Are we being faithful at home, in our work, with strangers, or among family?

This parable reminds us that God has entrusted His people with 5, 2, or one Talent – maybe it’s His Word, His mission, or maybe a set of gifts or resources – whatever it is, he is expecting faithful stewardship. Failure to act—whether out of fear, complacency, or misunderstanding—has serious consequences. Often, fear is the greatest obstacle. Fear of failure, irrelevance, or insignificance can paralyze us, robbing us and others of the blessings God intends for us all to enjoy.

TRANSITION:

This raises a vital question: if fear so easily paralyzes us, how do we move forward in faithfulness? How do we know if what we’re doing is enough for God? Breaking free from fear, and living out of God’s grace, I believe, requires embracing the identity and duty of a servant.

c. The Duty of a Doulos

The Greek word translated as slave, or as servant, is the word doulos – and it carries some weighty connotations. Any reference or usage of it refers to someone wholly devoted, indebted, or enslaved to a master. However, for us as disciples of Jesus, this word becomes a powerful identity marker.

I want us to consider how the New Testament authors described themselves:

• “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:1).

• “Epaphras… a servant of Christ Jesus” (Colossians 4:12).

• “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1).

• “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1)… Just to name a few.

Across the New Testament, a disciple of Jesus Christ is His servant. Our mission is clear: to serve Jesus, advance His Kingdom, and do His will. While the idea of being a servant or slave to Jesus might feel uncomfortable, remember who we serve. Philippians 2:6-7 says: “[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

TRANSITION:

Christ set the ultimate example of what it means to be a servant. He came to serve, not to be served, and gave His life as a sacrifice for us. Because He is our Lord, we are called to serve Him in faithfulness. And, His faithfulness to the Father’s will demonstrates the grace we find in this parable.

3. Grace In the Text

a. Quality Over Quantity

The principle of “quality over quantity” is central here. Just like the servants, we’ve been entrusted with abilities, resources, and gifts—all according to our ability (Matt. 25:15). The Greek word for “ability,” dunamis, means power or strength. God has given you talents within your power to steward faithfully.

For parents, it might mean investing time and faithfulness into raising your children. For students, it’s about diligence in work and studies. For those skilled in managing finances, it’s about being generous and wise. And if you’re already doing these, great! Keep going, be faithful! Jesus isn’t asking us to do more or produce more; He’s asking for faithfulness. Success is not measured by how much we produce but by the quality of our response to what He’s entrusted to us; success is measured by the quality of our faithfulness.

Consider this: if the servant with one talent had returned with only one more, we can deduce the Master’s response would have been the same as for the others: “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!” (Matt. 25:21, NIV).

b. If You Trust, You Will Rejoice

Titus 2:14 tells us, “[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works” (NIV). If you trust in Jesus—the living Christ who loves and cares for you—your trust is not in vain. Faithful servants will enter into His joy.

We call Him Master joyfully, knowing that He became a servant for us. Out of love and hope, He freed us from sin and death and empowered us to live with love, forgiveness, generosity, mercy, and justice. If you trust Him, you will rejoice because His faithfulness is our assurance. What is that assurance? If you placed your trust and faith in the master, our lord Jesus Christ, then you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God at work within us that naturally produces this faithfulness within us, this stewardship within us. We can rely on him to give us the faith we need. In partnership with him, we have the privilege of being good stewards through his strength. What we think of the master is the most important thing about us. Because our perception of his character determines whether we trust him or not.

c. Christ Is Coming Back

And I think the greatest grace in the text is the reminder that the Master will return. My friends, Christ is coming back. And this truth leads us into the grace we find in our world today.

4. Grace In the World

a. Christ Is Coming Back

Our greatest hope is this: Christ is coming back, just as He promised. For those who trust Him, His return is a source of joy. His return assures us that nothing we do in faith is wasted. Christ, the lover of our souls and the breaker of chains, he will come back to make all things new.

b. The Joy of Our Labor

Because of this, we can find joy in all we do. As we serve, give, connect, love, practice generosity, forgive, show mercy, and work for justice, we do so knowing it all has eternal significance. These actions are not in vain; they reflect the values of God’s Kingdom and have lasting impact.

c. Thy Kingdom Come‌

As his disciples, when we pray “Thy Kingdom Come,” we are actively participating in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. As stewards and servants, everything we do, every act of faithfulness—whether with finances, time, or talents—draws us closer to seeing that Kingdom unfold. This perspective gives purpose to our work because we know that it contributes to something far greater than ourselves.

Conclusion

This parable teaches us that faithfulness isn’t about the size of our return on investment but about trusting the Master’s character and acting boldly on His trust in us. The unfaithful servant failed not because he didn’t multiply the talent but because fear kept him from trusting and trying. Fear paralyzed him, leading to inaction. But the faithful servants acted boldly, not because of the size of their return, but because of their trust in the Master and embracing their responsibility. Their reward? Sharing in the Master’s joy.

God has entrusted each of us with unique gifts, responsibilities, and opportunities. The question is not how we compare to others but to ask: Am I being faithful with what God has given me? Whether it’s raising a family, serving in ministry, or being present for someone in need, the reward is the same: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master’s joy.”

Ultimately, this parable invites us to trust in the grace of a Master who is faithful and generous and calls us to share in His joy. He is coming back. Trust in the Master, act in faith, and step into the joy of His Kingdom.

Amen?

End in prayer.

[1] from A.W. Tozer’s book “The Knowledge of the Holy” (1961), specifically in the opening chapter. [2] from A.W. Tozer’s book “The Knowledge of the Holy” (1961), specifically in the opening chapter.