THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
Today I’ll be covering the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS from Matthew 25.
… & in so doing, I’ll also be briefly covering the PARABLE of the 10 VIRGINS & the PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST …
… as well as a quick mention of OUTER DARKNESS & the phrase, “weeping & gnashing of teeth” …
… all of these various parables intersect our study today in the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
SO LET’S BEGIN with READING THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, in MATTHEW 25:14-30
The PARABLE OF THE TALENTS begins: “For the Kingdom of Heaven is as …”
From the start of the PARABLE, we are told that this is a parable about the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
The meaning of this parable goes far beyond making wise investments or being good stewards of our money or talents …
… which is what most people who study this parable make it out to be.
& while being wise stewards of what God has given us is certainly a central tenet of this parable …
… in actuality, that’s just the example or analogy that Jesus uses to convey a deeper message about the Kingdom of Heaven …
Jesus says in this parable that the Kingdom of Heaven IS AS …
& in this illustration, Jesus conveys the story of a man who, about to travel into a FAR COUNTRY …
… entrusts his servants with his goods.
We have to recognize first that the MAN in the PARABLE represents JESUS Himself.
… Shortly after telling this story, Jesus was CRUCIFIED, BURIED, RISEN AGAIN, & ASCENDED to GOD the FATHER …
So the story of a MAN who is about to go to a FAR COUNTRY & leave his servants with his goods …
… is really the story of Jesus Himself going to a FAR COUNTRY, i.e. HEAVEN …
… & entrusting us, His church, with His most valuable assets …
So the CONTEXT of the PARABLE is that Jesus was shortly going to ASCEND to the FATHER …
… not to return again for a very long time …
& so He instructs his disciples through the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
… how they are to occupy their time during His absence.
You see, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to set up his MILLENNIAL KINGDOM immediately ….
But Jesus was first going to go away … like the MASTER in the PARABLE.
… the Jews didn’t know yet that His Kingdom would be fulfilled until His Second Coming.
& that’s where we are today in this time of BIBLICAL HISTORY.
… awaiting the RETURN OF THE MASTER …
… who will return again …
& demand a RECKONING of His servant, as to what we did while He was away …
So this PARABLE is really about the RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST …
& how we handle ourselves while He is away.
IN THE PARABLE, the MASTER gives 3 SERVANTS a differing amount of TALENTS …
… based on His assessment of their abilities.
To 1 SERVANT, he gives 5 talents, to another 2 talents, & to the last, 1 talent.
These were TALENTS OF GOLD.
A talent of gold was equal to 6,000 DENARI.
& a DENARI was a Roman silver coin that was first minted in 211 B.C.
10 TALENTS of Gold was equal to about 20 years of common salary.
& so each of the SERVANTS was entrusted with a certain amount …
… that the MASTER deemed was in keeping with their abilities.
The Bible says in Matthew 25:15 that every man was given: “according to his several ability.”
Later in the parable, we find out that the servant who was given the most …
… was correctly assessed by his master.
He was considered the most trustworthy, right from the start, because he was given the most.
Hid MASTER judged him correctly …
… because we learn that the SERVANT with the 5 TALENTS doubled his master’s investment …
… & turned the 5 TALENTS into 10, by being wise in business & commerce.
And the wise servant is commended for it.
The 2nd servant takes 2 talents and doubles it also, turning it into 4.
But the 3RD SERVANT, the one who his master judged to be the LEAST TRUSTWORTHY …
… the one who received only 1 talent …
… took his master’s talent, dug a hole in the ground, & buried it.
One thing that people sometimes miss is God’s foreknowledge displayed in this parable.
God – or the MASTER in this case – accurately judged beforehand who to trust with his money.
IN VERSE 19, the Bible says that the MASTER then returned “after a long time”.
Jesus knew that it would be a long time before His return & He was forewarning His disciples & His church through this Word …
… that it would be a long time before His return.
2 Peter 3:3-4 says:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
We see a picture of another servant also in Luke 12, who began to act wickedly because he thought that Jesus delayed his coming.
Luke 12:45-46 says:
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
So first and foremost, we see that the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
.. is really a PARABLE about the SECOND COMING …
… & about how we are to have FAITH & FAITHFULLY AWAIT the return of Jesus.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME …
… if we are going to see the ANTI-CHRIST arise up in our lifetime …
… and whether this will be the generation that witnesses the return of Christ.
& while things may look really dark & bleak in the world nowadays …
… there’s really no way of knowing until we are literally at that final point.
Once the ANTI-CHRIST is revealed, we’ll know … but not until before then.
& I think it might be a little bit of arrogance for us to think that we are that final generation.
God’s TIME TABLE is NOT OURS.
He’s infinitely more patient and wise than us.
But you never know. We could be that generation.
I find it interesting that JESUS did not even know the TIME or the HOUR …
… but that ONLY HIS FATHER knew the time and hour …
… revealing a clear distinction between GOD the FATHER & GOD THE SON …
Matthew 24:36 says: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
The fact also that this PARABLE is in MATTHEW 25 reveals that it is about Jesus’ Return & about His coming Kingdom …
… because the entire chapter of Matthew 24 is focused on the RETURN OF CHRIST also …
And Jesus just continues his discourse with His disciples about the End-Times in CHAPTER 25.
& SO THE MASTER OF THE PARABLE was gone for a long time …
… but now, the Bible says, he comes back to reckon with his servants …
… & to see how they did with what He entrusted them with.
THE MASTER first commends both of the good servants.
He says the same exact thing to them both in vs. 21 & 23, since both had increased his goods by 100%: “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.”
There are rewards to be had for the faithful.
Being entrusted with something as small as the unrighteous mammon of this world …
… they were then entrusted with great riches …
… as a reward for both their FAITH & their FAITHFULNESS.
It takes a MEASURE of FAITH to do what the GOOD SERVANTS did …
BUT THE SERVANT WHO HID his master’s goods, only made excuses …
… & not only that, but he shifted the blame of his own shortcoming onto his MASTER.
In v. 24 & 25, the wicked servant responds with: “… 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.”
Notice that the WICKED SERVANT was afraid …
… whereas the GOOD SERVANTS had faith enough to try to increase their master’s goods.
& unlike the GOOD SERVANTS, THE WICKED SERVANT misjudged his master’s character …
… because he didn’t really KNOW Him.
So he made excuses instead.
& so the MASTER harshly reprimands him. He says in v. 26:
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.
Some people think that you can stay neutral in this life …
… neither doing good nor bad … & still being pleasing to God.
But that’s not how God sees it.
As a Christian, you’re either increasing your MASTER’S GOODS …
… or your squandering it.
There’s no in between.
God expects us – AS CHRISTIANS – to be FAITHFUL with what He’s entrusted us with.
& the most important asset that He’s entrusted the Christian with is the GREAT COMMISSION.
If you’re not preaching the Gospel & doing GOOD WORKS & trying to find somewhere to contribute as a Christian …
… don’t expect Jesus to say, “Well done good & faithful servant”.
& this, of course, isn’t just a parable about money & investing …
… but about GOD & the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
In this parable, Jesus IS the MASTER …
… and there are 2 TYPES of SERVANTS listed:
Good & righteous servants (who are the saved in this parable) …
& the wicked servant (who is actually a picture of the unsaved).
This parable is ultimately about ETERNAL REWARDS in HEAVEN for the BELIEVER …
… & ETERNAL JUDGMENT & DAMNATION for the UNBELIEVER.
We know this because notice what happens to the WICKED SERVANT next, in v.30: “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
& some people get confused on this part of the parable …
… because on the SURFACE it sounds like Jesus is teaching works-salvation …
… that 2 servants were faithful, and 1 was not …
… and it was the unfaithful servant who was through into Hell.
& people also assume that because they’re all called servants …
… that they are all saved.
… but what you really have is a picture of 2 saved servants, who are not only saved …
… but are also doing God’s will, serving God, & being FRUITFUL as Christians.
& so they are REWARDED in HEAVEN w/ ETERNAL RICHES.
& they are also ENTRUSTED w/ more.
And these 2 servants are able to be faithful, because they are saved.
They have the foundation of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3, which covers the doctrine of eternal rewards at the judgment seat of Christ …
… says in v. 11, before any rewards are mentioned: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
But then we have a picture of an UNSAVED, WICKED SERVANT who is is FAITHLESS & is therefore unable to do good works …
… who is cast into Outer Darkness.
The wicked servant lacks faith, and he misjudges the character of the Master.
Now, whenever the Bible mentions OUTER DARKNESS & WEEPING and GNASHING OF TEETH …
… it’s referring to Hell.
In Matthew 8:11-12, Jesus says that “the children of the kingdom”, referring to unsaved Jews … will be cast into outer darkness:
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
In another parable, the Parable of the Wedding Feast, in Matthew 22 …
… we see another unsaved person thrown into outer darkness.
Let’s read the PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST, in Matthew 22:1-14:
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The guest without the wedding garment was unsaved.
The wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ …
… bug the unsaved man had come wearing his own clothes …
… which represented his own works, rather than putting on Christ.
The unsaved man without the wedding garment stood out as someone who didn’t belong at the Wedding Feast …
… & he too was thrown out into OUTER DARKNESS.
We also see the phrase, “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” often repeated whenever “OUTER DARKNESS” is mentioned.
WEEPING & GNASHING OF TEETH is also always a reference to what happens to people in HELL.
Speaking of the unsaved, wicked, Jesus says in Matthew 41-12:
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
…
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus said to unsaved Jews in Luke 13:28: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”
So clearly, every time WEEPING & GNASHING of TEETH is mentioned …
… it’s a reference to the UNSAVED in HELL.
Why would anyone think it’s any different in the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS?
These parables consistently show us that OUTER DARKNESS is a place for the UNSAVED …
… that it is a picture of Hell.
But people get confused because in the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, Jesus refers to all of them as SERVANTS.
But you can be an unsaved servant or at least think you’re serving Christ.
(There will be many people who thought they were serving Christ, but Jesus will say to them, I never knew you).
Matthew 7:22-23 is a case in point:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Besides, being a servant (doing good works & obeying God) is not what saves you …
… putting your faith in Christ does.
Genuine service to God can only happen AFTER you are saved.
So the WICKED SERVANT from the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS wasn’t really serving Christ, was he?
He only thought he was.
What did he actually do?
All he did was hide the TALENTS …
… he lacked FAITH to do anything with it.
So the PARABLE OF TALENTS, really comes down to FAITH.
THE 2 GOOD SERVANTS, had faith in their MASTER …
… & had faith enough to SERVE their MASTER & trade with his money in order to multiply it.
The WICKED SERVANT lacked FAITH.
Instead he FEARED.
We also know that the WICKED SERVANT was UNSAVED …
… because the other PARABLES surrounding the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS also contrast the SAVED w/ the UNSAVED.
& the pattern that we see when Jesus speaks in parables back to back …
… is that they are often either telling the same story in a different way …
The Parable of the 10 VIRGINS precedes the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
… & it too is a picture of the SAVED vs. the UNSAVED.
Matthew 25:1-13:
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
And then we get to the PARABLE OF TALENTS, in v. 14:
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.
Notice that there’s a FOR there … FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AS …
… that means that the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS is continuing …
… or expanding on the meaning of the PARABLE that came before it.
& so in the PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS, we have 5 WISE VIRGINS & 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS.
These are young unmarried women who are going to meet their BRIDEGROOM …
… who in this parable, represent Christ.
& the only difference between the 5 wise & the 5 foolish virgins …
… is that the wise had OIL in their LAMPS when they went to meet the BRIDEGROOM …
… & the foolish had NO OIL in their LAMPS.
& when the BRIDEGROOM delayed His coming until MIDNIGHT …
… the 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS were not prepared for His return, because they had no OIL in their LAMPS.
But the 5 WISE VIRGINS had OIL, & therefore LIGHT by which to see & welcome their BRIDEGROOM.
This LIGHT represents the LIGHT OF CHRIST & the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
& while the FOOLISH VIRGINS went to buy OIL in the middle of the night …
… the WEDDING went on w/out them …
… & THE DOOR WAS SHUT against them.
Notice what the VIRGINS said & how the BRIDEGROOM responded.
Matthew 25:11-12 says:
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
This is the same thing that JESUS says to the UNSAVED in Matthew 7.
“I KNOW YOU NOT” – or “I NEVER KNEW YOU”.
THE POINT of all these PARABLES towards the end of the GOSPEL OF MATTHEW …
… is about being PREPARED for JESUS’ RETURN.
They all have to do with the coming KINGDOM OF GOD.
We know that because MATTHEW 24, the chapter before the parable of the talents …
… is a clear END-TIMES chapter …
In Matthew 24:42-51, Jesus warns people about being ready for His return:
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Again, we have a picture of a GOOD SERVANT (Good by the MERIT of having the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST) …
vs. a WICKED, UNSAVED SERVANT …
People get confused by these verses, and think they have to do with WORKS & RIGHTEOUSNESS …
… but it’s a contrast between the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST imputed unto the GOOD SERVANTS by FAITH …
… vs. the WICKED WORKS of the UNREGENERATE.
Finally, right after the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
… Jesus describes that separation of the SHEEP & GOATS at the end of the world …
… Again, a picture of the SAVED vs. the UNSAVED.
Matthew 25:31-34 says:
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
…
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
So the PARABLE of the TALENTS itself is sandwiched in between 2 other parables in Matthew 25 …
… that both compare the SAVED to the LOST at the moment of Christ’s return.
THAT’S the CONTEXT.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the WICKED SERVANT is UNSAVED in the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.
But now that we’ve gotten ALL of that out of the way …
… the CENTRAL POINT of the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS …
… is Jesus admonishing us to have faith & …
… as a person of faith … to be a FAITHFUL SERVANT …
Jesus teaches in this parable, that when we are FAITHFUL in what God has entrusted us with …
… He will trust us with more.
Jesus says in Luke 16:10: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Faithfulness to God is always rewarded, according to the Bible.
David said in 1 Samuel 26:23: “The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness:”
Proverbs 28:20 says: “A faithful man shall abound with blessings:”
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2:
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
To one of the 12 churches in the Book of Revelation, Jesus said, in Revelation 2:10: “… be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
It’s not enough to be saved.
We are commanded to be FAITHFUL …
… & in so doing, we will receive a GREAT REWARD from JESUS HIMSELF.
You can get saved, do nothing, & still go to heaven.
That’s the FREE GIFT.
But Jesus wants us to BE FAITHFUL & to do GOOD WORKS …
… after salvation …
Jesus wants us to be FAITHFUL STEWARDS of what He has entrusted us with in this life!
He doesn’t want us to WASTE our talents & to SQUANDER away our resources.
WHEN I WORK at my SECULAR JOB …
I do it with the same ZEAL that I would as though I’m working for God.
I strive to be excellent in all that I do …
… from the smallest of things to the greatest …
Colossians 3:23-24 is one of the verses I really took to heart when I first got saved and it has served me extremely well:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
We’re commanded to do EVERYTHING as though we are doing it for the LORD …
& it is God who will see what we do & how we do it …
… & reward us.
The PARABLE OF THE TALENTS ends w/ the WICKED SERVANT having EVERYTHING TAKEN from him …
… & being CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS … or HELL.
This is explained in Matthew 25, v. 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.”
As brother Marshall pointed out recently in a sermon …
… unbelievers receive blessings from the LORD right now in this life …
… God gives them food & clothing & shelter & loved ones to share it all with …
Matthew 5:45 says: “… for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
… but when the wicked die, even that which they thought they had will be taken away from them …
… there will be no more mercy or blessing in Hell.
Jesus says the same thing earlier in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13:10-12:
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
CONTINUE to be FAITHFUL in the little things that God has given you …
God desires to BLESS YOU WITH MORE both in this life & in heaven …
… but first you have to be TESTED & PROVEN …
… you have to prove that you can HANDLE MORE …
… by being faithful with the little things that God has given you.
The meaning of this parable goes far beyond making wise investments …
… that’s just the example or analogy Jesus used to convey a deeper message about the Kingdom of God …
… & about being prepared for His return …
Let’s make sure that when we meet Jesus, we will hear the blessed words:
… Well done, thou good and faithful servant.