The Parable of the Talents
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 25:14-30 New King James Version
Matthew 25:14 “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.
Matthew 25:15 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.
Matthew 25:16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
Matthew 25:17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
Matthew 25:18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
Matthew 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
Matthew 25:20 “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.’
Matthew 25:21 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.’
Matthew 25:22 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.’
Matthew 25:23 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.’
Matthew 25:24 “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.
Matthew 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
Matthew 25:26 “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.
Matthew 25:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
Matthew 25:28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
Matthew 25:29 ‘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.
Matthew 25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Jesus told this parable immediately after His longest teaching about His return (Matthew 24) followed by The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and prior to more teaching on the final judgement of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46). This parable should also be understood in that light.
Seven Certainties from The Parable of the Talents:
1. Jesus has gone away to Heaven“like a man traveling to a far country” (Matthew 25:14).
2. Jesus has entrusted “his goods to” His followers to manage for His kingdom’s sake (Matthew 25:14).
3. Each person has been entrusted with resources “according to [their] own ability” (Matthew 25:15-18).
a. talent n. — a large monetary measurement (of varying weights) equal to 6000 drachmas or denarii; may never have been minted as physical currency.
b. A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer[1]
4. Jesus will return “after a longtime” (Matthew 25:19).
a. Matthew 25:5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
5. When Jesus returns, we will have to give an account of how we have used the resources entrusted to us for His Kingdom (Matthew 25:19).
6. Those who are faithful, will be commended (Matthew 25:20-23).
7. Those who are faithless, will be condemned (Matthew 25:24-30).
a. Matthew 25:24 “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.
b. Matthew 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
i. Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
c. Matthew 25:26 “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.
d. Matthew 25:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
e. Matthew 25:28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
f. Matthew 25:29 ‘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.
i. Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
g. Matthew 25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
i. Unprofitable - pertaining to not being useful—‘useless, not useful, worthless.’[2]
h. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains(electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 623). New York: United Bible Societies.