How can you take something away from a person who has nothing?

Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities (Luke 19:16-17). Then he went on his journey. 14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursedcut off from Christfor the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, 4 who are Israelites.

How is it that the one who does not have has something taken from him? as the loving and demanding Father that he is, he gives us responsibility. It is a simple story that our Lord tells here.

20The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more., 21The master was full of praise. The Parable of the Bags of Gold. The master rebuked this slave for being evil and lazy. 6.

Is this not the way that our Lords adversaries looked at Him? 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? Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. In other words, the third slave looks upon his master as wicked, harsh, and impossible.

retirement has become a socially acceptable form of burying ones talent. 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. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others.

In fact, if this were to take place today, that money would likely be worth less, due to inflation.

Well talk about this a bit later, but for the moment, I am inclined to understand this expression in contrast to another in our text, And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). This is the reason I was critical of the translation of verse 16 (see footnote 1 above). 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. It is the continuation of fruitful, profitable labor.

To one he gave five talents, to another two talents and to another one talent. Therefore glorify God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20). The master wasnt obligated to give the servants anything. But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money. I am now inclined to say that verse 13 fits best with verses 14-30. 14Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. 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!. Lets call this aspect of profit exaltation. As we conclude, we should focus on what this parable is really about. which was given to the third (unfaithful) servant is taken away and given to the faithful servant who gained the most for his master.

The element of profit. Retirement is that period in life when one no longer has the distraction of having to work for a livelihood. I will end with these words from our Lord to the church at Sardis. 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. 51, that this and the next two parables were spoken to the disciples in private.

Pay back what you owe me! he demanded. Bible Meaning of Lazarus and the Rich Man

The only difference seems to be in their abilities, and thus in the talents that were entrusted to them.

The man gave each servant money according to his ability. In our parable, money is given to us to use, to work with, not just to give back.

16After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. 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. If we seek to shun the work our Lord has given us, it betrays a wrong attitude and relationship with our Master. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. Some are given more, some are given less, but all are given much. 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.

The degree to which our earthly labor has been faithful and profitable will determine the degree to which we enter into joyful labor in heaven. And the longer the master was gone, the more interest was lost by the slaves inactivity. But the master saw through this smoke screen and called the servant what he was: wicked and slothful (Matthew 25:26). 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. What is your ministry, your unique contribution to the kingdom of God? 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). To one he gave five talents, to another two talents and to another one talent. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. You have been faithful in a few things.

This is his excuse for doing nothing. The lazy servant convinced himself that to return the 1 talent (Here, you have what is yours) would be fair and square. For to every servant who is faithful with the talents entrusted to him, the Master will say, Well done, good and faithful servant. He gave each one an amount of money (talents) and expected there would be wisdom in their stewardship.

From that point on work was different; there was a certain futility to work: 18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.

It is also found in Jude 1:15 to describe the harsh words the unbelieving have said against God. Weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness must, on the other hand, involve spending eternity without God, and without joy. 23 Why then didnt you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest? 24 And he said to his attendants, Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten. 25 But they said to him, Sir, he has ten minas already! 26 I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 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. 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. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. 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. We need to pursue the element of work a bit further. He entrusted him with money, money suited to his abilities. But this parable is not really about stewarding money. If you knew I harvested crops I didnt plant and gathered crops I didnt cultivate, 27why didnt you deposit my money in the bank?

Christs global purpose to ransom people from every tribe and tongue can be summed up in his words, I have other sheep.

He said, Master, you gave me five valuable coins. I now see the answer, which appears to be consistent with all of the places where this principle is set forth.

But none of them adequately explain it. What Jesus is getting at here is that God graciously entrusts to his servants certain skills and a certain amount of power to employ them. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, 9. For example, if work is toil, a part of the curse, then is retirement just an excuse to try and escape from the consequences of sin God has decreed? This is only speculation. And someday he will hold you accountable for how you stewarded them. Start FREE. first two servants are commended and go to heaven; the third is condemned and goes to hell. In the parable of the talent, there are two clear references to time. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 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). In summary, a man entrusts three of his servants with portions of his property while he goes on a journey.

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives.

21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. Lets begin with the end result profit. In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. Jesus was in the midst of telling stories and parables expressing spiritual truths, and He told this one shortly before His death. Come, celebrate with me.. 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. Some were saying, He is a good man, but others, He deceives the common people (John 7:12). 22He 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. Yet is this not what our Lord is teaching us in this parable?

These are words we never want to hear from our Master. They were prepared - Vss. 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! What did the second servant do with his money? Webparable of the servant who buried money. Ephesians 4:32. And they were right because he praised them and invited them to join him as participants in his joy. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. 30Now take the worthless servant and throw him out into the farthest darkness..

To Jesuss original hearers, a talent meant a very large unit of monetary value.

We should carefully note the outcome of faithful service, and of unfaithful service, in this parable.

The true believer is represented by the seed that grows, that endures, and that bears fruit. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:13-30). It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. Its nearly impossible to convert the value of a first century talent into modern currency.

Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity.

17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work270 and gained five more. How different was the outlook of the first two slaves. Heaven involves work, but it is profitable work. They are richly rewarded when he comes back. What if the church were to be scrutinized as a business?

master tells his unfaithful servant that he should have put the money in the bank. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. 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.

WebHere is a brief summary of the New Living Translation version of this parable. Its found in Matthew 25, starting at verse 14. I will put you in charge of many things. WebVerse 44.

After being gone a long time, the master returns to settle up with his slaves (verse 19). Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! (E) Come and share your masters happiness!, 22The man with two bags of gold also came. It is the end of the curse, and thus the end of futile labor.

He gave one servant five talents, one servant two talents, and the third servant received one talent. Neither group knew when the groom was coming. If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7). 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. Its sobering because we know our own selfishness, that we are prone by our sin nature to act like the worthless servant who neglected his stewardship. WebThe servant who had received five bags of gold put it to use and made five bags more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. The first two servants worked hard and made more money. WebThe Parable of the Talents. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. Let this question sober you and liberate you. What, then, is the root of this third slaves problem? Christians will spend all eternity at work, and this work will include ruling with our Lord and praising Him.

WebThe parable tells us that whatever talent we have, little or great, we must lay it at the service of God. This is what we want to hear. I believe this may be the case in our text. After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. I believe that there are other texts of Scripture which indicate that God has entrusted (by common grace, in some cases) certain assets to all men, and that all men are accountable to God for how they use (or do not use) these resources which God has entrusted to them. I believe that we see this in Romans 9, where Paul speaks of the things God has entrusted Israel: 1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying! But each man doubled his masters money.