the real lesson behind the parable of the talents (part 1)

8/4/2019 The Real Lesson Behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

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TheRealLessonbehindtheParableoftheTalents(Part1)

JoshuaLoke August23,2011

TheRealLessonintheParableoftheTalents

Matthew25:14-30

WearegoingtolookatoneofthemanyparablesofJesustoday:theparableoftheTalents.Butbeforewediveintoit,letusremindourselveswhataparableis.Aparable,accordingtodictionary.comisashortallegoricalstorydesignedtoillustrateorteachsometruth,religiousprinciple,ormorallesson.Withthisinmind,wewanttobelookingforthespiritualtruths,fortherewillbemorethanone,embeddedinthisparable.

Forthepurposeofourdiscussion,Iwillonlymakeafewbriefcommentsaboutthefirstpartoftheparableandthenspendtherestofourtimeonthesecond.

Thisparableisaboutamasterwhoisabouttoembarkonajourneytoafarawayplace.Assuch,heapportionshispossessionsamonghisservantsbeforehisdeparture.Tooneofhisservantsthemasterentrustsfivetalents;toanotherservantthemasterentruststwotalents,andtothethirdheentrustsone.

Nearlyeverypreacherwhohaseverpreachedonthisparablehasinterpretedthetermtalenthereallegorically.Itisamistake;theyoughttohaveinterpreteditliterally.InTheValueoftheBiblicalTalent,MaxLucadowrites:

Beforetalentmeantskill,itmeantmoney.1

Whatisthevalueofatalent?Lucadoelaborates,saying:

ItrepresentedthelargestunitofaccountingintheGreekcurrency10,000denarii.Accordingtotheparableoftheworkers,adenariusrepresentedadaysfairwages(Matt.20:2).Multiplyyourdailywageby10,000,andyoudiscoverthevalueofatalent.Ifyouearn$30,000ayearandyouannuallywork260days,youmakeabout$115aday.Atalentinyourcaseisvaluedat10,000times$115or$1,150,000.

Basedonthis,whatthethirdservantreceivedonesolitarytalentwasnosmallamount.Manyofuswouldnotexpecttosee,muchlesspossessamillion

dollars.Correspondingly,thefirstandsecondservantreceived5and2milliondollarsrespectively.

Youmusthavenoticedbynowthatthethreeservantswerenotgiventhesamenumberoftalents:onefive,theothertwo,andtheotherone.Whywasit?Wasthemasterimpartial?Mayitneverbe!TheBiblerevealsthatthemasterdistributedhispossessionstohisservantsaccordingtotheirabilities.

Althoughwearenottoldthatthemastergaveinstructionstotheservants,wecanassumethatsomeinstructionsweregiven.Hence,weseethefirsttwo

1TakenfromThecureforthecommonlifebyMaxLucado,pages54-55


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servantsimmediatelygoinganddoingsomethingwiththetalentstheywereentrusted.

AsChristians,wetoohavebeengiveninstructions.Wehavebeengivenourmarchingorders;ourassignments;ourmissioninlife.Considerthefollowing

versesofScripture:

Forwearehisworkmanship,createdinChristJesusuntogoodworks,whichGodhathbeforeordainedthatweshouldwalkinthem.(Ephesians2:10)

Seethenthatyewalkcircumspectly,notasfools,butaswise,Redeemingthetime,becausethedaysareevil.Whereforebeyenotunwise,butunderstandingwhatthewilloftheLordis.(Ephesians5:15-17)

Romans12:2:Donotbeconformedtothisworld,butbetransformedbytherenewalofyourmind,thatbytestingyoumaydiscernwhatisthewillofGod,whatisgoodandacceptableandperfect.

Hebrews10:36:Foryouhaveneedofendurance,sothatwhenyouhavedonethewillofGodyoumayreceivewhatispromised.

IJohn2:17:Andtheworldispassingawayalongwithitsdesires,butwhoeverdoesthewillofGodabidesforever.

AsIhavepromised,Iwillonlymakeafewcommentsaboutthefirstpartoftheparableandfocusonthesecondpart.IwillreservethesubjectofGodsWillforourlivesforanothersession.

ThesecondpartoftheparablewhichIwantustofocusonisthepartwherethemasterreturnsandcallshisservantstogiveanaccountofthetalentstheyweregiven.Thefirsttwoservantshaddoubledwhattheyweregiven:fromfivetotenandfromtwotofourrespectively.Theywereconsequentlyhandsomelyrewardfortheirexcellentperformance(welldone)andfaithfulness(faithfulservant).Themasterscomplimentfaithfulservantdenotesthattheservantshadadheredtohisexplicitinstructions.Onceagain,thisunderlinestheimportanceofknowingwhatGodhasinstructedustodo.OnceagainIwillresistthetemptation(toyourdispleasure,Imsure)todelveintothatsubjecthereandnow.

Asareward,theservantsweremaderulersovermanythings.Whatthese

manythingsareisclearlyrevealedbyLukeinhisgospelaccount.Lukeshowsusthattheservantsweregivenauthorityovercities(Luke19:17and19).Shouldthisbetakenliterally,orallegorically?ThecardinalruleinBibleinterpretationstatesthatweshouldinterpretScriptureliterallyfirst.TheotherrulestatesthatwemustallowScripturetoexplainScripture.Inthiscase,wewillletthebookofRevelationtoshedsomelightontheparableinquestion.

InRevelation1:6and5:10,JohnsawinavisionGodssaintsreigningontheearthaskingsandpriests.TheninRevelation20:4,JohnalsosawandwrotethatthosewhohaveneitherworshippedthebeastnoraccepteditsmarkwereraisedupandmadetoreignwithChristathousandyears.Thisconfirmsthatwhatwe

readintheParableoftheTalentsthatthefaithfulservantsofChristwillbe


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maderulerswillliterallytakeplace.Itwillhappenduringthethousand-yearreignofChristontheearthafterHisreturn.

SecondComingofChrist

IamtakingthisdetourforthebenefitofthoseofyouwhoareunfamiliarwithwhattheBiblesayswillhappenafterChristreturns.MostChristiansbelievethatthesaintswillberapturedwhenChristreturns.Right.TheyalsobelievethatthesaintswillmeetHimintheclouds.Right.AfterthatChristwilltakethemhometoheaven.Wrong.InsteadofgoingUPtoheavenaftermeetingChristintheclouds,thesaintswillreturntotheearthwithHimtojudgethenationsthathavebeenpossessedbyevilspirittoriseupagainstIsraelatArmageddon.

AndIsawthreeuncleanspiritslikefrogscomeoutofthemouthofthedragon,andoutofthemouthofthebeast,andoutofthemouthofthefalseprophet.Fortheyarethespiritsofdevils,workingmiracles,whichgoforthuntothekingsoftheearthandofthewholeworld,togatherthemtothebattleofthatgreatdayofGodAlmighty.AndhegatheredthemtogetherintoaplacecalledintheHebrewtongueArmageddon.(Rev16:13-14,16)

Thenoutoftheblue,thisstatementappears:

Behold,Icomeasathief.Blessedishethatwatcheth,andkeepethhisgarments,lesthewalknaked,andtheyseehisshame.AndhegatheredthemtogetherintoaplacecalledintheHebrewtongueArmageddon.(Rev16:15)

ItisfamiliartousbecausePaulspokeaboutthecomingofourLordaslikeathiefcominginthenight(1Thess5:2).Sothisstatementisaclueaboutwhen(nottheexactdateandtime)Christwillreturn.

Oncethesaintshavebeenraptured,theseventhbowlofjudgment,themostterribleofthemall,willbepouredout.

Andtheseventhangelpouredouthisvialintotheair;andtherecameagreatvoiceoutofthetempleofheaven,fromthethrone,saying,Itisdone.Andtherewerevoices,andthunders,andlightnings;andtherewasagreatearthquake,suchaswasnotsincemenwereupontheearth,somightyan

earthquake,andsogreat.Andthegreatcitywasdividedintothreeparts,andthecitiesofthenationsfell:andgreatBabyloncameinremembrancebeforeGod,togiveuntoherthecupofthewineofthefiercenessofhiswrath.Andeveryislandfledaway,andthemountainswerenotfound.Andtherefelluponmenagreathailoutofheaven,everystoneabouttheweightofatalent:andmenblasphemedGodbecauseoftheplagueofthehail;fortheplaguethereofwasexceedinggreat.(Rev16:17-21)

Revelationchapters17and18speaksaboutthefallofBabylon.Sowefastforwardtochapter19andpickupthesequenceofeventsrelatedtoChristsreturn.Inthefirstpartofthechapter,weseethesaintswhohavebeenraptured

givenfinelinen,cleanandwhitetowear,whichrepresentsrighteousness.


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AndIheardasitwerethevoiceofagreatmultitude,andasthevoiceofmanywaters,andasthevoiceofmightythunderings,saying,Alleluia:fortheLordGodomnipotentreigneth.Letusbegladandrejoice,andgivehonourtohim:forthemarriageoftheLambiscome,andhiswifehathmadeherselfready.Andtoherwasgrantedthatsheshouldbearrayedinfinelinen,cleanand

white:forthefinelinenistherighteousnessofsaints.(Rev19:6-8)

Next,Christreturnstotheearth,ridingonawhitehorse,withanarmyofsaintswithHim.HeandHisarmydestroysthenationsthathavegatheredatArmageddon.

AndIsawheavenopened,andbeholdawhitehorse;andhethatsatuponhimwascalledFaithfulandTrue,andinrighteousnesshedothjudgeandmakewar.Hiseyeswereasaflameoffire,andonhisheadweremanycrowns;andhehadanamewritten,thatnomanknew,buthehimself.Andhewasclothedwithavesturedippedinblood:andhisnameiscalledTheWordofGod.And

thearmieswhichwereinheavenfollowedhimuponwhitehorses,clothedinfinelinen,whiteandclean.Andoutofhismouthgoethasharpsword,thatwithitheshouldsmitethenations:andheshallrulethemwitharodofiron:andhetreadeththewinepressofthefiercenessandwrathofAlmightyGod.Andhehathonhisvestureandonhisthighanamewritten,KINGOFKINGS,ANDLORDOFLORDS.AndIsawanangelstandinginthesun;andhecriedwithaloudvoice,sayingtoallthefowlsthatflyinthemidstofheaven,ComeandgatheryourselvestogetheruntothesupperofthegreatGod;Thatyemayeatthefleshofkings,andthefleshofcaptains,andthefleshofmightymen,andthefleshofhorses,andofthemthatsitonthem,andthefleshofallmen,bothfreeandbond,bothsmallandgreat.AndIsawthebeast,andthekingsoftheearth,andtheirarmies,gatheredtogethertomakewaragainsthimthatsatonthehorse,andagainsthisarmy.Andthebeastwastaken,andwithhimthefalseprophetthatwroughtmiraclesbeforehim,withwhichhedeceivedthemthathadreceivedthemarkofthebeast,andthemthatworshippedhisimage.Thesebothwerecastaliveintoalakeoffireburningwithbrimstone.Andtheremnantwereslainwiththeswordofhimthatsatuponthehorse,whichswordproceededoutofhismouth:andallthefowlswerefilledwiththeirflesh.(Rev19:11-21)

Afterthis,Satanwillbeboundandcastintothebottomlesspitforathousandyears.Duringthistime,ChristwillreignontheearthfromJerusalemandHissaintswithHim.

AndIsawanangelcomedownfromheaven,havingthekeyofthebottomlesspitandagreatchaininhishand.Andhelaidholdonthedragon,thatoldserpent,whichistheDevil,andSatan,andboundhimathousandyears,Andcasthimintothebottomlesspit,andshuthimup,andsetasealuponhim,thatheshoulddeceivethenationsnomore,tillthethousandyearsshouldbefulfilled:andafterthathemustbeloosedalittleseason.(Rev20:1-3)

Andfinally,thejudgmentofthesaintswilltakeplacewhererewardsaregivenout,namelytheauthoritytorulewithChristathousandyears.


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AndIsawthrones,andtheysatuponthem,andjudgmentwasgivenuntothem:andIsawthesoulsofthemthatwerebeheadedforthewitnessofJesus,andforthewordofGod,andwhichhadnotworshippedthebeast,neitherhisimage,neitherhadreceivedhismarkupontheirforeheads,orintheirhands;andtheylivedandreignedwithChristathousandyears.(Rev20:4).

Probation

CertainChristians(andIstresscertain)willbemaderulers(governors,mayors,etc)ofcities;someone,sometwo,somefive,andsometen.ThenumberofcitiestheywillbemaderulersofwilldependonhowtheyhaveperformedduringtheirlifetimebeforeChristsReturn.Performedinwhat?

Ifyoucould,imaginewithmeascenariowhereyouareapplyingforajob.Typically,immediatelyafteryouhavebeengiventhejob,youwouldbeputonprobationforafewmonths.Basedonyourperformanceduringthisperiodoftime,thecompanywilldecidewhetherornottotakeyouinmorepermanently.Inthesameway,everyChristianisonprobationintheirlifetimes.Theirperformanceduringtheshortspanoftheirlives(inparticular,theirworkinglife)willdeterminewhattheirrewardwouldbeinChristskingdom.GodiswaitingtoseehowwearehandlingtheworkwearegiventodotodecidewhetherornotwehavewhatittakestobecomekingsinHiskingdom.

TheideathatGodputsHisservantsonprobationisnottotallyabsurd;itisactuallyScriptural.Inhisletter,PaulinstructsTimothytoappointasOverseers(tothechurch)thosewhohavemanagedtheirownhouseholdswell(1Tim3:4).Thesameisrequiredofthosewhowouldbedeacons(verse12).Theprinciplehereisthis:whenyouhavebeenfaithfulinalittlething,youwillbegivengreaterthings,andwhenyouhaveprovenyourselfcapablewithasmallthing,Godwillthenentrustgreaterthingstoyou.

Interestingly,asasidenote,Pauldoesnottakeintoconsiderationonesstatusintheworldorsuccessinbusinesswhenappointingleadersforthechurch.This,Ibelieve,isbecausethechurchismorelikeafamilyratherthanacorporation.Regrettably,mostchurchestodayresemblemorelikethelatterthantheformer.

Listentome:youareonprobationforthebiggestjobintheworld.Youhavethepotentialofbecomingarulerofcities.Thisshouldmakeyoutakeyourwork,yourcareerseriously,yetwithadifferentperspectivefromtherestoftheworld.Thisisbecausetheworldisinterestedinbecomingkingsonly.Theywanttoruleandlordoverothers,andsinceMoneyisPower,theystrivetomakeasmuchmoneyaspossible.ThisshouldnotbetheperspectiveofaChristianonwork.

AstotheLord

ThisunderstandingwilladdnewmeaningtotheverseAndwhatsoeveryedo,doitheartily,astotheLord,andnotuntomen(Colossians3:23).Thisverse


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doesnotmeanthatthethingswedo,ourjobsforexample,aretobedoneFORtheLordbecausethereisnothingwecandoFORGod.Rather,wearetodoitASTOtheLord.ItmeansthatwearetodoourworkinsuchawaythatwouldpleaseGod,andnotourhumanbosses.

Icanalreadyhearsomesaying,IfIdontpleasemyboss,Iwillnevergetthatpromotion.

Well,thinkaboutthis:Ourhumanbossesforgetveryeasily.ButGodisnotunrighteousnesssuchthatHeforgetsyourworkandlabouroflove(Heb6:10).

Furthermore,theBibleexhortsusNOTtolookatthingsseenbutatthethingsunseenforthethingswhichareseenaretemporal;butthethingswhicharenotseenareeternal(2Cor4:18).Asattractiveastheearthlyrewardsare,likethatpromotionyouarehopingfor,theyareonlytemporal,veryshortlived.ButtherewardsoftheLordareeternal.Asyoucontemplateonwhichoneyouwould

ratherhavemansrewardorGodsconsiderthewordsGodencouragedAbrahamwith:

AfterthesethingsthewordoftheLORDcameuntoAbraminavision,saying,Fearnot,Abram:Iamthyshield,andthyexceedinggreatreward.(Gen15:1)

AsChristians,asservantsoftheMostHigh,allourlabor,allourstrivingshouldbesolelyfortherewardoftheLord.Paul,theapostle,hassetanexampleforustofollow.TothePhilippineshewrote:

Brethren,Icountnotmyselftohaveapprehended:butthisonethingIdo,forgettingthosethingswhicharebehind,andreachingforthuntothosethings

whicharebefore,IpresstowardthemarkfortheprizeofthehighcallingofGodinChristJesus.(Phil3:13-14)

Withoutadoubt,Paul,byhimself,hasdonemorethananyoneofus.Yet,heisnotcomplacent;heknowsthathewouldbeamanmostpitiedifhemissedthemarkbyonlyonepoint.Aslongasthereisbreathinhim,hewouldcontinuetodowhatGodhasappointedandanointedhimtodopreachthegospel.Andwhentheendwasnear,hewasfullofconfidencethathewouldreceiveahandsomerewardfromtheLord.

Admittedly,mostChristiansarefamiliarwiththisverse.Yet,fewaredoingwhat

itsayspressingtowardthemarksothatwemayattaintheprize,ahighcallingofGod.

Priests

WhenChristestablishesHiskingdomontheearth,HewillmakesomeofHissaintskings,andotherspriests.

WhywouldChristneedpriestsinHiskingdom?

WeknowfromtheOldTestamentthatoneoftherolesofapriestistoteachthelawsofMosestothepeople.FromIsaiah2,wefindoutthattheteachingand


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preachingofGodslawswillgoonlikeneverbeforeduringtheonethousand-yearreignofChrist

ThewordthatIsaiahthesonofAmozsawconcerningJudahandJerusalem.Anditshallcometopassinthelastdays,thatthemountainoftheLORD'S

houseshallbeestablishedinthetopofthemountains,andshallbeexaltedabovethehills;andallnationsshallflowuntoit.Andmanypeopleshallgoandsay,Comeye,andletusgouptothemountainoftheLORD,tothehouseoftheGodofJacob;andhewillteachusofhisways,andwewillwalkinhispaths:foroutofZionshallgoforththelaw,andthewordoftheLORDfromJerusalem.Andheshalljudgeamongthenations,andshallrebukemanypeople:andtheyshallbeattheirswordsintoplowshares,andtheirspearsintopruninghooks:nationshallnotliftupswordagainstnation,neithershalltheylearnwaranymore.(Isa2:1-4)

ThiswillresultinthefinalandtotalfulfillmentoftheGreatCommissiongivenby

ChristinMatthew28:19-20.

ApriestintheOldTestamentwasalsoresponsibleforthestorehousesofGod.Thestorehouseistheplacewherethetithesandofferingsofthepeoplearestored.InMatthew24:45-47,wereadaboutsomebeingmaderuleoverallofhisgoods.Whoarethesepeople?TheyarethefaithfulandwiseservantwhomChristhasmaderuleroverhishousehold,togivethemfoodindueseason.SoundslikepastorsandteachersoftheWord,doesntit?

IfIcannotbeakinginChristskingdomwhenHecomesagain,atleastIwillbeapriest.Whatwillyoube?

the real lesson behind the parable of the talents (part 1)

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