Parable of the Talents
The Parable of the Talents
Matt 25:14 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.
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.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is about Jesus’ Disciples and the work for the Kingdom
If related to today it would be three pastors and their churches
The Goal of every true pastor should be to win people to Christ, then feed them the word so they will grow and multiply the work
Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jer 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
2 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
This parable is about building the Kingdom of Heaven!
Is it not the main business of the Church to build the Kingdom of Heaven?
- First Servant was given abundance of what he needed to build a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Obvious it was a large work) He did good job doubled the work
Lu 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. 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.
- People getting saved
- Sending out missionaries
- Homes and lives changed
- Spiritual work
- Second servant was given only half as much as the first servant
He didn’t complain about what he didn’t have he used what he had to build the Kingdom of Heaven
Mr 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
- Jesus worked with one man to get him saved, Nicodemus in John chapter 3
- Jesus worked with the 1 woman at the well got her saved in John chapter 4.
- Philip in Acts Chapter 8 was having a great revival in Samaria, God called him to leave and go down to the Desert Gaza, he found one man and got him saved and baptized
- Little is much if God is in it
III. Third man is an unsaved man with 1 talent
- We know he is unsaved because he invested his 1 talent into worldliness, not in getting people saved, and God sent him to hell.
- His church would be about worldly things:
How can we make people comfortable?
How can we please the pleasure loving crowd?
How can we meet the physical needs of people not the Spiritual need?
Conclusion: What is your life counting for, is it helping to build the Kingdom or destroy the kingdom?
Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.