Stewarding the Gospel

Title: Stewarding the Gospel

Text: Matthew 25:14-30

Contextual Introduction

            Now The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30, takes place in the middle of Jesus’ discourse concerning “Last Things”. This would have taken place more towards the beginning of passion week, most scholars assume Tuesday of that week. Jesus has already made his triumphal entry, he has cleared the temple from “the robbers”, and he has gathered his disciples at Mt. of Olives, where he is preparing them for his death, but also his departure. More so than his previous predictions of his death, Jesus goes into far more detail in this gathering, teaching them about the signs that would be the “prelude” to his return. These signs would consist of false prophets, false messiahs, nations rising against nations, kingdoms rising against kingdoms, families going against one another, famines, plagues, earthquakes. Two men will be working in a field together and one would be called up and the other left behind, and Jesus is describing to them “the tribulation”. The most significant piece of news, at least in the disciples mind is, “when is this going to happen”, and Jesus’ response is “no one knows the day or the hour, not even the Son of Man, but only the Father”. His major theme for this discourse, “Be ready”, and so to make clear how they could be ready for his return, he gives them parables. So stand, as we read Matthew 25:14-30. *Read* *Pray*

Development

The First thing that I want us to see this morning is “The Expectations”

(a) He entrusts us

            Notice how this parable begins. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his servants and delivered his good to them”. (v. 14). Something we need to understand up front is that this was not an uncommon practice. As a matter of fact, a master entrusting his “goods” or “property” to his servants while he had to be a way is something that can be traced all the way back to Joseph in Potiphar’s house. Joseph was nothing more than a slave given to him, but Joseph had gained his trust, and so while Potiphar was out of the house taking care of Roman captain business, he would leave Joseph in charge of the day to day operations at the house. This is the practice that Jesus is using here in this parable. A man was getting ready to depart for a long journey, and so, he called his servants together so that he could let them know, “look, I am going away, which means I am not going to be here to take care of the business and the land that belongs to me. That means that y’all are going to have to step up and continue my work while I am away”.

Now, when it comes to parables, I do not believe that everything has to have a “one to one match”, but I believe it is clear that the man in this passage is none other than Jesus and the servants are the disciples. He was letting his disciples know with this illustration “I am going to be leaving you, but the ministry that I have started must continue. I will be back, you can count on that, but while I am away, I am entrusting you with my work and my goods”.  This only begs the question though, “what is Jesus’ property?”. Was he entrusting them with Jerusalem? Was he entrusting them Samaria? Was he entrusting them with Judea? What exactly is “Jesus’ property”? Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’”. Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him”.

Brothers and sisters, we must understand through what we can observe in the manifestation of this parable in Matthew 28 and Acts 1:8, that Jesus has entrusted to his disciples throughout all of history, not just the twelve, but those who would come to Christ following after them as well, with all of creation, for all of creation is his to entrust. Every piece of land, every blade of grass, every soul has been entrusted to God’s servants, that is, disciples of Christ both past and present, and he has entrusted to us not only his property, but the work which he began. Seeking and saving the lost, preaching the kingdom of heaven, calling people to repentance, teaching the word, making disciples among all the nations. Jesus has left us with the expectation of being good stewards of his creation and his work, but notice that he has not only entrusted us, but he also equips us.

(b) He equips us

            “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (v.15). As I read different commentaries on this passage, most were in agreement that a “talent” was worth about 6,000 denari, to most of you, that means nothing, but let me put this into perspective: 6,000 denari was about 20 years of work wages. Which means to one servant he gave 100 years of work wages, to another he gave 40 years of work wages, and to another 20 years of work wages. In other words, while it may look like on the surface that the servant who was given one talent didn’t have a lot, I would make the argument that the amount they were all given was very significant.

Notice though, that what they were given was according to their abilities. The amount that they were given had little to do with the significance of what they were to do with it. As a matter of fact, they were all expected to take what they were given, and use it to achieve the same goal. Continue the business, make a profit. Now, what they were given might determine where they go to invest, determine who they do business with, but regardless, they were to go handle business with what they were given.

We cannot miss this church. From the Pastor preaching in the pulpit, to the missionary living in the field, to the mechanic fixing a vehicle, to the mother homeschooling her children, to the teenager walking the school halls, and so on, put your name and occupation in the blanks. God has entrusted you, and he has not only entrusted you, but he is equipping you to do the work of a disciple. He is equipping you so that you can know Him, and know his Word, and know his Gospel so that you can be a witness for him no matter where you are or what you are doing. After all, if the work of his servants is to tend to the souls among all of his creation, how else could this be accomplished if not through the men and women whom he has entrusted and equipped to share his gospel and grow the saints starting in the workplace and in your home. Even within the church he has called some to be preachers, some to be teachers, some to be administrators, he has called some of you to be deacons, some of you to be Sunday school teachers, some of you to be singers, some of you to prayer warriors, some of you to serve in the nursery. Regardless, do not ever think that the capacity in which you serve is not as important as others, because you are contributing to the work that Jesus began by aiding in the process of making disciples who will go on and make more disciples. Do not be mistaken, it is not just about what you have been given, but what you do with what you have been given.

The Second thing that I want you to see is “The Operations”.

(a) The Active Servant

            “Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also” (v.16-17). Now, we do not know, in relation to the master’s departure, when they got to work. The NASB, instead of using the word “then”, translates this word as “Immediately”. Whether or not they sprung into action or took some time to form a strategy though is unimportant. What is evident though was that, at least to some extent, they knew the master was leaving, they had a job to do, and he would be back. They needed something to show for their work and so they got to work. Regardless of the risk, they went out and started trading and investing. Bear mind, although they had a lot to deal with, at the same time they had a lot to lose, and what they had with them did not belong to them. It belonged to their master, but at the same time, this was also their motivation to work. On the other hand, we see the “The Passive Servant”

(b) The Passive Servant

            “But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord’s money” (v.18). This servant, instead of taking the money and trading, took the “safe” option. He knew the risks involved with trading, and instead of taking the risk, he dug a hole in the ground and put the money in it. We see later in the passage his motive for doing this, because he really “feared his master”.

            The temptation to be a passive servant is real. When we recognize the weight of the gospel ministry and count the risk, it will be easy to simply “bury our talents in the ground”. Instead of using the tools that the Lord has given us to fulfill our calling, we will instead ignore them for the soul purpose of avoiding risks. What we must understand is that when the master gives us our talents, he is calling us to take the risk. But what if I am made fun of? Be an active servant and take the risk. But what if I am shamed? Be an active servant and take the risk. But what if my life is threatened? Take the risk. Why take the risk when I can serve comfortably some other way? Because the tools you have been given ultimately do not belong to you, they belong to the Lord. You gifts, your talents, your skills, your job, your hobbies, your life. All that is given to you has been given to you by the Lord. So, live unto the Lord. Regardless of what that looks like. You may think that what you can do with where you are at in your life right now may not be much, so what difference does it make anyway? The Lord has given you exactly what he wants you to have to serve him with so serve him. “But I am just a schoolteacher” then use your position to be a light in the school system. “But I am just a mechanic” Then use your position to be a light in the shop. “But I am just a single mother”. Then use your position to be a light in your home. Understand, you may feel as if your service to the Lord is insignificant compared to others, but the single mother who serves by raising her children up in a Christian home is just as significant to the ministry as the preacher who stands in the pulpit each week. Be an active servant.

The Third thing I want you to see is “The Evaluations”.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

(a) The Good Servants

            (i) Their profits

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’

            I don’t imagine that when Jesus was telling this parable that it was in a monotone voice as he got to this part. I am sure that it went a little more like this “Lord, you delivered to me five talents: Look! I have gained five more talents besides them!”. This would have been a joyful time for the servants, because their Lord had returned and all the hard work and dedication that they put in would now be paid off as they got to let their Lord know about the profits that they had earned while he was away. Finally, they could rest, and the weight of having to take care of their master’s property and money was over. For them, this was a time to celebrate, because they knew their master would be proud of them for their work. Notice though, that their good service was met with promotion.

            (ii) Their promotion

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.

            Notice, that their ability to exercise faithfulness over what they were entrusted with led to them being promoted to being entrusted with more. On top of that, they were invited to “Enter into the joy of their Lord”. In other words, they would get to serve alongside of their master in peace and joy with them. This new labor would not be “tough” or “tense” but it would be a joyful labor as they would get to rule alongside of their Lord.

            What a glorious picture Jesus is painting with this parable. For those who take the risk, and are faithful with what the Lord has entrusted with them, one day their Lord will return, and when he does return, good servants will not have to shy away from him, but can come to him with joy, knowing that their labor is not in vain. Knowing that they will be rewarded for their service by getting to rule alongside of their King. This is the promise of the New Testament. That one-day Jesus will return and we will see him face to face, and after Satan is bound and sin and death are eternally vanquished, those who have been faithful to him while they were entrusted with this creation, will join with him in ruling over the New Earth, where will experience eternal joy.

(b) The Unprofitable Servant

            (i) There will be no excuses

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

            Notice what the last servant tries to do here. He tries to give an excuse for why he did not do anything with the money that he was given. He begins by first trying to place the blame on his master. “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown”. There was no responsibility taken for his laziness, in his eyes, it was because his Lord was a hard man that he feared him and that is what caused him to run and bury the talent but take note of how the Lord responds to this excuse. “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed”. This excuse did not work, because if the servant knew these things, then if nothing else his motivation for going and taking care of business should have been that he knew how the master would respond if he did not do it. It’s almost as if he is trying to tell his master, “What right do you have to be upset, do you not reap where you do not sow? Then how could you be upset with me if I just chose not do anything?”. The problem with this is that he had a wrong view of his Lord, and his own mouth got him in trouble for it. The truth is that Jesus does reap where he does not sow. Why? Because although his ministry was bound to the Jews with a handful of Gentiles, his property line has no end and he has entrusted and equipped us to continue the work, knowing that he will reap the work that we sow.

Personal Reflection- “Where much is given much is required”

            (ii) There will be no rewards

            (iii) There will be no joy

Conclusion