Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents I. Introduction A. The parables of Christ can help us understand many concepts in the faith B. Parable: "A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction," (Webster's) C. Parables provide spiritual lessons using common motifs taken from common life 1. Jesus uses the sowing of seed, wheat and weeds, shepherd and flock, and many other agricultural/pastoral/communal themes to provide spiritual truth 2. The imagery is understandable to even the least educated among the people D. We find such a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 1. Jesus describes the work of a Christian in terms of servants and talents 2. There is much for us to learn from this parable E. Let us examine this parable today II. The Parable: Context and Understanding Parable A. The location of the parable is significant B. Matthew 25 1. Jesus is discussing the signs of the destruction of the Temple (Matthew 24:1-36), the signs of the end times (Matthew 24:37-25:30), and of the final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) 2. The immediate context of the parable of the talents represents how God's people are to act while waiting for Jesus' return 3. The parable of the good vs. wicked servant in Matthew 24:45-51 stresses the need to be constantly faithful in the Kingdom 4. The parable of the foolish and wise virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 represents the need for constant preparedness for His return 5. Immediately after the parable, the Judgment scene is shown (25:31-46) C. The parable, then, is firmly in the context of Jesus' admonitions regarding the end of times, leading up to the judgment description D. Before we examine the parable proper, it is good to understand the nature of how parables work E. Parables can be compared to extended metaphors 1. A recognizable physical, "real life" situation is mapped upon a spiritual message 2. The nature of seed dispersal, whether to weed a field or no, how to make money-- are these the concerns of Jesus? 3. No; a recognizable situation is used to explain spiritual truths about the types of people who receive the Gospel, the destruction of the wicked at the same time as the vindication of the righteous, and, as we will see, the necessity of making use of whatever God gives us F. Seeing these things, let us examine what we can learn from this parable III. The Parable A. We are presented with a master and his three servants (v. 14) 1. Master = God / the Lord 2. Servants = God's servants, Christians B. He gives to each servant talents according to their abilities-- 5, 2, and 1 (vv. 14-15) 1. Talents represent a large sum of money, representing well over one thousand dollars in cash but worth far more in buying power 2. We must remember, of course, that the money represents something in spiritual terms 3. The English language happily has another use for the word "talent" that fits the bill a. The physical, monetary talents = spiritual characteristics, "talents" b. We can understand the talents, therefore, in terms of spiritual gifts 4. "each to his ability:" we will return to this later C. The servants go out with their talents (vv. 16-18) 1. The one with 5 makes 5 more; the one with 2, 2 more; the one with 1, buries it in the ground 2. The image of making money with the talents can represent a few things a. Most plausible: converting souls to Christ b. Could also refer to spiritual development that leads to acquisition of more gifts D. The master returns to settle accounts (vv. 19-23) 1. The master returns "after a long time" (v. 19) a. Well, we're still here after 2000 years... b. ...yet it has been a "long time." c. What would happen if the master settled accounts today? 2. The settling of accounts is similar for the 5 and 2 talent servants a. Both come forth with their 5+5 and 2+2 talents b. Both hear the same message, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." 3. We now return to "each to his ability" from verse 15 a. In the parable, one servant has the ability to make 5 talents 10, and another to make 2 talents 4 b. Since both lived up to their ability, they both receive the same reward c. What does this teach us in spiritual terms? 4. We all have different abilities/different levels of abilities 5. We strive to do the best we can in Christianity... 6. ...yet we all naturally are better at some things than others 7. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 a. Paul here explains the differences between brethren b. We're not to think higher of ourselves than we are, but we are to use what we have! c. Some may be more effective at teaching, others preaching, some in giving, some at encouraging d. We all can preach at some level, give at some level, encourage at some level (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-14, Hebrews 10:24-26)... e. ...yet we all have strengths and weaknesses in all these areas 8. Encouragement for us all a. Yet even though all of us have different levels of ability, if we live up to that ability, we receive our reward b. God expects us to live up to our abilities-- and when we do, we are rewarded E. The Third Servant and the Master (vv. 24-27) 1. If we follow the same logic as the five and two talent servants, the one talent servant was expected to make another talent 2. He did no such thing, and begins by accusing his master! a. Calling him a "hard man" b. "Reaping where he did not sow" 3. The master does not deny this! a. Does this mean that we should charge God with these attributes?! b. We must recognize again that this image maps onto spiritual truths c. In Christianity, who does the work here? d. Jesus ascended to Heaven, and left His message to the twelve disciples to spread throughout the world (Acts 1) e. Even to this day, if we do not sow the seed, and do not scatter the seed, the seed is not sown nor scattered! f. In a sense, therefore, this statement is true 4. The servant is severely chastised for his actions a. The master condemns the servant for wickedness and slothfulness b. ...even though he returned to the master that which was his! c. God, therefore, expects us to not just remain as we are, but to further His cause d. The servant could have put the talent in the bank to gain interest e. Does this mean that we should take the money in the church treasury to the bank to gain interest? No! This is a metaphor mapping onto spiritual truths 5. "Making interest on a talent" most plausibly refers to development of spiritual gifts 6. Even though we are charged to convert souls, and we ought to convert as to our ability, but even if we fail in that endeavor we must be at least developing in our own faith (Hebrews 5:14) F. The Conclusion (vv. 28-30) 1. The 1 talent of the third servant was given to the first servant who had 10 a. The idea of more being given to those who already have made much and the loss of even the little of the one lacking-- the same as in Matthew 13:12 b. The spiritual benefits of eternal life are magnified for the righteous, doing the will of God, yet those who work in wickedness will lose everything 2. The wicked servant is cast into hell a. This is a point where the parabolic language breaks down into more unambiguous fare b. Masters cannot really cast servants into the "outer darkness" while on earth... c. ...but God can certainly cast His wicked servants there! d. By not working for the Lord, at least developing our own faith, we put ourselves at risk for condemnation! IV. Conclusion A. We have examined the parable of the talents B. We all have talents according to our abilities C. We are to use those talents 1. If we live up to our abilities, converting the lost, we will hear the good message from our Master 2. If we at least develop our own faith we can still be blessed in the sight of our Master 3. If we just bury our gifts, however, we will incur God's wrath D. Why would God condemn for not developing or enlarging the Kingdom? 1. James 4:17 2. If we know to do good, and do not do it, we sin E. Consider 2 Peter 3:11-12 1. Just as the parable of the talents is contextually tied with the last days... 2. ...so 2 Peter 3:11-12 contextually is tied to the last days F. Our Master could return to settle accounts at any times; is our conduct becoming of Him? G. Invitation/songbook