Parables of the Kingdom 7 (2)

Session 7

B. Judgment of the Kingdom

Matthew 25:14-30

INTRODUCTION

Preparing for a test. == Intro to Philosophy - Memorizing word for word what didn’t make any sense.

What are we doing preparing for the day of judgment?

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.’

4 Parts to the Parable

I. The Endowment (14-15)

A. Matthew 25: 14 “14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”

Why we wait for Jesus

1. Possessions= responsibility

Talent=75 pounds of gold

$1.5 million

Represents everything God has put in your responsibility

Possessions

Spiritual Gifts

Gospel

Vision/dream

B. Matthew 25:15 “15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”

1. Talents= a large sum- refers to the endowment conferred to people.

2. Talent- in our culture- endowed abilities.

3. Given according to their abilities

a. We are gven what God knows we can handle.

b. Why doesn’t God give me $1 Billion? He knows I could sped it.

1) He just gives us kids.

God gives what he trusts us with.

II. The investment (16-18)

A. Matthew 25:16 “16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.”

Doubled- hard working and good investing- not accident.

Investments take risk.

401K- if you need it to grow faster than inflation you have to risk.

Moving property investments in 2005.

“at once”= faithful without delay- took risk immediately.

“doubled”= hard working and good investment- not an accident.

B. Matthew 25:17 “17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.”

the same

C. Matthew 25:18 “18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.”

Hid- protected

1. Do we think our job is the protecting of what God has given?

2. Protect the church or grow the church? - ILL- Church in Bartlesville that stopped investing and started protecting.

III. The Judgment (19-28)

A. Common theme as many other Kingdom parables—bridegroom comes.

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

Settle accounts= day of judgment.

1. Revelation 20:11-15 “11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

2. Revelation 4:9-11 “9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””

what we do with reward.

C. Matthew 25:20-21 “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.’”

Presented to the Master

1. Reward= joy of the Master—motivation to please God.

a. Well-pleasing to God.

D. Matthew 25:22-23 “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.’”

1. Same reward- Judged according to what you have.

2. ILL—Widows Mite

E. Matthew 25:24-25 “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.’”

1. “Knew you to be” – He knew about the Master

2. “hard”= cruel- merciless, unjust.

a. harvest from fields he doesn’t plant—thief.

3. No relationship with master—no trust.

a. Wrong view of God

F. Matthew 25:26 “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?”

Reaction

1. Wicked, lazy= shrinking and hesitating

a. Is your faith wicked and lazy?

2. James 4:17 “17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

IV. The Conclusion (29-30)

A. Matthew 25:29 “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.”

If you don’t use you lose.

1. Be faithful with what you have

B. Matthew 25:30 “30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Judgment- faith did not change them.

C. Be good stewards of the little thing.

D. 3 Lessons

1. God entrusts us with gifts and we must be good stewards.

2. Our rewards are based on our use of these gifts.

3. Failure to use these gifts are proof of whose kingdom you serve- it results in punishment and separation from God.