Springs Of Life Bible Church

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		The Talents

KINGDOM PARABLES OF JESUS
Matthew 25:14-30
Parable of the Talents

INTRODUCTION
The parable of the talents teaches that there is going to be a day of reckoning when we will have to give an account to the Lord.

To the unbelieving Jews present, it spoke of them as not being stewards of the law of God, which called on them to trust in Christ as Messiah, the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4

To the believing Jews and Gentiles who were present, it spoke of their stewardship of the gospel and whether they had truly repented; believed on Christ and were bringing forth fruits of repentance to prove it. Romans 2:7-11

Paul is not teaching that we are saved by works but that true saving faith produces works of obedience, done out of love for the Master. James 2:14, 17

Works without faith in Christ are dead works and equally faith in Christ without works is dead faith.

THE PARABLE ITSELF
Jesus spoke of men who were given talents by their master (one talent equaled a worker’s annual wage).

The first servant was given five talents; he used them to gain five more.
The second servant was given two talents; he used them to gain two more.
The third servant was given one talent; he buried the talent in the ground and gained nothing.

To the first and second servant the master said: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

To the third servant who made nothing from the talent given him the master said: “Throw out this worthless servant into outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The negligent servant was judged, but not for failing to gain as much as those who had been given more. He was judged for failing to use what he had to gain anything. Even what he did have was taken from him and given to the servant who had ten talents. For his negligence and disobedience, he was condemned.

The negligent and disobedient servant (he didn’t invest the talent as his master had commanded him) used the master’s character as an excuse for failing to do what the master expected.

The master said to the disobedient and slothful servant that if he was right about his master’s character, he should have worked all the harder. He called him wicked and lazy—wicked because of his audacity to blame the master for his dreadful situation and lazy because it described his worthless character.

The servant was worthless to the master. He was cast into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

LESSON AND APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE
The parable of the talents is set in the framework of Jesus’ teaching on his return and the end of the age.

The parable teaches that during the absence of Jesus, His professing followers are expected to work diligently to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God in doing the Father’s will.

On the Day of Judgment, some professing believers will hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant, come and share your master’s happiness.”

Other professing believers will hear the words, “throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And that for eternity!

The religious leaders of Israel were entrusted with a sacred deposit; many of them the failed, however, to put it to proper use. They were content to return it to God saying, “We have kept the Law.” But they failed to see the Law as their instructor to lead them to the riches of God’s grace and righteousness in Christ.

While a number of professing believers were good and faithful stewards of the gospel of God’s grace, bearing much fruit for the glory of God, and proving to be Christ’s disciples, others produced no fruit and proved to be imposters. John 15:1-2, 6, 8

In this parable we see the perfect portrait of the tares among the wheat in the visible church. These unsaved religionists, who did not bear fruit for the glory of God, will one day hear the words from the Master: Throw out the worthless servant into outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Knowing this, should we not do as Peter says and “make our calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10)? 2 Peter 1:5-8, 11