Parable of the Talents

[Bonnie]

Parable of the Talents
Mtt 25:14-30 (There's a similar parable in Luke 19:12-28)

Verses 14 reflects the responsibility Jesus Christ (the rich man in this parable) has entrusted to us as "his own slaves" in his kingdom. Jesus long ago "went on a journey" to heaven. He has entrusted us with the treasures of his kingdom here below, and we are expected to make the most of those treasures for him.

Verse 15 shows that the Lord entrusts more to some than he does to others, and expects more of them, "each according to his ability". Christ is entirely fair about that. However he does not allow any of his slaves to be slack. Even one talent was considerable capital. A talent was a weight of about 30kg. That much gold or silver is a lot of money. So even "the one talent man" was given much more than just a token responsibility.

Verses 16-17 show how the two slaves entrusted with multiple talents "went and traded" --and there is the strong sense here that they did this with urgency and focus, and were both astute and confident in going about their master's business.

Verse 18 presents a complete contrast. The contrast is not in the amount of capital entrusted, one talent as against two, or even five. No, the contrast is rather in what was done. This slave could think of nothing better to do with the capital entrusted to him, than to bury it in a secret place! I am sure that when Jesus told that part of the story, the disciples must have laughed. What a foolish man. We have already been assured that he had the ability to trade with his master's treasures and make profit. Instead he chose to be a poor steward indeed, doing as little as he could with that treasure, short of throwing it into the rubbish bin. He did not even bother to arrange an interest-bearing deposit at the bank for his master's benefit.

Verses 19-23 describe the master's return and the day of reckoning. The slaves were summoned and asked to give an account. Two of them had done well. They had made one hundred percent profit for their master. Therefore they saw their master smile, and they heard him say, "Enter into the joy of your master". Having been faithful stewards "in a few things" they were given charge "over many things". We have already noted that the talents represented large amounts of capital and considerable responsibility. Yet the work, responsibility, and authority, that awaits the servants of Christ in heaven is going to be far greater. We will not be given anything however, unless we can give a decent account of ourselves at the end of this life.

Verses 24-27 show how the useless steward fared. On the day of reckoning all he could offer his master was the one talent returned and an insult. I have heard his statement to the master described as an "excuse". However if you care to listen to the man, he was actually not making an excuse, he was casting blame. He was saying in effect, "Master it's your fault that I did nothing for you. You are a hard and powerful man. You scared me. So what else could I do but dig a hole?" Well that did not wash with the master. He called the servant "wicked and lazy" --he had done wrong by doing nothing at all.

The condemned steward said to his master, "You reap where you do not sow, and gather where you scatter no seed". The master acknowledged that this was true. "I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scatter no seed". This saying applies to someone who receives a kingdom or an estate and takes it over, being granted absolute ownership and authority over it. Christ receives the kingdom which his Father built, and will gather the harvest from the fields and vineyard his Father planted. The Father has given Christ authority over the kingdom of heaven. Now he wants to share all that with us. Therefore he entrusts us now with a few things, according to our ability, so that he may later grant us much. By being good stewards at present, we will in the future, enter into the joy of our Master. That is something far beyond anything we deserve, yet to receive it we are expected to make the most of our present stewardship.

Verses 28-30 are chilling and awful words. I simply suggest that we read them over and over again, until the truth sinks in that Christ gives us an opportunity either to enter into his joy or be cast into outer darkness. We have to make up our minds which it will be, and what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. Will it be to do our Master's business, or will it be to dig a stupid hole?


The Wicked Tenant Farmers
Mtt 21:33-46 (See also Mrk 12:1-12 Lke 20:9-19)

Verses 33-34 describe a man who invests money in developing an acreage for use as a vineyard. He does all the planting and building, then rents the vineyard to vinedressers. The rent is to be paid in product which he will then value-add and market. He sends representatives to receive this rent.

The owner-investor is God, and the vineyard is his kingdom. In this parable, there is an historic view of the kingdom looking back at the earthly Israel and Judah. The representatives coming to collect product as rent stand for the prophets of old. The rent that was to be paid represents faith, obedience, and fruitfulness in God's kingdom. It is interesting that the rent was not in money, but in kind. Perhaps this alludes to the fact that we have nothing to pay to God to give us the right to enter into his kingdom, so he lets us in by grace, on the basis that we will yield the fruits of righteousness in due time.

Verses 35-36 describe how the representatives were murdered and abused, which is just how the prophets were mistreated.

The repetition of sending more representatives, stands for God's longsuffering in times past, and his repeated attempts to get people to respect and obey him. The repitition of the representatives being abused and murdered, illustrates the repeated disobedience, and rejection of God, by the people of old.

Verses 38-39 describe the vineyard owner sending his son, whom he hoped they would respect more than his servants. But the wanted to kill even his son, and did so.

The son in the parable stands for Christ, and the killing of the son illustrates the crucifixion of Christ.

Verses 40-41 describe the wrath of the vineyard owner. He brings his tenants to misery and ruin, and leases the vineyard to other vine dressers who will render to him the due fruits in their season.

That illustrates the wrath of God, and shows that his grace is conditional. Those who are allowed to be in his kingdom are those who faithfully render to God the fruits of righteousness. It does not matter who you are, Jew or Gentile, king or slave, black or white, male or female. If you reject God, he rejects you. If you yield to God, and render fruit to him in due season, he accepts you into his kingdom and will never cast you out. You will be allowed to remain in his kingdom for ever and ever.

Verses 42-46 give Jesus's own interpretation of the parable, and in this case he made things so clear that the chief priests and the Pharisees perceived that he he was speaking of them and their ilk.

A MINI-PARABLE Jesus also uses a mini-parable of a large stone (verses 42 and 44). If you fall down on a large rock, it may break your skin or bone. If it falls down on you, it may crush and kill you. This represents our relationship to God. If we fall upon his grace, it makes our spirit broken and contrite, we become humble and repentant (Psalm 51). However if we reject God's grace, his wrath will fall upon us, and crush us to death for ever and ever.


The Unrighteous Steward
Lke 16:1-13

The parable of the unrighteous steward would be very hard to interpret on its own. However Jesus provides no less than four morals to the parable. It is a story about as crafty a set of rascals as one could imagine. The steward, aware that his job was nearly defunct, cooked the books to get on side with his master's debtors. The debtors willingly involved themselves in his schemes. And his master, when he discovered how he had been cheated, instead of being shocked or chagrined, recognised the shrewd brain behind the shady deal, and praised the steward for it! The morals of the story are pointed out by Jesus as follows...

Verse 8 points out that the sons of light (people of God) should be as shrewd and eager in their efforts to be holy, as the sons of this world are to get money. It's a case of bad men setting a good example.

Verse 9 encourages us to use money to do good for others, and thereby benefit from it more than if we appropriate it for selfish ends. Not only will we have grateful friends, but an eternal reward.

Verses 10-12 advise us to show wisdom and trustworthiness in how we handle money (a little thing) for if we cannot do that, how shall we be wise and trustworthy in the kingdom of God (a big thing)? Those who are unrighteous when entrusted with money, would be unrighteous in the kingdom of God. So they will not be given a place in God's kingdom. They disqualify themselves from what otherwise they would be entitled to.

Verse 13 points out that no slave can serve two masters. A slave is the property of one master and solely responsible to him. The slave who serves someone else lets his master down. We cannot be a slave to God if we are enslaved to money and riches.