The Parable of the Talents concludes a series of Parables in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse on the theme of readying ourselves for the Lord’s Return. This parable introduces an additional element concerning the works that accompany a true saving faith. We are saved by faith but a faith that doesn’t express itself in kingdom activity will not lead us into God’s Kingdom. Such a faith is not really faith at all.
3. THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM
SERMON OVERVIEW
Similarity Separation Ejected
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Matthew 25:14-15
SIMILAR
RESPONSIBILITIES
5. The Talents
• The “talanton” was a
weight which varied
between 50-100 pounds.
• It could be a talent of
gold, silver or copper with
varying values.
6. A More Precise Calculation
6000 denarii (days wages) =
1 Talent
•1 Talent = 20 years wages
•2 Talents = 40 years wages
•5 Talents = 100 years wages
7. The Bottom Line
•1 Talent = 20 years wages
•2 Talents = 40 years wages
•5 Talents = 100 years wages
All 3 servants were entrusted
with a fortune!
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SEPARATE
ABILITIES AND
CHARACTER
Matthew 25:15-27
10. What separates the servants?
• They have differing abilities.
• They have differing work ethics.
11. What separates the servants?
• They have differing abilities.
• They have differing work ethics.
• They experience differing
outcomes from their labor.
12. What separates the servants?
• They have differing abilities.
• They have differing work ethics.
• They experience differing outcomes
from their labor.
• They have differing assessments of
their Master.
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EJECTED
Matthew 25:28-30
14. A Difficult Question
Is Jesus insensitive to or
unaware of the plight of
the deserving poor?
15. 1. We prepare ourselves for
the Lord’s Return through
diligent service NOW!
IMPORTANT LESSONS
18. IMPORTANT LESSONS
4. Saving faith is a working
faith. Those who try to
coast into Heaven will be
cast into Hell!
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Editor's Notes
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
Matthew 25:14-30
You may remember that Pastor Ryan preached on this parable in a New Year’s message in 2020. At first, I felt that twinge, wondering whether it was too soon to preach this text again but not wanting to skip it. Two things reassured me to go forward. The first… Christmas and Easter come every year and we don’t skip them! And secondly, and by far my greatest reassurance, I often can’t remember what I had for supper last night. In all seriousness, the repetition is good for us. This is not just some text we’ve read before. It’s God’s Word and it always speaks to us.
One of the commentators whom I’ve rarely quoted because he’s a bit too liberal is R.T. France. I absolutely loved his title for this parable. France called it “The Parable of the Slaves Entrusted with Lots of Money.” That title really gets to the heart of Jesus’ Parable of the Talents.
Once again, Jesus is driving home this theme of the delay of His second coming, telling another parable with a very similar structure. However, the Parable of the Talents will introduce a new and very important element defining the difference between where you will spend eternity. The stakes couldn’t be higher. We will begin by looking at the similarity between three slaves, all servants of a wealthy businessman. We will then see a point where the three are separated into two uneven groups, two faithful and one unfaithful servant. And then we will, once again see the Master’s judgment. Last week we saw that the foolish bridesmaids were greeted by a closed door. They couldn’t enter. This week we will see a faithless servant ejected from his position and something far worse.
Similar Responsibilities
Mt. 25:14-15
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
The Talents
The “talanton” was a weight which varied between 50-100 pounds.
It could be a talent of gold, silver or copper with varying values.
A More Precise Calculation
1 Talent = 20 years wages
2 Talents = 40 years wages
5 Talents = 100 years wages
The Bottom Line
All 3 servants were entrusted with a fortune!
Separate Abilities and Character
Matthew 25:15-27
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[e] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
What separates the servants?
They have differing abilities.
They have differing work ethics.
They experience differing outcomes from their labor.
They have differing assessments of their Master.
Ejected
Matthew 25:28-29
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
A Difficult Question
Is Jesus insensitive to or unaware of the plight of the deserving poor?
Jesus is not countenancing business practices that enable the wealthy to become wealthier at the expense of the deserving poor. He is laying down a principle of the spiritual life, a principle of great importance. Anyone who has a talent (using the word in the modern sense) of any kind and fails to use it, by that very fact forfeits it. By contrast, anyone who has a talent and uses it to the full finds that that talent develops and grows.45 This is a law of the spiritual life, and we neglect it at our peril. (Leon Morris)
We prepare ourselves for the Lord’s Return through diligent service NOW!
Your view of God will impact your service to Him greatly!
Complaining, excuses and blame casting don’t work now or in eternity!
Saving faith is a working faith. Those who try to coast into Heaven will be cast into Hell!