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Since help was available to him in the Church, the man had no excuse. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them., I will make you ruler over many things. Each (of more than two), every one. Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? (Luke 14:34). But none of them adequately explain it. He took his talent from him, gave it to the one who earned ten, and cast this fellow into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. He entrusted him with money, money suited to his abilities. (17) Because thou hast been faithful in a very little.--More literally, because thou didst become faithful. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Works are fruits that are evidence of true faith (see James 2). In other words, the third slave looks upon his master as wicked, harsh, and impossible. of The joy that was before our Lord would seem to include the salvation of lost sinners (Luke 15:4-10). 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, # 25:15 Greek five talents two talents one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer's wage. It is the word Moses uses in Genesis 42:7,280 to describe Josephs disguise of harshness before his brothers. Dennis Rainey. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 15 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. But this work is joyful. which was given to the third (unfaithful) servant is taken away and given to the faithful servant who gained the most for his master. To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. ESV Holy Bible for Kids, Softcover Economy Edition, ESV Large-Print Value Thinline Bible--soft leather-look, navy with mosaic cross design, ESV Student Study Bible, Trutone, Green with Mosaic Cross Design, ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, chestnut, Fire Bible ESV Version, Soft Leather-look, Slate/Charcoal. Jumble. Matthew 25:14-30 : The Parable of the Talents. master. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. The story of Jesustelling this parable really begins in Matthew 24 when he mentions the coming destruction of Jerusalem. But the master did provide the means for his slave to make a profit. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. Verse Concepts. READ the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. A talent, just so you know, was a measure of money. Enter into the joy of your master (Matthew 25:20-21). However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. I now see the answer, which appears to be consistent with all of the places where this principle is set forth. If this is the case, and we are to be at work until He comes, then why do we think that reaching a certain age entitles us to cease our labors for Him? The masters return presumably refers to the last days when Jesus will return, and at the final judgment unrepentant sinners will perish and those served God will be rewarded according to their actions (Revelation 20:11-15) (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Our labors for the Master should increase, not diminish, if we are kingdom minded. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field. It is the end of the curse, and thus the end of futile labor. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. I believe that we see this in Romans 9, where Paul speaks of the things God has entrusted Israel: 1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying! He has granted the time and the resources for men to make a profit for the kingdom of heaven, until He returns. 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. God is both, and his plans will not necessarily make sense to our limited perspectives. 12:7, 11, 29; Eph. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. I am reminded of this passage in the Book of Hebrews: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. In my opinion, thats living dangerously. each according to his ability. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. 16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). There is only one who is good. For all the saints. He let taxpayers and prostitutes into the kingdom of heaven first (Matthew 21:31). 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. Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular. The third servant is lazy, because he does not go to work with the money. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins? The apocalyptic context is underscored in Lukes version, where people try to keep the master from becoming king and are killed for their rebellion. Jesus made it clear that His return would not be immediate, but after much trouble and the passing of a considerable period of time. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel. First of all, let us be clear that we are not talking about salvation by works. Read: MATTHEW 25:14-30. In short, the talents represent what God has given usour monetary resources, our callings to positions within the church (Ephesians 4:11-16), our natural giftings. Proud member Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. English Standard Version (ESV). It was not until after the fall of man that mans labor became toil: 17 But to Adam he said, Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat from it, cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. In fact, if this were to take place today, that money would likely be worth less, due to inflation. The Parable of the Talents. Enter into the joy of your master. 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. This way the slave would not have to attend to the money on a day-by-day basis. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! It was his hope that in doing something spectacular he might receive a gift or donation. The talents Jesus Christ spoke of in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant ( Matthew 18:21-35) and the Parable of the Talents ( Matthew 25:14-30) referred to the largest unit of currency at the time. These folks were a more honest (hopefully) version of money changer than those who did business in the temple precincts. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. It is as though he had said, I knew you were unreasonable, and that there was no way to please you, and so I decided not even to try.. Knowing that Jesus was describing servants being given huge amounts of cash to invest helps us to understand just how generous the master was being, the opportunity each servant was given. I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. From that point on work was different; there was a certain futility to work: 18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. Faithful service led to increased responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven, and eternal joy in the presence of the Master, Jesus Christ. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. It is the continuation of fruitful, profitable labor. I realize that I am going to pull some whiskers by what I am about to say, but I think that I am being true to our text, and to the Bible as a whole. Their trading of the talents signifies the faithful use that one should make of gifts and opportunities of service to God. Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And the longer the master was gone, the more interest was lost by the slaves inactivity. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). I wonder how many have given serious thought to what might be called the theology of retirement. I would like to challenge every Christian to rethink the subject of retirement. 3:21; 21:7], Matt. Luke has an interesting addition at the end, noting that after that, the master then executed the men who tried to keep him from becoming king (Luke 19:27). Play a game of pass the parcel where children must try to rip off each layer when the music stops. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 271 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. The whole parable is found in Matthew 25:14-30. Never, other than in our text (according to most versions), is it employed to begin a new paragraph. We find this same principle stated in connection with the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18). When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, He gave them work to do. And what should I say? Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. third servant seeks to excuse himself by accusing his master of being harsh. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!. This parable is not primarily about faith, nor is it about being willing to take a risk (this was merely the wicked slaves excuse). The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. 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, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and, Take therefore the talent from him, and give. 10 The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 2 Samuel 7:1-3 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; , 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader, 1 Chronicles 22:1-26:32 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30, impresses on them the weight of that responsibility and the serious consequences of neglecting to understand and apply His instructions. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 14 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. The master told them to care for his money and the first two servants used the talents to trade and gain profit. a certain weight or 'talent'. Unwrap the Gift. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Well talk about this a bit later, but for the moment, I am inclined to understand this expression in contrast to another in our text, And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). The element of money. Jesus was also the stone rejected by builders, yet he became the capstone (Matthew 21:42). 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:8-10). Is retirement a denial, in effect, of the curse? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Kathy Sweeny, Choices Determine Destinies A poor man (a sort of enterprising beggar, perhaps) was busy entertaining the visitors to the zoo. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Second, the faithful servants immediately went to work to increase their masters money (Matthew 25:16-17). To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. Parable of the Talents. He, too, doubled the money his master left in his care. Verse Concepts. Revelation makes it clear that in the last days, Jesus will subvert his opponents, punish them and be named king over the world. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Pharaoh was a harsh master. He demanded that the Israelites make bricks, but he refused to supply them with the necessary materials. 8 But you must require of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. This servant offered a feeble excuse for his conduct. And to 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. Look, there you have what is yours.. 269 Copyright 2005 by Community Bible Chapel, 418 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX 75081. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. 26But his lord answered and said to him, You (J)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. The second slave presents his master with four talents. The masters dealings with the third servant is a very different matter. ~ Excerpt from Matthew Henry Commentary. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. The element of work. 11 If then you havent been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? The words are in their substance like those in St. Matthew, but their absolute identity with those in the lesson drawn from the parable of the Unjust Steward (see Note on Luke 16:10) is every way suggestive.This parable is connected with that as its natural sequel and development. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Dr. Ron Jones, Using Your Talents for the Glory of God Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular. The first presents his master with ten talents. Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . How different was the outlook of the first two slaves. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursedcut off from Christfor the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, 4 who are Israelites. After centuries of Israelites seeing themselves as Gods only favored people, he opened things up for Gentiles to become co-heirs (Ephesians 3:6). We find our true joy and place in life when we serve God with our gifts. In short, Jesus is a master who uses methods we dont always understand, which might even seem unfair. 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. He doubled the money his master entrusted to him. 16 Then he that had received the five . 283 We should recall that Eve was given her own kind of labor (Genesis 3:16). Those who are unfaithful lose not only their reward, but their stewardship. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. The bankers in verse 27 represent other faithful people to whom the man could have turned to help him use his talents wisely. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). Retirement is thought of more in terms of the golf course than finishing our course in the Pauline sense (2 Timothy 4:7). But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him (Matthew 25:29; see also 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26). All rights reserved. Indeed, they accused Him of being a wicked sinner, more worthy of death than Barabbas. I was talking about this text with a friend, and he said, God expects the principle, plus interest. I think thats right. Then he (F)went away. Its been referenced in many placeseven odd places like H.G. As his grand finale, the man reached in and pulled the tigers whiskers. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he . Most of us find it hard to un-crack, especially given the third servant gets punished for doing nothing. As I was teaching the parable of the virgins, I could not see how verse 13 served as any kind of conclusion to the first 12 verses. The Parable of the Talents should encourage us and challenge us to take what God has given us and invest in the kingdom of God.