3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up (Hebrews 12:1-3, emphasis mine). He said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? As if a superlative of hekas; each or every. Tounderstand this parable, we need to look at the parable in the context of Jesus surrounding teachings and the Bibles other teachings about giftings. What distinguished him from the first two slaves? I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. Dennis Rainey. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. This servant came to his master with only the talent his master had originally entrusted to him. I was talking about this text with a friend, and he said, God expects the principle, plus interest. I think thats right. I believe that this parable focuses on four major themes: resources, work, time and profit. 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. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Dr. Ron Jones, Using Your Talents for the Glory of God God made me for a purpose, for China, Liddell says, But he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. He does not go to work with his masters money, over a lengthy period of time, and thus make a profit. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. A talent was worth even more: NIV footnotes for the Matthew passage state that one talent was 20 years wages. Our Lords teaching in the parable of the talents is that God expects profit that is the product of our labors. For this story about a master and his servants, understanding the culture of Jesus' original audience is necessary to comprehend His message. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 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. 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. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Did this third slave think that there would be no reward for his faithful service because his master was a hard man? The Parable of the Talents. He swallowed up death (1 Corinthians 15: 54) in a victory that involved him getting killed. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions (Matthew 24:45-47). So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didnt deposit and reaping what I didnt sow? The similarities between the parable in Matthew 25 and this parable in Lukes Gospel are easily seen: While the parable in Luke is similar to our parable in Matthew 25, there are some significant differences: The temptation is for us to carry details from the parable in Lukes Gospel over to Matthews account, but we should be careful about this, recognizing that these parables, while similar, were told on different occasions and contain significant differences. See, I have gained five more. 21 His master answered, Well done, good and faithful slave! What is the meaning of the Parable of the Dragnet? I fear that for all too many Christians (not all!) Then 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. 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. The day of account comes at last. Speed and thrust increase. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, He gave them work to do. 271 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. 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? 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. Its been referenced in many placeseven odd places like H.G. Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular. Indeed, it is used to explain what has been said before. 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. For all the saints. Also the description of the last judgment. God is both, and his plans will not necessarily make sense to our limited perspectives. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). Sometimes it is merely a connective, a virtual conjunction. Retirement is like the second stage of a rocket booster. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. Since Jesus was the son of God and therefore had a right to the kingship he claimed, we cant accuse him of stealing what he didnt deserve. 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. 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. Revelation makes it clear that in the last days, Jesus will subvert his opponents, punish them and be named king over the world. From kerdos; to gain. The term employed in Matthew 25:16 emphasizes work. The master rebukes the third servant for not even putting the money in the bank, where he could have gotten interest on it. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. Heaven can hardly be described in terms of retirement. Visit a foreign land. The difference is not that one group knew the hour, and the other didnt. 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. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. Trust in Jesus, for it is His work that will save you. 28 Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again (John 12:27-28). to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Let us go a three-day journey into the desert so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, so that he does not strike us with plague or the sword. 4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? God entrusted Israel, and especially its leaders, with the truth, and they did not use it properly. 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. Christians will spend all eternity at work, and this work will include ruling with our Lord and praising Him. 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. It seems safe to deal with the first two servants together, since they are so similar. To offer, give; I put, place. However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. 29(S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. Other, another (of more than two), different. We should carefully note the outcome of faithful service, and of unfaithful service, in this parable. 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). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven. Since a talent was actually a measurement of weight, it did not have a constant value. This is only speculation. 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. 4:11], [Matt. A popular job website lists theaverage monthly wage for Americans in 2021 as $5,555 per month. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. The Bible makes it clear that we dont really own our gifts. 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. 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! Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. Proud member The third slave is lazy, and thus useless, as opposed to being hard-working, and therefore useful. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. (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). 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Romans 8:18-22). The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. We have the most valuable gift of all, the Word of God and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. 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. Luke there are ten servants; in Matthew, there are only three. 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.. The difference is that one group brought oil for their lamps, and the others did not. 14(B)For the kingdom of heaven is (C)like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. We should be careful to recognize that in this parable the mere possession of a talent is not evidence of salvation. William Hendriksen, The Gospel of Matthew (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1973), p. 881. They seemed to delight in serving their master, and they were eager to get to work quickly to produce a profit for him. 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. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help.
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