2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. What is your ministry, your unique contribution to the kingdom of God? Most of us find it hard to un-crack, especially given the third servant gets punished for doing nothing. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. Faith Talk Ministries, Faithful to the End This is only speculation. I will put you in charge of many things. Remember, this is a parable, and all ofJesus parables are about a bit more than they seem. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unforgiving / Unmerciful Servant? Parable of the Talents "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to . What is the meaning of the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? 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. 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. Theparable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. The element of money. Both minas and talents were units of currency in the ancient Roman world. 4:7; 1 Pet. 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. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he . Matthew 25:14. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. 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. The second servant has made (five minas from one mina, or four talents from two talents). Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Play a game of pass the parcel where children must try to rip off each layer when the music stops. The talents were distributed on the basis of ability, not as the bestowing of ability. 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. 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. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. 270 I hate to have to disagree with the NET Bible translation here, but it seems to me that this translation does not adequately emphasize the force of our Lords carefully chosen words, especially in context. This parable is not primarily about faith, nor is it about being willing to take a risk (this was merely the wicked slaves excuse). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Talents? There is also a message to all mankind. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. It may be that you are not like the first two slaves, but like the third. 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. The word hard, which this slave used to characterize his master, is far from flattering. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. The Parable of the Talents 21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Inductive Bible study of Jesus' parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. ), [Rom. But none of them adequately explain it. A footnote in the NIV translation says that a mina was about three months wages. It is the continuation of fruitful, profitable labor. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 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. Traditionally, the parable of the talents has been seen as an exhortation to Jesus' disciples to use their God-given gifts in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. He told his master that he was a harsh and cruel man, a man who was demanding, and who expected gain where he had not labored. 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. Also the description of the last judgment. Our labors for the Master should increase, not diminish, if we are kingdom minded. The one-talent slave is clearly not saved; he is condemned to hell. 33 Bible Verses about Parable Of Talents Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 15 helpful votes Not Helpful "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. But this work is joyful. 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? 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. They justified their rejection of Jesus by claiming that He was the problem. The third slave is just the opposite. In one of my early trips to India, I went to the zoo. The original text is quite clear here it is the first servant (and we assume the second, as well) who immediately sets to work with his masters money. God expects to see a profit. I am saying that our labors for the kingdom have no point of termination except for our Lords return, and even then fruitful labor will continue in heaven. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The third servant was fearful and hid the one talent he was trusted with, returning just one talent to his master. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ), [Rom. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. He contended that this is why he was afraid to take a risk with any kind of investment. Luke, we are told that the reason for the parable was to correct the misconception that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately; no such reason is stated in Matthew. Start FREE. We find this same principle stated in connection with the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18). Jesus uses the Parable of the Talents to help us understand our calling as Christians and our responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory and honor! 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. 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. While commentators differ somewhat over the approximate value of a talent in todays economy, all would agree that it was a large amount of money. And so it is that those who over time work with what they are entrusted, in order to make a profit for their master, are rewarded for their faithfulness. 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of Gods utterances. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)? 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. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. Works are the result of faith, not a substitute for faith. 46 Bible Verses about Talents. 12:11; Eph. In order to understand the meaning and the application of the parable of the talents, we must take note of the crucial terms and their meanings. 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. Let them go and collect straw for themselves. Some were saying, He is a good man, but others, He deceives the common people (John 7:12). 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. In the end though, it doesnt matter whether we think Jesus is a hard or odd master, because we are neither all-knowing nor all-powerful. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. We naturally want to believe we can use our gifts as we please. Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has three slaves. Verse Concepts. Dont blame it on God. The disciples ask for details about the last days, and Jesus talks about how harsh they will be, warning them to look out for false teachers and so forth. He let taxpayers and prostitutes into the kingdom of heaven first (Matthew 21:31). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. These rebels are slaughtered. 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. Two of the slaves seem eager to show their master what they have accomplished in his absence. I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. Wrap a gift a number of times to create a few layers. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. I believe that this parable focuses on four major themes: resources, work, time and profit. The soil which produces no grain (in other instances, no fruit, or no profit) is bad soil. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 274 If my concordance program is correct, this term occurs 526 times in the New Testament. It is a great responsibility with great reward as described in the Parable of the Talents. These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities ("talents" in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. 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. I am suggesting that the way some Christians look forward to, or practice, retirement is a form of burying your talent. In the Luke version, he gives out 10 minas to 10 servants (Luke 19:16-20 makes it clear that each servant gets one mina). master. The master rebukes the third servant for not even putting the money in the bank, where he could have gotten interest on it. 17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. How does not knowing the day or the hour affect either the five wise virgins or the five foolish virgins? He doubled the money his master entrusted to him. 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. They returned to their master with double the talents! Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. 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. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his masters money in it. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Is retirement a denial, in effect, of the curse? Start FREE. He then gives several messages and illustrations: - The wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), - The parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Matthew 25:14-30. 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. in Luke is there another group, in addition to the masters servants those who dont want this man to become their king, and who send a message asking him not to return. 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. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Is this not fruit? What if the church were to be scrutinized as a business? How can you take something away from a person who has nothing? 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). 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Burying the talent in the ground is an illustration of using one's God-given gifts for earthly pursuits. The true believer is represented by the seed that grows, that endures, and that bears fruit. In the parable, the gifts are given according to natural ability, but all who increase equally are rewarded equally. 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. 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). 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for and maintain it (Genesis 2:8-9, 15). The difference is that one group brought oil for their lamps, and the others did not. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his . This story is called the Parable of the Talents. 23 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. man allocates his resources to servants, expecting them to make a profit in his absence. The one who has been faithful on earth with a little thing like money will be given greater work to do in heaven. 12 Therefore he said, A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Have you come to see that so far as your salvation is concerned, all of your works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-20)? Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Finally, the servant who had . After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 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. 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. 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.. In Matthew, this is especially clear in 12:40; 24:27, 37. Noelle Kirchner, The Generosity Of God How is it that the one who does not have has something taken from him? As his grand finale, the man reached in and pulled the tigers whiskers. 29(K)For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! first two servants are faithful; they are praised by their master and are given greater authority. (4) The expression which begins verse 14 (Greek, w[sper ga.r) is employed 11 times elsewhere in the New Testament (Matthew 12:40; 24:27, 37; 25:14; Luke 17:24; John 5:21, 26; Romans 5:19; 6:19; 11:30; 1 Corinthians 11:12; 15:22; James 2:26). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 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. We often mix up the word talent in the currency sense with our modern English word talent meaning gifts, and its important to understand the money context of what Jesus was saying. The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). 14(A)For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. If we were to make an equation of this parable, it would probably go like this: Resources (talents) + Labor (work) + Time = Profit. The third slave is lazy, and thus useless, as opposed to being hard-working, and therefore useful. Its been referenced in many placeseven odd places like H.G. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. [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. First, the master stayed away for a long time ( Matthew 25:19 ). 3:21; 21:7], Matt. 4:10]. 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). 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. God expects a profit, and He holds us accountable for what we have done with what He has entrusted to us. However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. Includes discussion questions and verse by verse commentary for small groups. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure spiritual profit? The second slave presents his master with four talents. 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. But the master did provide the means for his slave to make a profit. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 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. Dr. Ron Jones, Using Your Talents for the Glory of God Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Dont bury what God has entrusted to you; go to work with it, for the glory of God, and for your eternal rewards. You have been faithful with a few things. After centuries of Israelites seeing themselves as Gods only favored people, he opened things up for Gentiles to become co-heirs (Ephesians 3:6). The third servant did not invest his masters money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money. I contend that verse 14 does not begin the new paragraph, but that verse 13 does. First of all, let us be clear that we are not talking about salvation by works. Kathy Sweeny, Choices Determine Destinies The Christian should think about retirement in the same way he or she thinks of being single (if, indeed, you are): 32 And I want you to be free from concern. 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.
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