Matthew 25:14-29

Matthew 25:14-29

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 “Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus continues to prepare His followers for His return by explaining to them about the judgments that will be associated with His second coming.  His first coming was focused on justifying.  His second coming will be focused on judging.  As with all parables, a word of caution is necessary.  We must be careful not to try to read too much into the details of the parable as a means of revealing eschatological events.  The details of how and when these judgments will take place are better determined from other passages.  This passage teaches us valuable truths about judgment, rewards and the Lord’s expectations.  These are the lessons to be learned as opposed to determining exactly how these judgments will take place eschatologically speaking.

THE RECEIVING OF GIFTEDNESS: God gives gifts to men.  These gifts come to us in the form of natural talents and ability, intelligence, spiritual gifts as well as unique opportunities.  No two people are alike in their giftedness.  This is what I believe Jesus is striving to teach in the distribution of a variety of amounts entrusted to the servants.  Out tendency is to compare our gits with the gifts of others.  This is not what the Lord would have us do.  Comparison tends to produce pride or discouragement in our lives.  Both of these are displeasing to the Lord and counter productive to us.  God determines our giftedness according to His sovereign will.  He knows what is expected of us and the opportunities we will have to serve Him and distributes gifts accordingly.  It is not our concern to question the gifts we have or really even understand the way God chooses to distribute these gifts.  Our concern must be with being faithful to use the gifts God has given us. 

THE REWARDS OF FAITHFULNESS: The servants who received five and two talents went out immediately and invested them and were able to double that which they were given.  When the Lord returned, they were rewarded with being put in charge of many things.  There are clearly not many specifics in this text, but what we can infer from comparing with other Scriptures is that we will spend the Millennial Kingdom and eternity ruling and reigning with Christ.  I am not sure exactly what that means, but it will be our occupation for eternity.  We can be sure that it will be fantastic.  God is a great Rewarder.  We honor God when we look forward to the rewards He has promised even when we don’t fully understand it.  It is a regular theme in Scripture that the Lord rewards those who are faithful so use His gifts for His glory.  God gives us gifts and opportunities and it is our pleasure to use them for His glory.

THE REPROOF OF NEGLECTFULNESS: The servant who simply buried his gifts is greatly reproved by the Lord.  The servant makes excuses about being afraid of the high standards of the Lord and almost seems to be making it the Lord’s fault that he was not productive.  This was not effective.  The servant has the talent taken away and given to the one who had been the most productive.  Then the servant is cast out of the presence of the Lord and into a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth.  This is clearly not a place anyone wants to go.  Those who are true believers will serve the Lord with the gifts He gives because He empowers them to do so by His Spirit.  Those who produce no fruit demonstrate that they are not true believers.  Christ is returning as a judge.  During His first coming He made provision that all men might be justified and reconciled with the Father.  He has made all provision for our productivity.  Those who refuse His provision will be eternally judged.

APPLICATION: Be faithful to use every gift, talent and opportunity God gives us.  Evaluate and make sure that you are of the faith.  God knows our hearts and will judge them accordingly.  Nothing is hidden from God and there will be eternal consequences for what we do with what God has given.