19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return283 (Genesis 3:17-19). They seemed to delight in serving their master, and they were eager to get to work quickly to produce a profit for him. He gives each of them some money. 20 For the creation was subjected to futilitynot willingly but because of God who subjected itin hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of Gods children. 27So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. It is the continuation of fruitful, profitable labor. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. In other words, the third slave looks upon his master as wicked, harsh, and impossible. Lets call this aspect of profit exaltation. Yet is this not what our Lord is teaching us in this parable? Here, (P)you have what is yours. 26But his master answered him, You (Q)wicked and (R)slothful servant! Heaven is not to be thought of as me laying beside the pool, sipping a tall, cool one, as one of my fellow elders commented this past week. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? The talents were distributed on the basis of ability, not as the bestowing of ability. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy. As I was teaching the parable of the virgins, I could not see how verse 13 served as any kind of conclusion to the first 12 verses. Start FREE. When the third servants excuses are set aside, it becomes evident that this man is lazy he didnt do any work. It is used in 1 Samuel 25:3 to describe Nabal, Abigails husband, who is a stubborn fool.281 Isaiah (48:4) uses this term to describe Israels abstinence. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. 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. Parable of the Talents 3 And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. He admits he buried it in the ground because he was afraid to use it (Matthew 25:24-25, Luke 19:20-21). If we were to make an equation of this parable, it would probably go like this: Resources (talents) + Labor (work) + Time = Profit. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. in 1971. 16 Then he that had received the five . The first servant has made the biggest return (10 minas from one mina, or 10 talents from five talents). The third servant did not invest his masters money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. But Abraham said, Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish (Luke 16:25). Never, other than in our text (according to most versions), is it employed to begin a new paragraph. 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! 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). What is it that you want Him to find you doing when He returns? Some were saying, He is a good man, but others, He deceives the common people (John 7:12). 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Thus, evangelism is one form of spiritual profit. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). But this term is also used of that which is useful or beneficial: 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Our labors for the Master should increase, not diminish, if we are kingdom minded. Then he went on his journey. Please consider their relationship to our text, and to money, time, labor, and profit: 1 To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead. The Parable of the Talents should encourage us and challenge us to take what God has given us and invest in the kingdom of God. 15To one he gave five (D)talents,[b] to another two, to another one, (E)to each according to his ability. 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. He has granted the time and the resources for men to make a profit for the kingdom of heaven, until He returns. All rights reserved. What can we learn from the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge? 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. Faith Talk Ministries, Faithful to the End It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well . 2 Samuel 7:1-3 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; , 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader, 1 Chronicles 22:1-26:32 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. What is the meaning of the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents (Matt. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven. It has taken a while for the thrust of this parable to come into focus for me. 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). 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). 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 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. (1) Verse 13 does not really seem to fit with verses 1-12, or to contribute to their message. Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice. By faith, have you entered into His labor, His saving work on your behalf on the cross of Calvary? It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. As we conclude, we should focus on what this parable is really about. He gives each of them some money. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! In the New Testament, the term "talent" meant something very different than it does today. Look, there you have what is yours.. Salem Media Group. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works: 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. There is only one who is good. 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). If we seek to shun the work our Lord has given us, it betrays a wrong attitude and relationship with our Master. Wells The Invisible Man where a foolish theologian suggests a strangers problem is he only has one talent. 4:7; 1 Pet. "Parable of the Talents" Bible Craft Demonstration Use these hands-on learning activities when teaching from Matthew 25:14-30, where Jesus told the Parable of the Talents. 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. Is the salvation of lost sinners not profit in the eternal sense? 19Now (H)after a long time the master of those servants came and (I)settled accounts with them. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. man goes to another country, stays a long time, and then returns. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. A small gain could have been obtained without great risk or effort on the part of the slave, but he chose to do nothing at all. This is only speculation. Matthew 25:14-30 : The Parable of the Talents. Wrap a gift a number of times to create a few layers. He does no work for a lengthy period of time and thus is useless. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 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. Jesus made it clear that His return would not be immediate, but after much trouble and the passing of a considerable period of time. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made. 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. It is a time when one should have the wisdom of age, financial freedom, and flexibility. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. While interest could not be charged of fellow-Israelites, it could be charged of foreigners (see Deuteronomy 23:19-20). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? Start FREE. 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. The story in Matthew 25:14-30 unfolds as such: A man goes away on a trip. 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. But none of them adequately explain it. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, [1] each according to his ability. Faithful saints are given even greater responsibilities, and even more work. After all of Jesus' teaching, the disciples, although still limited in their knowledge and understanding, knew for sure that Jesus was to restore His Kingdom to Israel ( Acts 1:6 ). This story is called the Parable of the Talents. As a businessman takes pleasure in making a profit, so our Lord takes pleasure in the profit gained by His faithful servants in His absence. Used by permission. The parable of the talents is one of those Bible stories most of us know, yet its hard to understand. This slave does absolutely nothing with the talent that has been entrusted to him, nothing but bury it, that is.277 We need to distinguish between his excuses and the masters assessment, both of which are conveyed in our text. [15]And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every . Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). The Bible makes it clear that we dont really own our gifts. 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. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats? 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. 30And (T)cast (U)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:1-4). master. One man may design a church building, a cathedral. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel. All rights reserved. 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. There is a great reward waiting for those who steward well with what the Lord has given them. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. 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. 4:11], [Matt. Therefore, the master represents Christ, while the three servants represent those who serve him. Its been referenced in many placeseven odd places like H.G. Read: MATTHEW 25:14-30. Since help was available to him in the Church, the man had no excuse. 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. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.) 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). 26But his lord answered and said to him, You (J)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 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. 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. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. One. 3:21; 21:7], Matt. The element of time. He entrusted him with money, money suited to his abilities. I am not arguing against retirement in the economic sense. Indeed, it is used to explain what has been said before. first two servants are faithful; they are praised by their master and are given greater authority. If we loved our Master, we would view our labors for Him as joy. This rest is not the end of all labor, however: Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11). 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. The only difference seems to be in their abilities, and thus in the talents that were entrusted to them. 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. Is this not cause for rejoicing (see Acts 11:19-24)? 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions (Matthew 24:45-47). As I thought of this slaves attitude toward his master, I was reminded of this passage in the Book of Exodus: 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert. 2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? Such labor is, to a large degree, entering into the joy of our Master. 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. 272 I am assuming that the second servant acted just as quickly as the first, because our Lord tells us that he acted in a similar manner. In this show, one boss brings several employees into a room, gives them each cash, and tells them to invest to grow his corporation. Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. It may be that you are not like the first two slaves, but like the third. No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. 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. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! He does not go to work with his masters money, over a lengthy period of time, and thus make a profit. The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). of Entering into the joy of our Master is, in the context of our text, entering into profitable labor for all eternity. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Enter into the joy of your master. 22 The one with the two talents also came and said, Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 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? What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? a certain weight or 'talent'. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. How is it that the one who does not have has something taken from him? 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. The Bible makes it clear there is no sacred versus secular work in the way we often think. 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). (2) Many of the commentaries acknowledge the abruptness of verse 14 as the first verse of a new paragraph. Unfaithful service led to condemnation, the removal of ones stewardship, and an eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness, away from the presence of our Lord. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. The third slave is lazy, and thus useless, as opposed to being hard-working, and therefore useful. 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? 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). Those who are unfaithful lose not only their reward, but their stewardship. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once . Heavens work will be joyful labor. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 25:16 Immediately he who received the five talents (Matt. First, the master stayed away for a long time (Matthew 25:19). Inductive Bible study of Jesus' parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. master tells his unfaithful servant that he should have put the money in the bank. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. See, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! In the King James Version, it is rendered therefore 263 times and then 197 times. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. This is his excuse for doing nothing. 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. ), [Rom. The whole parable is found in Matthew 25:14-30. Playlist: Go to the Parable of the Talents (topic) playlist . As his grand finale, the man reached in and pulled the tigers whiskers. READ the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. man allocates his resources to servants, expecting them to make a profit in his absence. This is probably a sermon in itself perhaps even a book. Assuming, for the moment, that the slave was correct in his assessment, why would he not be motivated by his fear to seek a profit for his master? So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 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. 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? 278 Actually, the good slave is both morally good and useful, but his usefulness is emphasized most in the context. It was his hope that in doing something spectacular he might receive a gift or donation. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. The apocalyptic context is underscored in Lukes version, where people try to keep the master from becoming king and are killed for their rebellion. Neither group knew when the groom was coming. 11 If then you havent been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? These verses are the opening to what is known as the parable of the talents. Let us listen carefully then, looking to Gods Spirit to enlighten our hearts and minds, and to empower our service, to the glory of God and our eternal good. 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? In the Matthew version, he gives one servant 10 talents (or bags of gold), another five talents, and the third one talent. 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). Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. It is the end of the curse, and thus the end of futile labor. However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. 4 But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. 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. Have you trusted in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and in His death at Calvary for your sins, rather than in your works (Romans 3:21-26)? Heaven involves work, but it is profitable work. 4:10]. 271. First of all, let us be clear that we are not talking about salvation by works. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. The Parable of the Talents 21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure spiritual profit? Theparable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. Renny and Marina McLean, The Lord Teaches Us to Profit Retirement is thought of more in terms of the golf course than finishing our course in the Pauline sense (2 Timothy 4:7). We should carefully note the outcome of faithful service, and of unfaithful service, in this parable. Luke there are ten servants; in Matthew, there are only three. Also the description of the last judgment. 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. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!. The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30, impresses on them the weight of that responsibility and the serious consequences of neglecting to understand and apply His instructions. For less than $5/mo. Verse 15. 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. 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. In other words, Luke informs us that Jesus told this parable specifically to correct some misconceptions about the time of His return. For example, this story is about talents which was a super large amount of money in Bible times. Different. In that place (V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
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parable of the talents verse