“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

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.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

He 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.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

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. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

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. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ” – Matt 25:14-29 (NKJV)

____________ The Parable of the Talents _________

If you have attended church for any length of time, this parable should be familiar.

It is used to educate us on the principles of stewardship. How we should use what has been given/entrusted to us for the glory of the kingdom – whether they be “talents” (signifying natural abilities, skills) or our wealth, time, bodies – our very lives are to be witnesses!

So - what more could there be to say about what seems to be very simple lesson? Quite a lot actually… let us follow our familiar process, and see where that leads us!

CONTEXT:

This parable is located in time by the gospel writer Matthew, 2 days before Christ was to be crucified. It was spoken to the disciples on the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem on that last Passover that He would celebrate with them. As you read the parable, imagine yourself sitting in the disciples shoes, listening to this story in real-time, and mentally applying it to yourself….

There is a “similar” parable in the Gospel of Luke 19:12-27. It is located in time, before Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (probably in the house of Zacchaeus), and the reason for speaking it is given by Luke as well…- ”Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.(Lk 19:11).

Lukes parable then (please read it) talks about a nobleman who gives ten servants a “mina” each (3 months’ salary) and goes away. Certain of his citizens send a delegation after him to say that they will not have him rule over them. On his return, one servant returns 10 minas to him, one 5, and so on. One of the ten, does nothing with the money, but preserves it in a handkerchief. He receives the same censure as does the servant in this week’s parable – he Knew what his Master was like, and even with that knowledge, elected to do nothing. The money of the unprofitable servant is confiscated and given to the one who has done the most with it. The unprofitable servant is not harmed in this story, but Luke adds that the nobleman then requires that those citizens that opposed his return be killed in front of him.

This is not the same story, because the reasons for speaking it are different. However, lets look at some similarities, and differences.

Similarities:

1. The departure of the Lord/nobleman, and return after a long time. In the Luke account the nobleman is leaving to receive a kingdom and return.
2. The varying abilities of the servants. In this week’s parable, the master does not give the same amount of money to every servant – but according to their ABILITY. And He is proven right! In Luke’s account, every servant is given the same amount – but note that the varying amounts received back, clearly reflect those servants differing abilities/work ethics.
3. One servant that caused a LOSS (the interest a bank would have paid). This servant receives censure, even though on the face of it, it ‘seems’ the nobleman/lord has not lost anything. All other servants either matched or exceeded what was given to them. Doing nothing was the exception in both cases.
4. In both parables it is the master’s money. It does not come out of the servant’s paycheck, but is explicitly given to him by the master to be managed. In both parables, it is written that the master is trusting these servants to manage his goods while he is away.

Differences:

1. The amount of resources entrusted. Varying numbers of Talents in one, and the same amount (1 mina) to every one
2. The punishment. In this weeks parable, the servant is not only called WICKED and LAZY, he is actually punished by not just losing his deposit, but being cast out into darkness. In the parable in Luke, the servant is called WICKED, but it is the citizens that will suffer for their insubordination.

What about the characters themselves? Who could they represent?

1.The Nobleman/Lord is easy.That is Christ, so no points there.
2.The Servants - The Disciple/Apostles or just disciples in general?
3. The citizens who would not have the Lord rule over them – people of the world.
4. What does the talent or mina signify? It is given by Christ, and he is looking for a return on his investment!

So, now, what do you think the key message of the parable is? We have stirred the pot quite a little, just to get you to think a little. …

KEY MESSAGE: God’s election of you as His Servant comes with responsibilities!

Applying the parable ONLY TO the disciples that then surrounded Christ – all of them yielded fruit except Judas! Judas was the only one to cause a loss. We hear of some apostles more than others in the New Testament – but all of them brought a rich dividend back to the cause of Christ.

Applying the parable to ourselves as disciples. What have we done with the treasures of Life, Liberty, Happiness, the Word, and the Gospel of Salvation with which we have been entrusted?

These are the talents/minas! Its not just your unique abilities, spiritual gifts, etc… all of them are means/instruments to an end - How have you cooperated with the effort of growing the kingdom of God?
If you, like the servant with the 1 talent, don’t think your master has a high opinion of you, or even if you do not have a high opinion of yourself – YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT OTHERS in the cause of Christ! … and here’s the best part … whether it’s a little or a lot – you get an attaboy just the same!

Now notice, that in our parable, the Lord is no fool. He gives talents to those he expects much of. Even if he gives us all the same resource (e.g. 24 hours in a day), there are some who will use that 24 hours productively, and those that will fritter it away in idle entertainment.

Those that have responsibility over the flock of Christ --- well --- the scripture says that they should rule their own house well. “(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); - 1 Tim 3:5

Using our talents therefore is a multi-step process.
A. We have to be servants of God – disciples.
B. We have to understand and obey the rules of the kingdom in our own life! God is always productive, never wasteful, always caring, relational…. So should we be! This will help you get your own act together with His Help – and transform your life!
C. Our life can then be a witness to others, enabling us to fulfil the Masters Commission of making disciples, baptizing, and teaching to walk in obedience.

Wickedness is abusing the precious gift of God we use every day. Every breath, every heartbeat, every sunrise, every season, friends, family, food, environment…. We LIVE and MOVE in HIM but for some of us its like jellyfish on the current… are being swept along not caring or seeing. Contrast this with those who live in the joy of opening their eyes every morning, greeting every new day, and going about their Masters business with zeal and enthusiasm while it is still day, for the night is coming when no one can work.

Open your eyes! He has been with you ALWAYS… molding, shaping, tuning, correcting. Having made you His child, bought with His own son’s blood, He asks you to not treat that lightly. The same love that motivated Him to bring you to Him, should find an echo in our ability to cheerfully and truthfully tell others about the hope that is in us – through our words, but best of all, through our actions.

Hallelujah!