Two Traders and a Traitor

Matthew 25:14–18 KJV 1900

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Matthew 25:14-

Big Idea: Don’t waste your life.

Matthew 25:14–18 KJV 1900

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

My Life is not Mine

Explain: Clearly Jesus is the Master in this parable. As He ascends to Heaven, He entrusts His followers with “talents.” Now, we use the word talent to mean an ability, but that is not the meaning here. In fact, verse 15 plainly says that the talents are given based on each man’s ability.

Interestingly, our word “talent” came from this text, where it became a metaphor for God’s gifts. Since talent was such an unusual word and was certainly not used as a weight, the In the same way, “mansion” used to mean a regular home, but because Jesus said “in my Father’s house there are many mansions,” people started to use the word “mansion” to mean a heavenly home, until it gradually shifted to the meaning it has today.

Each of the servants has been given a large sum of money to invest, according to his trustworthiness. A talent is a weight of precious metal, over 50 pounds (although the exact amount fluctuated over time), presumably silver. A talent of silver was worth 6000 days wages, or about 20 years of a farmer’s life. The lowliest slave is entrusted with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the most able several million.

Matthew 25:18–23 KJV 1900

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:18-

God is Not Looking for Results, but Faithfulness

Explain: The five talent servant and the two talent servant are treated the same way. Their master gave them what they could handle, and they did so faithfully. They were good servants because they were faithful servants.

We are not equal in ability or opportunity, but we can be thankful to know that the God who knows our every circumstance knows what we need.

Psalm 50:7–15 KJV 1900

Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices Or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, Nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: And the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 50:12–13 KJV 1900

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50:7-

Matthew 25:24-

Matthew 25:24–28 KJV 1900

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Matthew 25:24–30 KJV 1900

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Serving is Giving Back to God

“To do no harm is the praise of a stone, not of a man.” - Richard Baxter

Ephesians 2:

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.