Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas? Those who are unfaithful lose not only their reward, but their stewardship. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). How is it that the one who does not have has something taken from him? 4 But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. 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. His entertainment was to torment one of the tigers. Salem Media Group. I believe this may be the case in our text. (M)There will be weeping and (N)gnashing of teeth.. Dont bury what God has entrusted to you; go to work with it, for the glory of God, and for your eternal rewards. (1) Verse 13 does not really seem to fit with verses 1-12, or to contribute to their message. Enter into the joy of your master. 22 The one with the two talents also came and said, Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)? 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. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Its also preceded by a story about a servant not using his position well while the master is away. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. 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. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of Gods utterances. Dont blame it on God. 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? Verse Concepts. 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. 12:6; 1 Cor. Is retirement a denial, in effect, of the curse? There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Therefore, the master represents Christ, while the three servants represent those who serve him. Re-read the passage, preferably in a different translation to get a clearer perspective on what the passage is communicating. Weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness must, on the other hand, involve spending eternity without God, and without joy. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. Works that produce a profit for the kingdom282 are the basis for our rewards. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, [1] each according to his ability. Download our craft directions below, gather your craft supplies, and watch the example video as you prepare to teach. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats? You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. 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). In Matthew, this is especially clear in 12:40; 24:27, 37. He is not harsh, nor does He require that we do the impossible (make a profit where He has not provided the means). For all the saints. retirement has become a socially acceptable form of burying ones talent. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. When the third servants excuses are set aside, it becomes evident that this man is lazy he didnt do any work. 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? Players take turns to roll a dice. In short, Jesus is a master who uses methods we dont always understand, which might even seem unfair. It was his hope that in doing something spectacular he might receive a gift or donation. However, all creation was made very good (Genesis 1:31), and we must do all things to Gods glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The difference is that one group brought oil for their lamps, and the others did not. Our Lords teaching in the parable of the talents is that God expects profit that is the product of our labors. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. If so, then what is the fruitful labor God has given to you? In one of my early trips to India, I went to the zoo. 278 Actually, the good slave is both morally good and useful, but his usefulness is emphasized most in the context. The soil which produces no grain (in other instances, no fruit, or no profit) is bad soil. From apodemos; to go abroad, i.e. The Parable of the Bags of Gold(A) 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,(B)who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a]each according to his ability. The Parable of the Talents. The Topic of Teenagers Open Heavens for Saturday 4th March 2023 Is "Parable of The Talents I". The one-talent slave is clearly not saved; he is condemned to hell. Let me explain my reasons for reaching this conclusion, in spite of the fact that it differs with the generally accepted divisions (verses 1-13, verses 14-30, verses 31-46). Provide a pair of oven gloves. 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. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Renny and Marina McLean, The Lord Teaches Us to Profit If he were afraid to take any risk, then why did he not at least put the talent in the hands of the bankers, who would conservatively invest it for him, and gain at least some interest? The master goes on his journey, which Luke notes has some opposition (Luke 19:14-15). Enter into the joy of your master. 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be (N)a hard man, reaping (O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. The third slave is an entirely different matter. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. Yes, there are official positions for certain church tasks (preaching, evangelizing, teaching, etc.) 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didnt deposit and reaping what I didnt sow? And they were right because he praised them and invited them to join him as participants in his joy. He demanded that they make something out of nothing, so to speak. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Matthew 25:29 (NIV) ANSWERS. He is evil in the sense that he is useless, or unprofitable. Notice how this same word279 is used in Matthew 7: In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad [literally rotten] tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17, emphasis mine). What can we learn from the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge? ), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. In the Book of Revelation, heaven is described as a return to paradise lost: 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of lifewater as clear as crystalpouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the citys main street. 273 William Hendriksen, in his commentary on Matthew, finds enthusiasm and joy in the accounting the first two servants gave to their master. At this point we would probably do well to look at work from a broader perspective; we should consider work from the beginning of time to eternity future. One must surely conclude that this parable is not just an interesting story, but a message of eternal significance. 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. Since a talent was actually a measurement of weight, it did not have a constant value. of 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 20 For the creation was subjected to futilitynot willingly but because of God who subjected itin hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of Gods children. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The masters dealings with the third servant is a very different matter. Retirement is thought of more in terms of the golf course than finishing our course in the Pauline sense (2 Timothy 4:7). In fact, if this were to take place today, that money would likely be worth less, due to inflation. 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; [John 15:2], NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Verse 15. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and One. Its also interesting that when the third servant returns his money, he accuses the master of being a hard man who reaps where he did not sow (Matthew 25:24). Kathy Sweeny, Choices Determine Destinies 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure spiritual profit? A talent, just so you know, was a measure of money. He provides the money and the ability, but we are expected to work hard with what He has given us, for the profit of the kingdom. Play a game of pass the parcel where children must try to rip off each layer when the music stops. The first steward is given 5 talents, the second is given two talents and the third is given one. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:1-4). As Dorothy Sayers put it in her essay Why Work? if we follow God properly, all the work will be Christian work, whether it is Church embroidery or sewage-farming.. The lazy, wicked slave in our parable is that person who refuses to go to work with the resources God has provided, to produce profit for the kingdom of heaven. It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. First, they receive their masters commendation, Well done, good and faithful slave (verses 21, 23). We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:13-14), according to plans he laid out before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5), to glorify him forever. The third slave is just the opposite. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). This is his excuse for doing nothing. The element of time. Mat Mt). For this story about a master and his servants, understanding the culture of Jesus' original audience is necessary to comprehend His message. To gain, acquire, win (over), avoid loss. 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. Our Lords emphasis here is not on putting the money to work, but on the servant going to work with his masters money. Specifically, I am speaking of Matthew 25:13: Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13). 283 We should recall that Eve was given her own kind of labor (Genesis 3:16). Each one of us needs to ask the question, Just what is it that I am doing that is kingdom work? Just what is it that I am doing for Christ and His kingdom that is profitable? Tounderstand this parable, we need to look at the parable in the context of Jesus surrounding teachings and the Bibles other teachings about giftings. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 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). 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. In this show, one boss brings several employees into a room, gives them each cash, and tells them to invest to grow his corporation. 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. Heaven is not to be thought of as me laying beside the pool, sipping a tall, cool one, as one of my fellow elders commented this past week. Faithful saints are given even greater responsibilities, and even more work. Thus, evangelism is one form of spiritual profit. But the master did provide the means for his slave to make a profit. I will put you in charge of many things. Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities (Luke 19:16-17). It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? (Luke 14:34). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice. Matthew 25:15. See, you have what is yours. 26 But his master answered, Evil and lazy slave! Retirement is that period in life when one no longer has the distraction of having to work for a livelihood. It is from the use of the word "talents" in this parable that we moderns have derived its common meaning of natural gifts and endowments. 276 Needless to say, bankers and banking were not the same in those days. 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. God expects to see a profit. The Chapel believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of Gods Word. Matthew 25:14. I will put you in charge of many things. Literal Standard Version And he who received the five talents, having gone, worked with them, and made five other talents; Majority Standard Bible The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and made five more. "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. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. He gives each slave an amount of money, referred to as talents and possibly talents of gold, based upon that man's ability to steward and care for the money. 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. In the parable, the gifts are given according to natural ability, but all who increase equally are rewarded equally. I will end with these words from our Lord to the church at Sardis. Jesus was also the stone rejected by builders, yet he became the capstone (Matthew 21:42). 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). I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel. 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Dr. Ron Jones, Using Your Talents for the Glory of God (3) In my opinion, the main reason for assuming that verse 13 belongs with verses 1-12 is that the term (Greek, ou=n) is most often inferential, with the meaning therefore or then.274 It is not always an indication of a logical conclusion, however. Only the soil that produces a crop is good soil. What is the meaning of the parable of the friend in need (persistent neighbor)? These folks were a more honest (hopefully) version of money changer than those who did business in the temple precincts. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The fact the master owns the money he gave the servants, and he gets the results of their investments, highlights who is in control. This way the slave would not have to attend to the money on a day-by-day basis. I saw something there that both amazed and troubled me. 20 "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.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you werefaithful over a few things,I will make you ruler over many things. What distinguished him from the first two slaves? 277 There are those who would suggest that this slave buried the talent in hopes that the master might never return. The element of profit. The first question one would ask is, How much profit did it make? We are so used to thinking in non-profit terms that we are almost shocked to hear such a question raised. He then tells the servants to put this money to work (Luke 19:13), invest it to make more money for him, and he would see their results when hes back. 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. In a similar way, in the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) the mere germination of the seed does not seem to represent salvation. Two of the slaves seem eager to show their master what they have accomplished in his absence. What, then, is the root of this third slaves problem? I will put you in charge of many things. To offer, give; I put, place. When the master returned, the first two eagerly met their master, apparently delighted in the opportunity to multiply their masters money.273 Both were commended as good and faithful servants; both were rewarded with increased responsibilities in their masters service; both were invited to share in their masters joy. 16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. - Unto one he gave five talents. 12:6; 1 Cor. When the third servant appears, hes done nothing with the money. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has three slaves. They justified their rejection of Jesus by claiming that He was the problem. 5 In that place (V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. third servant claims that he was afraid of his master. There is also a message to all mankind. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. 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. 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. Proud member 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry (Matthew 11:28-30). How does not knowing the day or the hour affect either the five wise virgins or the five foolish virgins? 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. He swallowed up death (1 Corinthians 15: 54) in a victory that involved him getting killed. 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. He gives each of them some money. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed? Matthew 25:14-30 : The Parable of the Talents. But Abraham said, Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish (Luke 16:25). Let them go and collect straw for themselves. This is probably a sermon in itself perhaps even a book. These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities ("talents" in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth. Then he (F)went away. The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. first two servants are faithful; they are praised by their master and are given greater authority. 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. God expects a profit, and He holds us accountable for what we have done with what He has entrusted to us. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? The Moody Church, Using Your God-Given Talents first two servants are commended and go to heaven; the third is condemned and goes to hell. Then he went away. NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Heaven is not a hammock; it is not a glorified vacation. 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. 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. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow. 22 The king said to him, I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! 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. While interest could not be charged of fellow-Israelites, it could be charged of foreigners (see Deuteronomy 23:19-20). 12 Therefore he said, A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power. Parable of the Talents. I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. Unwrap the Gift. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. We naturally want to believe we can use our gifts as we please. It would appear that only the fourth soil represents the true believer. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. Our Lords rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees is often couched in stewardship terms. Whether you read the Matthew version or the Luke version, each servant is getting a substantial chunk of cash to invest as they will. 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). 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. 274 If my concordance program is correct, this term occurs 526 times in the New Testament. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 4:10]. ), [Rom. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. The parable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. However, the talents (or minas in Lukes version) represent more than just the monetary resources God gives us. 269 Copyright 2005 by Community Bible Chapel, 418 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX 75081. Is the salvation of lost sinners not profit in the eternal sense? The term employed in Matthew 25:16 emphasizes work. The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. This is only speculation. Does verse 13 belong with verses 1-12, or with verses 14-30? 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. Heaven can hardly be described in terms of retirement. Jesus came into a world that was the devils domain (1 John 5:19) and claimed it for himself, despite opposition from demons and sinful people who disliked him calling out their flaws. 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. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. I contend that verse 14 does not begin the new paragraph, but that verse 13 does. The element of money. 46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. It is the continuation of fruitful, profitable labor. Works are fruits that are evidence of true faith (see James 2). Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. The master rebuked this slave for being evil and lazy. What is the meaning of the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? Sharon Jaynes, Make the Most of Your Talents To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ESV Text Edition: 2016. 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. He does not require us to make bricks without providing both the clay and the straw. Today a talent might be worth a million dollars! The apocalyptic context is underscored in Lukes version, where people try to keep the master from becoming king and are killed for their rebellion. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he . 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Time has been a significant factor in our Lords teaching concerning His coming and the end of the age, beginning in chapter 24. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). 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.