Parable of the Talents

Thai Rescue

So I was watching.... Tell story of “The Rescue” on Disney+. One diver said that he was happy that this skill he had because he was considered cold, anti-social, and weird was able to make a real difference in the world.

God uses our talents and gifts to make a real difference in the world, and that’s what I want to discuss.

Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

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.’

In this parable, the Master represents God and/or Jesus.

Talents represented about 20 years salary, so it was a sizable amount of money. But it is no accident that talent is used as the measure of money in this parable as it can represent your talents or gifts that God has given you. In fact, this is where the word talent, meaning gift or skill, comes from.

Let’s take a closer look at a few points

Jesus is Coming Back

Matthew 25:14-15 “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.”

When Jesus left the earth, he left the care of His kingdom to us.

He did this by giving everyone gifts that they can use through the Holy Spirit.

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

We don’t know when He is coming back, but we know that He is.

How does this impact your decisions? How does it make you feel?

How do you think the fact that it has been a “long time” affects yours, or others, decision making?

All Christians have Talents

The Master entrusted “his own servants” with his possessions. To have gifts, you must be imbued with the Holy Spirit, so you must have a relationship with Jesus

Some Christians have a lot, or very obvious, talents. Some have less, or less obvious, but all Christians have the ability to grow the Kingdom of God.

It doesn’t matter how many, or how obvious, your talents are, they can be used to grow God’s Kingdom. v21 vs. v23 - Number of talents doesn’t matter, faithfulness does

Did anyone influence you to further your spiritual journey that may not have known they did? Unsung heroes - Greeters! Bobby was nice, same with Rowell.

Thai diver had no idea that God was preparing him to serve Him, but he was faithful when called. If evangelism isn’t your talent, in what ways can you grow God’s Kingdom?

Serving is exciting and there is no time like the present

Matthew 25:20 “20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here (See!), I have made five talents more.’”

See! - Makes me chuckle because they sound like little kids. They are excited to meet Jesus and settle their accounts because they know that they have been faithful.

Have you ever been unprepared for an assignment in school or work? How did it affect your attitude toward the meeting as opposed to when you were prepared? Grinding over sermons/bible studies!

Immediately: Matthew 25:15-17 “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.”

Many times people want to develop their talents before they start using them. Imagine these servants wanted to grow the Master’s money before they invested it?

Are there talents you have that you are waiting to use?

Matthew 25:27 “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.”

Any growth is better than no growth!

Jesus is the greatest gift, so make sure you share him!

Matthew 25:24-30 “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.’”

v.30 seems harsh, huh? But when you understand...

Many believe that these verses are commentary on the Pharisees. They took a talent (Jesus) and hid it in a effort to “protect” it. The Pharisees did not use the gift to reach out to the Gentiles, they did not promote Jesus to others, and they did both of these things in an effort to enforce (or protect) the law.

What is the 1 gift that ALL Christians have received? Jesus!

How can we “use” him to grow the Kingdom of God?

How do you read v29? More to more… To me, it means baby steps.

Conclusion

If you’ve been saved… if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior… you have gifts and talents. The Lord has entrusted you with part of His Kingdom, and expects you to protect it, grow it, and advance it. You’ve been given a light, and you are not to put it under a barrel.

Use your gifts

Let people know what you’re gifts are

Don’t feel like your gifts are not important or useful. The Thai Diver found out how useful they can be