Well Done!

Matthew 25:14 CSB

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

INTRO—

Jesus was an excellent teacher! [Matthew records FIVE teaching discourses in his Gospel:]

Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

Mission Discourse (10)

Parabolic Discourse (13)

Discourse on the Church (18)

Olivet Discourse (24-25)

OLIVET DISCOURSE (Matthew 23-24)

Matthew 24:3 “While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?””

Everything in the Olivet Discourse serves the purpose of answering this question from his disciples.

SOOO, the Parable of the Talents is not a primer in how one must invest their portfolio…is not a pattern for biblical financial planning or policy, etc. [[instead = preparedness & performance…(a little bit of a precursor for what we’re getting ready to see).]]

[[[Read the Parable]]]

Entrusted to Engage [Matthew 25.14-18]

ENTRUSTED (25.14-15)

Matthew 25:14 ““For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.”

…Why

The owner was going away for a time.

These servants were ‘entrusted”—commissioned as stewards of what their master was going to give to them.

Matthew 25:15 “To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately”

…With

The master’s possessions—Talents = significant resources (from a few thousand [$6,000-$9,000] to several thousand [$500,000-ish])

Resources, Property of immense value!

…How Much

5…2…1

Varied according to what each servant could handle (“depending on each one’s ability;” how each person was designed, as well as equipped).

Stewardship is more about responsibility than enormity.

ENGAGING & NON-ENGAGING (25.16-18)

Matthew 25:16 “the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.”

Matthew 25:17 “In the same way the man with two earned two more.”

…The two who did

Had an IMMEDIATE motivation to do something with what they had been given.

Each significantly advanced the glory of the master.

Matthew 25:18 “But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.”

…The one who didn’t

Less of an indication of the time frame for the instigation of his actions.

Essentially ignored the trust/stewardship. (He lived as if the talent didn’t exist).

**AS WE WILL SEE, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ACTIONS SHOWING (PROVING) THE HEART OF THE ONE CLAIMING TO BE A SERVANT OF THE MASTER.

Engagement Equals [Matthew 25.19-23]

THE MASTER RETURNS (Yes, HE does!)

Matthew 25:19 ““After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”

‘After a long time”—Jesus was telling his people even then.

FAITHFUL SERVANTS’ LIVES

The one with FIVE

Matthew 25:20 “The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’”

He went ‘all-in,’ worked diligently, stepped out in faith (risk), saw productive results.

A true follower of Jesus WILL produce fruit…of the spirit, increase of the Kingdom [[…OF THE KINGDOM!!]].

Matthew 25:21 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”

The master commended and rewarded this servant.

“Faithful over a few things”…talents=lots of money; hmmmmmm.

The one with TWO

Matthew 25:22 ““The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’”

Ditto—& not insignificantly!

[[He went ‘all-in,’ worked diligently, stepped out in faith (risk), saw productive results.]]

Proportional…& yet SIGNIFICANT action!!

Matthew 25:23 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”

Ditto—& not insignificantly

[[The master commended and rewarded this servant.]]

The one who went from 5 to 10 and the one who went from 2 to 4…same commendation…same reward.

(One way I look at this: the follower who has a JD [Juris Doctorate] and the follower challenged with Downs Syndrome…and are faithful, will see the same commendation and same reward; …follower with a global evangelism/discileship ministry and the follower evangelizing/discipling in a city under the threat of government opposition, persecution…)

**FAITHFULNESS IS…& BRINGS…GREAT REWARD!

Non-Engagement Equals [Matthew 25.24-30]

THE FAITHLESS SERVANT’S LIFE

Matthew 25:24 ““The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.”

A complete misreading of the master? An intentional mischaracterization of the master? ((The truth about the master?))—either way, an attempt to justify inaction, inattention to the stewardship.

Matthew 25:25 “So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’”

Fear of the LORD is indeed the beginning of knowledge, wisdom…that description does not fit this fear.

A hidden talent was put so far out of sight and mind as to be inconsequential, non-existent in the life of this servant.

Matthew 25:26 ““His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,”

The master says, “Sooo, if you ‘knew’…” [Clearly the master calls out this person’s lie.]

Matthew 25:27 “then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.”

The master continues, “Shouldn’t you have at least put it in the bank? If you really believed that I do this, would it be wise to bring me no return at all?”

Contrary to this evil man’s statement, Jesus is moved by the offering of the widow’s mite. [Luke 21.1-4]

Matthew 25:28 ““ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.”

Matthew 25:29 “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

[[vv. 28-29 together]]

I believe what we see here is a simple reset in which the talents of the master belong with those faithful to the master. Don’t read in anything into the 5 guy being the one to whom the 1 talent was shifted, etc.

Matthew 25:30 “And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

I believe we see here the stark reality of the consequence for all those, created in the image of God, for a relationship with God…rejection of the Gospel, the Kingdom, the LORD = separation from the Master, forever. [[Hell.]]

CONCL—

OUR DEEPEST DESIRE

Matthew 25:21 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”

[[… & Matthew 25:23 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”]]

Then we MUST…

Honor God’s entrusting us with the stewardship of part of his kingdom.

Look forward to God’s commendation and reward (&, really, no body else’s matters).

To dismiss, disparage, disdain, etc., this call of God is of eternal consequence.

INVITATION:

Salvation

Faith & Faithfulness

Personal Preparation for the Lord’s Supper

THE LORD’S SUPPER

BODY OF CHRIST (Bread)

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

BLOOD OF CHRIST (Cup)

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

PROMISE OF CHRIST

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Matthew 25:30 CSB

And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’