Eternal Rewards #12. We've gone on quite a journey with all these studies, and I wanted to go back and just touch on an area that's quite an important area, and that is: The Need for Faithfulness.
I want to look again at the Parables of the Talents and the Pounds (or the Talents and the Minas) and just approach it a little bit differently, because when Christians hear these messages, they struggle to think it might apply to them; so I want to really focus on that, and show you how, in these two parables, very clearly the focus of Jesus is on Christians, and Christian stewardship. These are not parables for the unsaved.
The two stories, Matthew 25:14-30, which is the Parable of the Talents, and Luke 19:11-27, the Parable of the Minas - they're quite similar. They look quite similar, but they really are quite different, but for what we're doing today it's quite good if you see the two together. When Jesus is teaching a parable, it's a story with a spiritual truth involved, so some of the details have specific prophetic application; while others are just part of the story, so we're going to open that up.
We'll read the Parable of the Talents, and it's in the context of Jesus teaching the sermon where He's answering questions from the disciples… What is the sign of the destruction of the temple? What is the sign of Your coming in the end times? He's talked about the destruction of the temple, and then He's gone on to give three parables: one about servants; one about the virgins, five wise and five foolish; and now He's gone on to another parable about the servants - so three parables, one after the other.
Then He talks about the end times, the judgement of the nations. So, these three parables all work together, and this one of the talents matches very closely the one in Luke 19, where He talks about the pounds. Let's read it then...
Matthew 25:14-30 - “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man travelling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability, and immediately he went on a journey.
He who received the five talents, went and traded them and made another five – a hundred-fold increase. He who received two, gained two more also. He who'd received one, went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
So, he who'd received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying: Lord, you delivered me five talents. Look, I've gained five more talents beside; and the lord said to him: well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of the lord.
He also who received two talents, came and said: Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Look, I've gained two more talents besides them. His lord said to him: well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your lord.
And he who'd received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you've not sown, and gathering where you've not scattered seed. I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. But his lord answered him and said: you wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered seed. You ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I'd have received back my own with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents.
For to everyone who has, more will be given, he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away, and cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The other parable, in Luke 19, has a little slightly different context…