Parable of the Talents. What is the meaning of the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price? The joy of the master must, in some way, equate to enjoying the bliss of heaven, with our Lord. Most importantly, bringing glory to God is profitable. 26 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: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Start FREE. Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. It appears in Matthew 25:14-30, and another version of the parable can be found in Luke 19:11-27. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. When the third servants excuses are set aside, it becomes evident that this man is lazy he didnt do any work. 12 And if you havent been trustworthy with someone elses property, who will give you your own? (Luke 16:10-12). 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. 20And 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. 21His master said to him, Well done, good and (J)faithful servant. Then he went on his journey. 276 Needless to say, bankers and banking were not the same in those days. Hank Hanegraaff, Economy of God Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. We take a little money and put it in the plate, and by doing so we are laying up treasure in heaven. I dont deny that this is true, in part, but it is not the whole of it. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. 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 Parable of the Talents 22 The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. The element of time. Yes, there are official positions for certain church tasks (preaching, evangelizing, teaching, etc.) Rick Warren, Be Faithful in Small Things 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. 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 (Matthew 25:24, emphasis mine). 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. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). We should first consider the masters assessment of all three slaves: The first two slaves were commended as being both good and faithful. The term good is sometimes employed in a moral sense. In the natural world, talents differ. But each man doubled his masters money. 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. 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. He gives each of them some money. Proud member If we loved our Master, we would view our labors for Him as joy. Verse Concepts. 281 Remember that one manifestation of the harshness or hardness of Nabal was that he refused to reward David for his faithful service to him (1 Samuel 25:2-13). The Bible makes it clear there is no sacred versus secular work in the way we often think. 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). 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. Jumble. Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . He has granted the time and the resources for men to make a profit for the kingdom of heaven, until He returns. Different. Pharaoh was a harsh master. He demanded that the Israelites make bricks, but he refused to supply them with the necessary materials. I am now inclined to say that verse 13 fits best with verses 14-30. I will end with these words from our Lord to the church at Sardis. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Romans 8:18-22). From the parable of the talents we seem to be informed that unbelievers are entrusted with certain things, and that they will also give account for their stewardship. Dont bury what God has entrusted to you; go to work with it, for the glory of God, and for your eternal rewards. Parable of the Talents Jumble | Sermons4Kids Specifically, I am speaking of Matthew 25:13: Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13). ESV Text Edition: 2016. The second and third soils represent those who initially show some interest in the gospel, but then reject it when the meaning of the gospel becomes clear. If we seek to shun the work our Lord has given us, it betrays a wrong attitude and relationship with our Master. To be away from home, go into another country, be away, be abroad. Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice. This is probably a sermon in itself perhaps even a book. Also the description of the last judgment. First of all, let us be clear that we are not talking about salvation by works. Each (of more than two), every one. Working hard for the profit of the kingdom and the King is entering into the joy of our Master. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Second, because they have proven themselves to be faithful with the few things entrusted to them, they are now given even greater responsibilities by their master. Come and share your masters happiness! (Matthew 25:21). 3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. Works are fruits that are evidence of true faith (see James 2). The story of Jesustelling this parable really begins in Matthew 24 when he mentions the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities. 18 Then the second one came and said, Sir, your mina has made five minas. 19 So the king said to him, And you are to be over five cities. 20 Then another slave came and said, Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. Therefore glorify God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20). 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). Faith Talk Ministries, Faithful to the End I will put you in charge of many things. 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. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Heavens work will be joyful labor. 12:6; 1 Cor. first two servants are commended and go to heaven; the third is condemned and goes to hell. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed? Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? (Luke 14:34). The Gospels make it clear many times that Jesus was the king of the Jews, but came in a way they did not expect, preaching a message many didnt want to hear. Time has been a significant factor in our Lords teaching concerning His coming and the end of the age, beginning in chapter 24. Retirement is like the second stage of a rocket booster. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy. One must surely conclude that this parable is not just an interesting story, but a message of eternal significance. To give that up would be to hold him in contempt., This quote highlights that in the end, all talents are given by God to glorify him. Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities (Luke 19:16-17). 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The bankers in verse 27 represent other faithful people to whom the man could have turned to help him use his talents wisely. And part of the reward the faithful slave is entering into is the joy of his Master in bringing salvation to men. Luke 19:13,14 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come, Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. Also the description of the last judgment. I now see the answer, which appears to be consistent with all of the places where this principle is set forth. Faithful saints are given even greater responsibilities, and even more work. Lets call this aspect of profit exaltation. I am not arguing against retirement in the economic sense. The element of profit. The parable of the talents is one of those Bible stories most of us know, yet its hard to understand. Matthew 25 | NIV Bible | YouVersion The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel. Trust in Jesus, for it is His work that will save you. Assuming, for the moment, that the slave was correct in his assessment, why would he not be motivated by his fear to seek a profit for his master? a certain weight or 'talent'. If we were to make an equation of this parable, it would probably go like this: Resources (talents) + Labor (work) + Time = Profit. Please consider their relationship to our text, and to money, time, labor, and profit: 1 To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead. 18But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. A footnote in the NIV translation says that a mina was about three months wages. The third slave is just the opposite. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Just as a businessman expects to make a profit, and rejoices when his employees increase his wealth, so God expects a profit and rejoices in it. 17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Retirement is that period in life when one no longer has the distraction of having to work for a livelihood. 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. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well . ), [Rom. Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. In the parable, the gifts are given according to natural ability, but all who increase equally are rewarded equally. Crucially, Jesus says that both the parable of the 10 virgins and the parable of the talents are about what the kingdom of heaven will be like in the last days (Matthew 25:1,14). Noelle Kirchner, The Generosity Of God Second, the faithful servants immediately went to work to increase their master's money ( Matthew 25:16-17 ). For example, if work is toil, a part of the curse, then is retirement just an excuse to try and escape from the consequences of sin God has decreed? (17) Because thou hast been faithful in a very little.--More literally, because thou didst become faithful. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard? What is it that you want Him to find you doing when He returns? 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once . The soil which produces no grain (in other instances, no fruit, or no profit) is bad soil. Both minas and talents were units of currency in the ancient Roman world. What is your ministry, your unique contribution to the kingdom of God? Our Lords emphasis here is not on putting the money to work, but on the servant going to work with his masters money. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions (Matthew 24:45-47). English Standard Version The Parable of the Talents 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[ a] and entrusted to them his property. Christians will spend all eternity at work, and this work will include ruling with our Lord and praising Him. 22 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. Parable Of The Sower Further Parables Parables Parable Of The Pharisee And Publican Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Parable Of The Net Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard Parable Of The Tenants Parable Of The Good Samaritan Parable Of The Lost Sheep/Lost Coin Parable Of The Prodigal Son Parable Of The Wedding Banquet Parable Of The Fig Tree Rich Man And Lazarus Parable Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector Parable Of The Ten Virgins Parable Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower Parable Of The Tares Parable Of The Marriage Feast Parable Of The Great Supper Parable Of The Vineyard Talents Jotham By A Parable Rebukes Them, And Foretells Their Ruin Nathan's Parable Of The Ewe Lamb Causes David To Be His Own Judge Prophet, Under The Parable Of A Prisoner, Under The Parable Of A Vineyard, God Excuses His Severe Judgment His Incomparableness Idols Are Not Comparable To God For Power By The Parable Of Bottles Filled With Wine He Foretells Their Drunkenness In Misery Under The Parable Of A Wretched Infant Is Shown The Natural State Of Jerusalem Under The Parable Of Two Eagles And A Vine Lamentation For The Princes Of Israel, By The Parable Of A Lion Whelping In A Pit For Jerusalem, Under The Parable Of A Wasted Vine Under The Parable Of A Boiling Pot Parable Of The Sower And The Seed Parable Of The Weeds Explanation Of The Parable Of The Weeds Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Which He Sets Forth By A Parable Of The King Who Took Account Of His Servants, Jesus, By The Parable Of The Laborers In The Vineyard, Shows That God Is Debtor Unto No Man Rebukes Them By The Parable Of The Two Sons, Parable Of The Marriage Of The King's Son Parable Of The Ten Virgins, Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower, Parable Of The Seed Growing Secretly Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Tenants Illustrates The Matter By The Parable Of Patches. 283 We should recall that Eve was given her own kind of labor (Genesis 3:16). Parable of the Talents Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents (Matt. 15To one he gave five (D)talents,[b] to another two, to another one, (E)to each according to his ability. Open Heavens for Teens Saturday 4th March 2023 - Parable of The Talents Theparable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. A parable is a type of story Jesus would tell so we would learn something from it. of 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. Im not saying that one should never cease their employment nor end their career. The joy that was before our Lord would seem to include the salvation of lost sinners (Luke 15:4-10).