In Matthew, this is especially clear in 12:40; 24:27, 37. 12:6; 1 Cor. 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 that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. The joy that was before our Lord would seem to include the salvation of lost sinners (Luke 15:4-10). The Parable of the Talents. 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. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lords money. 283 We should recall that Eve was given her own kind of labor (Genesis 3:16). 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). Retirement is thought of more in terms of the golf course than finishing our course in the Pauline sense (2 Timothy 4:7). To give that up would be to hold him in contempt., This quote highlights that in the end, all talents are given by God to glorify him. Wells The Invisible Man where a foolish theologian suggests a strangers problem is he only has one talent. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. You have been faithful with a few things. By faith, have you entered into His labor, His saving work on your behalf on the cross of Calvary? 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 it is his view of his master, and thus the work his master has assigned. 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. in 1971. The Parable of the Talents. This story is called the Parable of the Talents. 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. Jesus' stories had more than one meaning. Playlist: Go to the Parable of the Talents (topic) playlist . This is like one of those reality TV shows where people compete for money to invest in a project, only with a different agenda. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions. 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. If we loved our Master, we would view our labors for Him as joy. 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. 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. I believe that this parable focuses on four major themes: resources, work, time and profit. Then he went away. 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. 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. an ounce) was nearly equivalent to 400 of our money. I am suggesting that the way some Christians look forward to, or practice, retirement is a form of burying your talent. When the third servant appears, hes done nothing with the money. The first servant has made the biggest return (10 minas from one mina, or 10 talents from five talents). I am now inclined to say that verse 13 fits best with verses 14-30. Verse 15. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made. Works are the result of faith, not a substitute for faith. See, you have what is yours. 26 But his master answered, Evil and lazy slave! Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV - The Parable of the Talents - "For the - Bible Never, other than in our text (according to most versions), is it employed to begin a new paragraph. 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. Most of us find it hard to un-crack, especially given the third servant gets punished for doing nothing. In the parable of the talent, there are two clear references to time. Today a talent might be worth a million dollars! Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. I now see the answer, which appears to be consistent with all of the places where this principle is set forth. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his . It is as though he had said, I knew you were unreasonable, and that there was no way to please you, and so I decided not even to try.. The element of work. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities ("talents" in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. 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). Bible Stories Explained: The Parable of the Talents (King James Version) 5 The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. Retirement is that period in life when one no longer has the distraction of having to work for a livelihood. 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)? 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. 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 ). It was not until after the fall of man that mans labor became toil: 17 But to Adam he said, Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat from it, cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; [John 15:2], NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. third servant hides what was entrusted to him. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 276 Needless to say, bankers and banking were not the same in those days. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. Have you come to see that so far as your salvation is concerned, all of your works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-20)? On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. 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. 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). The Bible makes it clear that we dont really own our gifts. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)? It is a time when one should have the wisdom of age, financial freedom, and flexibility. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:8-10). Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? (Luke 14:34). The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. He is evil in the sense that he is useless, or unprofitable. Notice how this same word279 is used in Matthew 7: In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad [literally rotten] tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17, emphasis mine). If this is the case, and we are to be at work until He comes, then why do we think that reaching a certain age entitles us to cease our labors for Him? wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Talents. 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). But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. Dennis Rainey. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. At this point we would probably do well to look at work from a broader perspective; we should consider work from the beginning of time to eternity future. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. ESV Text Edition: 2016. 4:10]. 3 And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. The original text is quite clear here it is the first servant (and we assume the second, as well) who immediately sets to work with his masters money. 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). Indeed, they accused Him of being a wicked sinner, more worthy of death than Barabbas. It has taken a while for the thrust of this parable to come into focus for me. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. Matthew 25:23 - The Parable of the Talents - Bible Hub 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. Working hard for the profit of the kingdom and the King is entering into the joy of our Master. 5 Noelle Kirchner, The Generosity Of God 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Romans 8:18-22). 2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. I wonder how many of us are simply giving back money that we have not put to use. Is this not the way that our Lords adversaries looked at Him? What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? Enter into the joy of your master. 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be (N)a hard man, reaping (O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. 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. Before he goes, the master brings his servants together (three in the Matthew version, 10 in the Luke version). 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. Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents (or the Talents' parable) to his disciples. ESV Holy Bible for Kids, Softcover Economy Edition, ESV Large-Print Value Thinline Bible--soft leather-look, navy with mosaic cross design, ESV Student Study Bible, Trutone, Green with Mosaic Cross Design, ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, chestnut, Fire Bible ESV Version, Soft Leather-look, Slate/Charcoal. And,. After centuries of Israelites seeing themselves as Gods only favored people, he opened things up for Gentiles to become co-heirs (Ephesians 3:6). 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21). 27. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28) Lets begin with the end result profit. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. 30And cast the unprofitable servant (L)into the outer darkness. The bankers in verse 27 represent other faithful people to whom the man could have turned to help him use his talents wisely. I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. The third servant was fearful and hid the one talent he was trusted with, returning just one talent to his master. In the Matthew version, he gives one servant 10 talents (or bags of gold), another five talents, and the third one 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. 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. Jesus uses the Parable of the Talents to help us understand our calling as Christians and our responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory and honor! 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. The words are in their substance like those in St. Matthew, but their absolute identity with those in the lesson drawn from the parable of the Unjust Steward (see Note on Luke 16:10) is every way suggestive.This parable is connected with that as its natural sequel and development. 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). Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. 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. Eventually, he tells his sister he will go to the Olympics and then to the mission field, because both honor God. Parable of the talents or minas - Wikipedia Speed and thrust increase. All rights reserved. For less than $5/mo. 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. Jesus was also the stone rejected by builders, yet he became the capstone (Matthew 21:42). It seems safe to deal with the first two servants together, since they are so similar. He does not require us to make bricks without providing both the clay and the straw. Indeed, it is used to explain what has been said before. 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. Only the soil that produces a crop is good soil. ), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 271 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. Matthew 25:14. 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. Thus, evangelism is one form of spiritual profit. He didnt even hand the money over to bankers,276 to let them go to work with it. Matthew 25:14-30. What, then, is the root of this third slaves problem? 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? Read the full Bible passage of this story below and find related articles, videos, and audio sermons to help your understanding of this biblical lesson. The second slave presents his master with four talents. As we conclude, we should focus on what this parable is really about. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 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. retirement has become a socially acceptable form of burying ones talent. Im not saying that one should never cease their employment nor end their career. The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed (Matthew 25:24, emphasis mine). first two servants are commended and go to heaven; the third is condemned and goes to hell. 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas? As his grand finale, the man reached in and pulled the tigers whiskers. 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. The third slave is an entirely different matter. third servant claims that he was afraid of his master. How does not knowing the day or the hour affect either the five wise virgins or the five foolish virgins? NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. 4:11], [Matt. 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. Neither group knew when the groom was coming. 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. (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up (Hebrews 12:1-3, emphasis mine). Christians will spend all eternity at work, and this work will include ruling with our Lord and praising Him. 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. The element of time. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. And so I will conclude by asking you this, my friend: Do you know and love the Master, Jesus Christ? The one who gets the biggest return on investment gets the big promotion. Nicholas P. Constasobserves that early Greek church fathers described this event as Jesus tricking the devil, using his humanity as a lure to catch his adversary. This was paradise, my friend, and thus their work was not drudgery; it was a delight: 8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. His entertainment was to torment one of the tigers. The master told them to care for his money and the first two servants used the talents to trade and gain profit. But none of them adequately explain it. Heaven is not a hammock; it is not a glorified vacation. New American Bible the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 17And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. To offer, give; I put, place. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! ~ Excerpt from Matthew Henry Commentary. 12:11; Eph. The Topic of Teenagers Open Heavens for Saturday 4th March 2023 Is "Parable of The Talents I".