Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made. a certain weight or 'talent'. 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Verse Concepts. Matthew 25:15. Mat Mt). This gift is for us to share with others through our words and actions. The third servant was fearful and hid the one talent he was trusted with, returning just one talent to his master. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:1-4). 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. Some say that it was the equivalent to 20 years wages for a common laborer.275 We must remember, then, that a talent is a measure of money; it is not a reference to abilities. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. Weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness must, on the other hand, involve spending eternity without God, and without joy. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. The term employed in Matthew 25:16 emphasizes work. But the master did provide the means for his slave to make a profit. 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). Specifically, I am speaking of Matthew 25:13: Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13). 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. Works are the result of faith, not a substitute for faith. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. Neither group knew when the groom was coming. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents (or the Talents' parable) to his disciples. Theparable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. The fact the master owns the money he gave the servants, and he gets the results of their investments, highlights who is in control. 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. Jumble. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. 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. 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Sharon Jaynes, Make the Most of Your Talents 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). gained. The parable of the talents is one of those Bible stories most of us know, yet its hard to understand. From kerdos; to gain. Indeed, it is used to explain what has been said before. It is a simple story that our Lord tells here. Our labors for the Master should increase, not diminish, if we are kingdom minded. Enter into (M)the joy of your master. 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more. 23His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. 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? Did this third slave think that there would be no reward for his faithful service because his master was a hard man? third servant claims that he was afraid of his master. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. If we seek to shun the work our Lord has given us, it betrays a wrong attitude and relationship with our Master. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Theres afamous scene in the movie Chariots of Fire where future Olympian Eric Liddell feels a tension between his chance to be an Olympic runner and his calling to be a missionary in China. Beyond this, His return would come at a time when it was not expected (Matthew 24:44). The masters return presumably refers to the last days when Jesus will return, and at the final judgment unrepentant sinners will perish and those served God will be rewarded according to their actions (Revelation 20:11-15) (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). In Acts 1:9-11, their understanding is greatly enhanced: In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Our Lords rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees is often couched in stewardship terms. While interest could not be charged of fellow-Israelites, it could be charged of foreigners (see Deuteronomy 23:19-20). It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. Our Lords teaching in the parable of the talents is that God expects profit that is the product of our labors. He, too, doubled the money his master left in his care. 19Now (H)after a long time the master of those servants came and (I)settled accounts with them. 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). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Yes, there are official positions for certain church tasks (preaching, evangelizing, teaching, etc.) And so he simply hid the money, and now he returned it, without any gain. 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. Does verse 13 belong with verses 1-12, or with verses 14-30? And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. First, they receive their masters commendation, Well done, good and faithful slave (verses 21, 23). Second, the faithful servants immediately went to work to increase their master's money ( Matthew 25:16-17 ). Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 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. Matthew 25:14-30 "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. Tounderstand this parable, we need to look at the parable in the context of Jesus surrounding teachings and the Bibles other teachings about giftings. Heaven can hardly be described in terms of retirement. 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[ a] and entrusted to them his property. This servant came to his master with only the talent his master had originally entrusted to him. 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. Lets begin with the end result profit. Parable Of The Sower Further Parables Parables Parable Of The Pharisee And Publican Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Parable Of The Net Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard Parable Of The Tenants Parable Of The Good Samaritan Parable Of The Lost Sheep/Lost Coin Parable Of The Prodigal Son Parable Of The Wedding Banquet Parable Of The Fig Tree Rich Man And Lazarus Parable Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector Parable Of The Ten Virgins Parable Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower Parable Of The Tares Parable Of The Marriage Feast Parable Of The Great Supper Parable Of The Vineyard Talents Jotham By A Parable Rebukes Them, And Foretells Their Ruin Nathan's Parable Of The Ewe Lamb Causes David To Be His Own Judge Prophet, Under The Parable Of A Prisoner, Under The Parable Of A Vineyard, God Excuses His Severe Judgment His Incomparableness Idols Are Not Comparable To God For Power By The Parable Of Bottles Filled With Wine He Foretells Their Drunkenness In Misery Under The Parable Of A Wretched Infant Is Shown The Natural State Of Jerusalem Under The Parable Of Two Eagles And A Vine Lamentation For The Princes Of Israel, By The Parable Of A Lion Whelping In A Pit For Jerusalem, Under The Parable Of A Wasted Vine Under The Parable Of A Boiling Pot Parable Of The Sower And The Seed Parable Of The Weeds Explanation Of The Parable Of The Weeds Parable Of The Hidden Treasure Which He Sets Forth By A Parable Of The King Who Took Account Of His Servants, Jesus, By The Parable Of The Laborers In The Vineyard, Shows That God Is Debtor Unto No Man Rebukes Them By The Parable Of The Two Sons, Parable Of The Marriage Of The King's Son Parable Of The Ten Virgins, Of The Talents Parable Of The Sower, Parable Of The Seed Growing Secretly Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Tenants Illustrates The Matter By The Parable Of Patches. Then he went away. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. One man may design a church building, a cathedral. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. We find this same principle stated in connection with the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18). Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. For you were bought at a price. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. Rick Warren, Be Faithful in Small Things In short, the talents represent what God has given usour monetary resources, our callings to positions within the church (Ephesians 4:11-16), our natural giftings. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 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. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. man goes to another country, stays a long time, and then returns. a certain weight or 'talent'. 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. He is not harsh, nor does He require that we do the impossible (make a profit where He has not provided the means). John Driver points out in his book Parable Church that at 2018s average household incomes, one talent would be about $1.2 million. I believe this may be the case in our text. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas? The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. But this work is joyful. Im not saying that one should never cease their employment nor end their career. Two of the slaves seem eager to show their master what they have accomplished in his absence. Our Lords emphasis here is not on putting the money to work, but on the servant going to work with his masters money. Lets call this aspect of profit exaltation. Its also preceded by a story about a servant not using his position well while the master is away. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him (Matthew 25:29; see also 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26). Then he went away. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. Heaven is not a hammock; it is not a glorified vacation. READ the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The one who does not have but yet does have (because what he has is taken away) is the one who has his masters money, but has made no profit from it. Also the description of the last judgment. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! of Used by permission. Then he went on his journey. My study of this text has caused me to conclude that the paragraph breaks related to our text are confusing at best, and wrong at worst. Pharaoh was a harsh master. He demanded that the Israelites make bricks, but he refused to supply them with the necessary materials. The only difference seems to be in their abilities, and thus in the talents that were entrusted to them. Why, then, did the third slave do nothing? To offer, give; I put, place. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. The Bible makes it clear there is no sacred versus secular work in the way we often think. Other, another (of more than two), different. There is a great reward waiting for those who steward well with what the Lord has given them. Is this not fruit? I wonder how many have given serious thought to what might be called the theology of retirement. I would like to challenge every Christian to rethink the subject of retirement. 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. This is only speculation. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. 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? 280 Old Testament references here are to the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. 12:6; 1 Cor. 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. In our text, the good slave is the useful or beneficial slave, for he has gained a profit for his master.278 He is also faithful because he has been at work with his masters money from the time he left until the time he returned. Most of us find it hard to un-crack, especially given the third servant gets punished for doing nothing. 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. I am suggesting that the way some Christians look forward to, or practice, retirement is a form of burying your talent. 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. A poor man (a sort of enterprising beggar, perhaps) was busy entertaining the visitors to the zoo. Speed and thrust increase. We know that God expects us to grow over time, and that He is displeased when we fail to grow: 11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Goda mature person, attaining to the measure of Christs full stature (Ephesians 4:11-13). The story in Matthew 25:14-30 unfolds as such: A man goes away on a trip. We have the most valuable gift of all, the Word of God and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Handed down. 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. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? For this story about a master and his servants, understanding the culture of Jesus' original audience is necessary to comprehend His message. Is this not cause for rejoicing (see Acts 11:19-24)? ), [Rom. So, in modern terms, the ten servants each got $16,665. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure spiritual profit? These verses are the opening to what is known as the parable of the talents. Come and share your masters happiness! (Matthew 25:21). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Two Sons? He swallowed up death (1 Corinthians 15: 54) in a victory that involved him getting killed. First, the master stayed away for a long time (Matthew 25:19). The second and third soils represent those who initially show some interest in the gospel, but then reject it when the meaning of the gospel becomes clear. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. We would probably do well to compare this text with a couple of passages in the Gospel of Luke: 16 So the first one came before him and said, Sir, your mina has made ten minas more. 17 And the king said to him, Well done, good slave! The joy that was before our Lord would seem to include the salvation of lost sinners (Luke 15:4-10). 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. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lords money. Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has three slaves. Crucially, Jesus says that both the parable of the 10 virgins and the parable of the talents are about what the kingdom of heaven will be like in the last days (Matthew 25:1,14). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Wedding Feast? This is like one of those reality TV shows where people compete for money to invest in a project, only with a different agenda. 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. 46 Bible Verses about Talents. He contended that this is why he was afraid to take a risk with any kind of investment. While there would be sufficient evidence for His followers to discern the general season of His return, neither the day nor the hour would be known (Matthew 24:32-36, 42). If Adams sin brought about painful labor for mankind, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (the last Adam 1 Corinthians 15:45) brought rest: 28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. The master is pleased with both servants and gives them new responsibilities: You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Only the soil that produces a crop is good soil. He gives each of them some money. (1) Verse 13 does not really seem to fit with verses 1-12, or to contribute to their message. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? What is the meaning of the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price? Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. 271 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. Return to your labor! 5 Pharaoh was thinking, The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor. 6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the slave masters and foremen who were over the people: 7 You must no longer give straw to the people for making bricks as before. Matthew 25:29 (NIV) ANSWERS. Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities (Luke 19:16-17). 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. This is the reason I was critical of the translation of verse 16 (see footnote 1 above). You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. Enter into the joy of your master (Matthew 25:20-21). 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. Luke, the man who went away gives each servant the same amount of money (one mina); in Matthew, talents are given to the three slaves according to their ability. Wells The Invisible Man where a foolish theologian suggests a strangers problem is he only has one talent. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). 282 I am trying to be careful here, because some works are not profitable for the kingdom, and these will not be rewarded, but will be destroyed.

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