November 29, 2017 Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25
November 29, 2017
Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30
OVERVIEW—In ch25 the emphasis is still readiness but now the focus is on people who look like believers, and who even think they are, but who will not be ready when He comes. These three parables of ch25 are alike in the following ways: 1. The Lord’s Return is sudden and unexpected. 2. The Lord’s Return results in a division between two groups of people. 3. In each case, the people who are lost are surprised at their rejection. Here is the most striking aspect of these parables. a. The Ten Virgins – 25:1-13: The women shut out of the banquet can hardly believe that the door is closed to them. b. The Wicked Servant: The wicked servant in ch25 thinks he is OK. He thought he would be accepted for burying his master’s talent. He is astonished that he is rebuked and cast out. c. The Judgment: The goats do not understand the Lord’s disapproval (v44). All 3 parables in Ch25 are not about those visibly opposed to the Gospel. They are about people who are part of the visible church (explain/Augustine – 354-430AD). MAIN IDEA—The evidence of real faith in Christ is faithfulness to Christ. Faithfulness is always rewarded by God, unfaithfulness results in judgment. MEMORY VERSE—1 Cor. 4:2 THE TEXT: Matthew 25:14-30. The previous parables focused on readiness and this one shows one aspect of what readiness means. Watchfulness has been illustrated and now faithfulness is illustrated. The Master’s absence is not specified but it was a long time. When the master returned it was the day of reckoning – time to give an account. The first two servants both received approval – “Well Done..!” They were good and faithful, being commended for character and diligence. The actual size of their gain wasn’t as important as the fact that each had doubled the amount entrusted to them. They each gained something!
Vv26. The master does not accept the servant’s excuse and calls him both wicked and lazy – (character/lack of diligence). It was a wicked thing to accuse his master or to receive money from his master and fail to use it. The master reveals the servant’s motive – laziness – he did nothing, which reveals that his excuse was not true. Vv27. Grace never condones irresponsibility; even those given less are obligated to use and develop what they have. Vv28. Therefore – the master is not acting in a random way. The man had the money for a long time and has shown that he had no intention of ever making use of it. Vv29. To have a talent is to be responsible to use it and know that a Day of Accounting will come. This parable teaches that watchfulness does not lead to passivity but to doing one’s duty, to growing and developing the resources God entrusts to us. All believers have received something from God – we are all God’s “servants” and we all have “talents” entrusted to us – and we will all have to one day give an account. I Cor. 4:7, What do you have that you did not receive? J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), “Anything whereby we may glorify God is ‘a talent.’ Our gifts, our influence, our money, our knowledge, our health, our strength, our time, our senses, our reason, our affections, - all are talents from God. The unprofitable servant was not a murderer or a thief – he simply did nothing and this was his ruin. Let us beware of a do-nothing Christianity; such Christianity does not come from the Spirit of God.” CONCLUSION: There are other lessons for us in this parable. There is a coming judgment and works will be judged. The Ten Virgins focuses on the new birth and faith (oil of salvation) showing we are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-10 But this parable focuses on what kind of faith is needed – a living faith, for a dead faith saves no one. James 2:14-17; Romans 2:5-11 John 5:28-29 Trust in Christ—Heb. 11:6; Work for Christ—Col. 3:23-24; Glorify Christ—1 Pet. 4:10-11
Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30
OVERVIEW—In ch25 the emphasis is still readiness but now the focus is on people who look like believers, and who even think they are, but who will not be ready when He comes. These three parables of ch25 are alike in the following ways: 1. The Lord’s Return is sudden and unexpected. 2. The Lord’s Return results in a division between two groups of people. 3. In each case, the people who are lost are surprised at their rejection. Here is the most striking aspect of these parables. a. The Ten Virgins – 25:1-13: The women shut out of the banquet can hardly believe that the door is closed to them. b. The Wicked Servant: The wicked servant in ch25 thinks he is OK. He thought he would be accepted for burying his master’s talent. He is astonished that he is rebuked and cast out. c. The Judgment: The goats do not understand the Lord’s disapproval (v44). All 3 parables in Ch25 are not about those visibly opposed to the Gospel. They are about people who are part of the visible church (explain/Augustine – 354-430AD). MAIN IDEA—The evidence of real faith in Christ is faithfulness to Christ. Faithfulness is always rewarded by God, unfaithfulness results in judgment. MEMORY VERSE—1 Cor. 4:2 THE TEXT: Matthew 25:14-30. The previous parables focused on readiness and this one shows one aspect of what readiness means. Watchfulness has been illustrated and now faithfulness is illustrated. The Master’s absence is not specified but it was a long time. When the master returned it was the day of reckoning – time to give an account. The first two servants both received approval – “Well Done..!” They were good and faithful, being commended for character and diligence. The actual size of their gain wasn’t as important as the fact that each had doubled the amount entrusted to them. They each gained something!
Vv26. The master does not accept the servant’s excuse and calls him both wicked and lazy – (character/lack of diligence). It was a wicked thing to accuse his master or to receive money from his master and fail to use it. The master reveals the servant’s motive – laziness – he did nothing, which reveals that his excuse was not true. Vv27. Grace never condones irresponsibility; even those given less are obligated to use and develop what they have. Vv28. Therefore – the master is not acting in a random way. The man had the money for a long time and has shown that he had no intention of ever making use of it. Vv29. To have a talent is to be responsible to use it and know that a Day of Accounting will come. This parable teaches that watchfulness does not lead to passivity but to doing one’s duty, to growing and developing the resources God entrusts to us. All believers have received something from God – we are all God’s “servants” and we all have “talents” entrusted to us – and we will all have to one day give an account. I Cor. 4:7, What do you have that you did not receive? J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), “Anything whereby we may glorify God is ‘a talent.’ Our gifts, our influence, our money, our knowledge, our health, our strength, our time, our senses, our reason, our affections, - all are talents from God. The unprofitable servant was not a murderer or a thief – he simply did nothing and this was his ruin. Let us beware of a do-nothing Christianity; such Christianity does not come from the Spirit of God.” CONCLUSION: There are other lessons for us in this parable. There is a coming judgment and works will be judged. The Ten Virgins focuses on the new birth and faith (oil of salvation) showing we are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-10 But this parable focuses on what kind of faith is needed – a living faith, for a dead faith saves no one. James 2:14-17; Romans 2:5-11 John 5:28-29 Trust in Christ—Heb. 11:6; Work for Christ—Col. 3:23-24; Glorify Christ—1 Pet. 4:10-11
