4:11], [Matt. Luke, the man who went away gives each servant the same amount of money (one mina); in Matthew, talents are given to the three slaves according to their ability. "Parable of the Talents" Bible Craft Demonstration Use these hands-on learning activities when teaching from Matthew 25:14-30, where Jesus told the Parable of the Talents. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. Im not saying that one should never cease their employment nor end their career. Those who are unfaithful lose not only their reward, but their stewardship. He demanded that they make something out of nothing, so to speak. Granted, the interest one gets from a savings account is not the kind of increase one might get from investing in the stock market, but it would at least be a small increase. Therefore glorify God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20). He contended that this is why he was afraid to take a risk with any kind of investment. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well . 13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, Do business with these until I come back. 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not want this man to be king over us! 15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. The Parable of the Talents. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? In my opinion, nothing in our text compels us to think (or even imply) that this might be the case. The Parable of the Minas or Pounds (see Luke 19:11-15) also makes this clear. After all of Jesus' teaching, the disciples, although still limited in their knowledge and understanding, knew for sure that Jesus was to restore His Kingdom to Israel ( Acts 1:6 ). I wonder how many of us are simply giving back money that we have not put to use. Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. Matthew 25:15. ~ Excerpt from Matthew Henry Commentary. God expects a profit, and He holds us accountable for what we have done with what He has entrusted to us. Matthew 25:14-30 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. The one who does not have but yet does have (because what he has is taken away) is the one who has his masters money, but has made no profit from it. My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die (Philippians 1:20). This story is called the Parable of the Talents. Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . Enter into (G)the joy of your lord. 22He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. 23His lord said to him, (H)Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Enter into, He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.. First, the master stayed away for a long time ( Matthew 25:19 ). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? As I thought of this slaves attitude toward his master, I was reminded of this passage in the Book of Exodus: 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert. 2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? The first steward is given 5 talents, the second is given two talents and the third is given one. an ounce) was nearly equivalent to 400 of our money. It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. 18But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities (Luke 19:16-17). He did not increase his masters money at all. The Parable of the Talents (Lk 19:11-27) 14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,f to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Rick Warren, Be Faithful in Small Things He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:1-4). 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. I believe that there are other texts of Scripture which indicate that God has entrusted (by common grace, in some cases) certain assets to all men, and that all men are accountable to God for how they use (or do not use) these resources which God has entrusted to them. Thus, evangelism is one form of spiritual profit. Then he gives the one talent to the first servant, for to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away (Luke 19:26). I have often been puzzled over these words, repeated several times in the New Testament: For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). 30And cast the unprofitable servant (L)into the outer darkness. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him, that died for him and rose again. It is clear that our Lord Jesus intended for us to be found at work when He returns: 45 Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel. But this term is also used of that which is useful or beneficial: 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 16 Then he that had received the five . This is the edited manuscript of Lesson 78 in the Studies in the Gospel of Matthew series prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh on April 24, 2005. Our labors for the Master should increase, not diminish, if we are kingdom minded. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 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. 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. Then he went on his journey. 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. Also the description of the last judgment. He does not require us to make bricks without providing both the clay and the straw. It appears in Matthew 25:14-30, and another version of the parable can be found in Luke 19:11-27. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return283 (Genesis 3:17-19). 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. 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. 21 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. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). Handed down. Bible Verses about Parable of the Talents. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Unfaithful service led to condemnation, the removal of ones stewardship, and an eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness, away from the presence of our Lord. The joy of the master must, in some way, equate to enjoying the bliss of heaven, with our Lord. each according to his ability. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The difference is not that one group knew the hour, and the other didnt. We find this same principle stated in connection with the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18). Their trading of the talents signifies the faithful use that one should make of gifts and opportunities of service to God. 29(S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. When our Lord talks about the kingdom of heaven in our text and elsewhere, He speaks of it in terms of work, not of relaxation or of play. ), [Rom. If we loved our Master, we would view our labors for Him as joy. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. This whole matter of profit expands the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 6: 19 Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 278 Actually, the good slave is both morally good and useful, but his usefulness is emphasized most in the context. Dr. Ron Jones, Using Your Talents for the Glory of God 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? See, I have gained five more. 21 His master answered, Well done, good and faithful slave! Why, then, did the third slave do nothing? ), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Re-read the passage, preferably in a different translation to get a clearer perspective on what the passage is communicating. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. man goes to another country, stays a long time, and then returns. To be away from home, go into another country, be away, be abroad. From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. The third servant has no profit, no gain, to give his master, so his talent is taken away and given to the one who went to work with his masters money and made great gains for him. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. a certain weight or 'talent'. Thus, time seems to be a more important factor in verses 14-31 than in 1-13. 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). (1) Verse 13 does not really seem to fit with verses 1-12, or to contribute to their message. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. After being gone a long time, the master returns to settle up with his slaves (verse 19). First, they receive their masters commendation, Well done, good and faithful slave (verses 21, 23). This was paradise, my friend, and thus their work was not drudgery; it was a delight: 8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. Enter into (I)the joy of your lord., 24Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. Let us listen carefully then, looking to Gods Spirit to enlighten our hearts and minds, and to empower our service, to the glory of God and our eternal good. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. But each man doubled his masters money. Entering into the joy of our Master is, in the context of our text, entering into profitable labor for all eternity. 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). 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, (D)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. The third servant is lazy, because he does not go to work with the money. Works are fruits that are evidence of true faith (see James 2). 23 Why then didnt you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest? 24 And he said to his attendants, Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten. 25 But they said to him, Sir, he has ten minas already! 26 I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 24 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: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. He made his way up to the bars, and then proceeded to harass this awesome beast. Mat Mt). What is the meaning of the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? 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. In one of my early trips to India, I went to the zoo. The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. and Christians should not be molded by worldly standards (Romans 12:2).
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