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. It was not the masters problem; it was the slaves problem. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. I thus take verse 13 as the first verse of this new paragraph. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. Parable of the Talents. This is like one of those reality TV shows where people compete for money to invest in a project, only with a different agenda. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Each (of more than two), every one. 12:11; Eph. 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. And if our labors are joyful, we will delight in the thought of further labor. Play a game of pass the parcel where children must try to rip off each layer when the music stops. 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. And so it is that those who over time work with what they are entrusted, in order to make a profit for their master, are rewarded for their faithfulness. Beyond this, His return would come at a time when it was not expected (Matthew 24:44). Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents (Matt. 12 And if you havent been trustworthy with someone elses property, who will give you your own? (Luke 16:10-12). Let me call your attention to the most important elements of the parable, as I now understand it. Rick Warren, Be Faithful in Small Things He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. 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. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more. 21His master said to him, Well done, good and (J)faithful servant. Renny and Marina McLean, The Lord Teaches Us to Profit You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The Parable of the Bags of Gold(A) 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,(B)who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a]each according to his ability. Thus, time seems to be a more important factor in verses 14-31 than in 1-13. It is from the use of the word "talents" in this parable that we moderns have derived its common meaning of natural gifts and endowments. He does not require us to make bricks without providing both the clay and the straw. One. The disciples ask for details about the last days, and Jesus talks about how harsh they will be, warning them to look out for false teachers and so forth. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Those who are unfaithful lose not only their reward, but their stewardship. My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die (Philippians 1:20). Therefore, the master represents Christ, while the three servants represent those who serve him. A talent was worth even more: NIV footnotes for the Matthew passage state that one talent was 20 years wages. He entrusted him with money, money suited to his abilities. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work270 and gained five more. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? Both of these faithful slaves are rewarded well for their faithful service. to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. They returned to their master with double the talents! - Unto one he gave five talents. 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). 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. Handed down. 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. It appears in Matthew 25:14-30, and another version of the parable can be found in Luke 19:11-27. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Is this not cause for rejoicing (see Acts 11:19-24)? The apocalyptic context is underscored in Lukes version, where people try to keep the master from becoming king and are killed for their rebellion. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. 4:7; 1 Pet. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him, that died for him and rose again. The story of Jesustelling this parable really begins in Matthew 24 when he mentions the coming destruction of Jerusalem. New American Bible the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. There is only one who is good. 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. 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. He doubled the money his master entrusted to him. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. ESV Text Edition: 2016. 8 But you must require of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. 273 William Hendriksen, in his commentary on Matthew, finds enthusiasm and joy in the accounting the first two servants gave to their master. 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. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lords money. (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. New King James Version (NKJV). 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. "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to . All rights reserved. 14(A)For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 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. Since help was available to him in the Church, the man had no excuse. It would probably be unwise to study the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 without also considering a similar parable in Luke 19:11-27: 11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! I am suggesting that we have come to view retirement as that time in life when we can greatly reduce or terminate our giving, and when we can cease our service. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. Thus, we can safely conclude that edification or spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven. To be away from home, go into another country, be away, be abroad. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. The day of account comes at last. If we grew up in cultures where the individual is primary, we also tend to think we can live as we please. "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. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. What is the meaning of the parable of the friend in need (persistent neighbor)? The element of profit. To offer, give; I put, place. 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. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. The first servant has made the biggest return (10 minas from one mina, or 10 talents from five talents). In other words, Luke informs us that Jesus told this parable specifically to correct some misconceptions about the time of His return. The Parable of the Talents. Sharon Jaynes, Make the Most of Your Talents 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. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 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). Such labor is, to a large degree, entering into the joy of our Master. Working hard for the profit of the kingdom and the King is entering into the joy of our Master. 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. First, they receive their masters commendation, Well done, good and faithful slave (verses 21, 23). There is also a message to all mankind. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his masters money in it. 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. Jumble. (4) The expression which begins verse 14 (Greek, w[sper ga.r) is employed 11 times elsewhere in the New Testament (Matthew 12:40; 24:27, 37; 25:14; Luke 17:24; John 5:21, 26; Romans 5:19; 6:19; 11:30; 1 Corinthians 11:12; 15:22; James 2:26). However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. 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). 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. The story in Matthew 25:14-30 unfolds as such: A man goes away on a trip. The difference is not that one group knew the hour, and the other didnt. God expects to see a profit. 13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, Do business with these until I come back. 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not want this man to be king over us! 15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. Luke 19:13,14 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come, Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. He said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? I am suggesting that the way some Christians look forward to, or practice, retirement is a form of burying your talent. Pressing this matter just a little further, if the church were to be considered a business and every member were to be viewed as an employee, how many of us should reasonably expect to keep our jobs? Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. a certain weight or 'talent'. Then he went on his journey. 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. 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!. By faith, have you entered into His labor, His saving work on your behalf on the cross of Calvary? 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 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. 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. What, then, is the root of this third slaves problem? Remember, this is a parable, and all ofJesus parables are about a bit more than they seem. 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. 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). 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.) 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? Matthew 25:15. I saw something there that both amazed and troubled me. And they were right because he praised them and invited them to join him as participants in his joy. 15 To one he gave five talents,[ b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.