Parable of the Talents

Quick Intro

Jesus is continuing a train of thought. The last two parables have somewhat the same message, but it seems that Jesus takes a different angle than before. You know how sometimes when we are trying to get a point across to someone and we try saying the same thing to them but we try it a bit differently so that this person could understand? Jesus seems to be doing that. But he is also expounding on his thoughts. It seems that he becomes a little more in depth. With a couple parables before he tells how the faithful will be saved and taken by God and as he goes a long he breaks it down differently so that we can understand.

So here we are, at the parable of “The Talents.” A lot of preachers will allegorize this parable too much and focus on the wrong thing and I pray that won’t be me today but rather I want to point out the most important things in this parable. The things that Jesus was trying to get across.

Expositor’s says: Attempts to identify the talents with spiritual gifts, the law, natural endowments, the gospel, or whatever else, lead to narrowing of the parable with which Jesus would have been uncomfortable. Perhaps he chose the talent… symbolism because of its capacity for varied application.

So it’s good to remember that and to know Responsibility is the overall theme here! We can talk about all the other things that fall under this but it’s really important to remember that Jesus didn’t narrow it as we do.

So Let’s Jump into it…

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.’

1. God never gives more than you can handle

In life we all will have different responsibilities and some of us have more than others. In the parable (as always) God is the master. God gives his servants different amounts and the key words in verse 15 are “…to each according to his ability”

God has a plan for everyone of us and he gives us all different gifts, jobs, families, circumstances… etc. But in the end he tells us he never gives us more than our capabilities.

*There have been so many times where I have felt like I had too much on my plate; that my circumstances were too hard, or even that my load was too much. But every time it was Gods will, it worked out. I didn’t die, things got better somehow.

Now that isn’t saying that sometimes we go outside of our capabilities and do things that we weren’t designed for but that’s not what we should focus on right now.

He purposely make this story about the one with the least responsibility, so no one can say it was “too much”

2. It’s not about how much you have but what you do with it.

God wants to see you do something with what he has given us. He has given us His word, His Son for our salvation, His Spirit to empower and encourage us, He has given us talents and blessings in our life that at times gifts that we don’t deserve. And God wants us to do something with those things.

He wants to use it for His glory. It’s not the amount of responsibilities God gives, it what do we do with it. Do we have faith, and believe in Him and what he has given us.

Do you believe in Jesus, His life, death and resurrection, His sacrifice, his words, His Spirit? Then you have a responsibility to that.

Lets Read this real quick

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

3. God knows the Heart.

Romans 8:27–28 ESV

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The master in this parable saw right through this guy. It had nothing to do with fear. But lack of faith. When we lack faith we get lazy, we make excuses to spread the blame. When you lack faith, their can be fear involved but when it came to this specific servant it was an excuse. If he had faith, He would have known God gave him what he needed and was capable of doing. He instead disrespected the mast by doing nothing, blaming it on Him and basically throwing it back in His face.

We use a lot of excuses to not fulfill what God has purposed in our lives. But in the end He sees your heart and it grieves Him.

I’ve done it: story of college and what happened before Bible school.

My Question to you is: What are you going to do with your responsibility to God and His purposes in your life?

I’m not saying all of you are doing this. But I believe there may be a few of you who are ignoring your responsibilities, hiding from them, making excuses, blaming the pastors or leaders or other people for your mistakes/ your sins.

This is your chance, to get right, ask God whats your next step, What is your purpose for me? Or maybe you know what that purpose is, and you need to surrender to God your worries and excuses and just do it. lets take the time to pray, seek God and get right with him. I’ll be in the front for prayer and we have..... to pray also.