The Faithful and Unfaithful
Preaching
Preaching the Parables
In the twelfth century Cistercian Abbey of Boquen in Brittany there is a madonna called by the monks, "Our Lady of Risk."
In considering today's Parable of the Talents, it may be well for us to adore and pray before the statue of "Our Lady of Risk." The parable calls for taking a risk with our lives. The main character of the parable is the one-talent man who is afraid to take the risk of investing the gift of $1000, one talent. Instead, he digs a hole in the ground and buries the money for safe keeping until the master returns. But, he is condemned for not taking the risk as the other servants did.
The point is that life consists of risks. If we are going to succeed or make progress, we must take a risk of possible defeat and death. Take a boat into the ocean and face the risk of a storm. Invest in the stock market and risk a market collapse. Take a risk of becoming a parent and face the risk of a rebellious child. Drive your car on a freeway and you risk an accident involving your death. In Clear-water, Florida there is a bumper sticker that pleads, "Pray for me. I drive on Highway 19." Prepare this sermon and you risk a dud!
Context
Context of the Scriptural Setting
Matthew 24:45-51. In the paragraph immediately preceding Matthew 25, the subject of faithfulness is discussed. Jesus asks, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant...?" The identity of the wise servant is given in the following parable of the wise and foolish girls. Who is faithful is answered in the next parable of the talents. Faithful servants are those who get returns on their gifts. To both the five-talent and the two-talent men the returned master says, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful ..."
Matthew 25. The parable of the talents (vv. 14-30) is the second of the three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. This parable, also, is related to the Parousia. According to the Good News Bible, both parables of the virgins and talents are introduced with the same phrase, "At that time." Verse 13 says we are to watch, for we do not know neither the day nor the hour. "For" (verse 14) refers to the fact that we do not know the time of the Parousia. The parables then are to be understood in the light of the Second Coming:
Parable of the Wise and Foolish - Preparation for the Parousia.
Parable of the Talents - Accountibility at the Parousia.
Luke 19:11-27. (The Parable of the Pounds) Scholars hold that the parable of the virgins and the parable of the pounds are two versions of the same parable. Both parables deal with the themes of faithfulness and accountability, but there are differences in the details:
1. Matthew's parable is related to the Parousia, but Luke has Jesus about to enter Jerusalem for the last week. Jesus tells the parable of the pounds to counteract the opinion that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately.
2. In Matthew the master going on a journey was just a "man," but Luke says the master was a "nobleman."
3. Matthew has the master giving money to three servants, but Luke has ten. Each of the ten gets ten pounds. In Matthew one gets five, another three, and another one talent.
4. Matthew does not say where the master was going or for what purpose. In Luke's account, the nobleman goes presumably to Rome to get an imperial appointmant as a governor. A group of fifty Jews goes to the emperor to speak against the appointment. However, they fail and when the nobleman returns, he exterminates those who opposed him.
5. The servant with one talent hides it in the ground. The man with one pound wrapped his in a napkin.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18) Zephaniah, a prophet during the reign of King Josiah in the 7th century, has bad news for Judah: the day of the Lord is coming, a day of wrath, ruin, distress, and devastation. The lection harmonizes with the parable of the talents which is related to the Parousia, the day of Christ's return.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) Today's lection completes the series of five selections from 1 Thessalonians. In keeping with the other two Lessons, Lesson 2 deals with the day of the Lord, the Parousia. Christ will come when least expected. But Christians, who are of the Light, need not fear, for they are not destined for wrath but for salvation.
Gospel (The Parable of the Talents) Before going on a journey, a man turns over his property to his servants. Each of three gets an amount according to his ability. He leaves without ordering them to invest the money and make a profit. Perhaps this is implied when he entrusted his property to them. Two of the men doubled the money by the time the master returned. Now the spotlight is turned on the one man with one talent. Because he hid the talent in the ground, he had only the money given him. For this he was condemned and his talent was given to the man with five talents.
Psalm. (Psalm 76) The Lord, terrible in his wrath, is to be feared.
Prayer of the Day. We pray that, by keeping in mind the end of all things and the day of judgment, we may live holy lives here and with Christ forever in the world to come.
Hymn of the Day. "Forth In Thy Name, O Lord, I Go" This Charles Wesley hymn is a prayer to know Christ in daily labor. It is fitting for the parable of the talents - going to work to make the most of what God has given us.
Context of Related Scripture
Matthew 13:44 - A treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 18:23f - A time of reckoning.
Mark 14:3-9 - "She has done what she could."
Luke 5:1-7 - "Launch out into the deep."
Luke 12:41-48 - To whom much is given, much is required.
Luke 13:6-9 - A non-bearing fig tree.
Romans 12:6-8 - A variety of gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Gifts of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:7 - Treasure in earthen vessels.
Content
Content of the Parable
1. Perspective of Jesus. The content of the parable may be seen from Jesus' telling the parable to the people of his day. He is not speaking of his future return but of the problem facing the nation at the time. We see him confronted by his opposition: Pharisees, scribes, and priests. They represent the ultra-conservatives of his day. They are interested only in maintaining the status quo which keeps them in power. They bury the Law under their many rules, regulations, and traditions. They fail to launch into the deep with new ideas and ventures for the Kingdom. He is calling for adventure, risks, and new paths. God has entrusted the religious leaders with the treasure of truth, but they do nothing but hide it in the ground. Through the parable Jesus teaches that this will bring nothing but disaster to the nation.
2. Perspective of the church. Matthew records the parable in the perspective of the needs and situation of the apostolic church. The parable says to the church: "To everyone who has will more be given." (v. 29) The church has been given the precious treasure of the Gospel. The church is the steward, the one entrusted with God's "property." (v. 14) Every person is given a share of that treasure and is responsible for increasing it. The one who does nothing with it will have it taken away from him/her. The church is to extend the Gospel, make good use of it, invest it to produce income in terms of souls saved.
3. Perspective of the Parousia. A third possible perspective is the view of the Parousia. The parable is one of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. The subject of chapters 24 and 25 is the unknown day of Jesus' return. With this in mind, the parable is interpreted allegorically. The master's leaving on a journey is Jesus' ascension to return to his Father. "After a long time" the master returns; this refers to the delay of the Parousia. "Settled accounts" deals with the final judgment. The one-talent man represents the religious leaders who hide the truth in the ground of their laws and traditions. They will experience the same condemnation and exclusion as did the one-talent man.
Precis of the Parable
The Kingdom of God will be like a man who left on a trip. Before leaving, he entrusted his property (money) to his slaves. He gave to each according to his capacity. To one he gave 5000 dollars, another 2000, and to a third 1000. The man with $5000 invested it and doubled the money. The man with $2000 did the same. The man with $1000 buried the money in the ground for safe keeping.
After a long time the master came home and settled accounts with his slaves. When the man with $5000 gave the master $10,000, the master commended the slave, "Good job, you are a good and faithful servant. Because you did well with a small amount, I will give you a larger amount. Come and share my happiness." The man with $2000 handed the master $4000. The master said the same to him as he said to the five-talent man. Then the $1000 man came and said, "Sir, I know you are a tough man; you reap a harvest where you did not even plant. I was afraid of losing your money and so I buried it in the ground. So, here is your $1000." The master rebuked him, "You are a bad and lazy servant. Since you knew I was a demanding man, you should have at least put the money in the bank where it would have earned interest. So, he ordered the other servants to take the $1000 from him and give it to the one with $10,000. He explained, "To everyone who has money more will be given, but to the one who has nothing, the little he has he will lose. As for this useless slave, throw him out into the darkness where he will weep and gnash his teeth."
Thesis:
Be faithful in using and developing God's gifts.
Theme:
Use it or lose it! Key Words in the Parable
1. "Servants." (v. 14) The Greek word for "servant" is doulos meaning a bondservant or slave. In the parable "slave" is the appropriate word. A slave has nothing. If he has anything, it was given to him. A slave takes orders. In the parable the slaves were told to take care of the master's property. As slaves they received no monetary reward or remuneration for the profit made on the investment. The slaves gave back all - both the original gift and the profit.
2. "Talents." (v. 15) Today we think of talents in terms of natural abilities or endowments. In the parable, a talent is a weight of money. The parallel parable calls it a "pound." The weight of the coin determined its value. The Good News Bible translates "talent" as "coin." According to the Revised Standard Version, a talent was worth $1000. Probably for preaching purposes, a talent might be considered a gift of God whether it is material, mental, or psychological. A talent is anything God gives us to use to his glory and our good.
3. "Entrusted." (v. 14) The master entrusted his entire estate to his slaves. It was given to them for only a time until he returned. When he came back, he would ask for an accounting. All that we are and have, have been given to us as a trust. We are not owners but trustees who hold God's property in trust until he returns. We sing this truth: "We give thee but thine own ... A trust, O Lord, from thee." Our lives together with our abilities and possessions belong to God who holds us responsible for making profitable use of them.
4. "Each." (v. 15) "I have no talents" is often heard. According to the parable, this is not true. Every person has at least one talent. Because we think we have no talents, we excuse ourselves from serving. If we acknowledge our one talent, we again excuse ourselves from using it, because we claim one talent is too small and inadequate for service.
5. "Hid." (v. 18) Out of fear of losing the money, the one-talent man dug a hole in the ground and hid the money. In Jesus' day, it was considered the best security against theft. It reminds us of the parable about the treasure found buried in a field. Jesus is against hiding our light under a bushel and hiding our talents in the ground. We are to use and invest it in order to make a profit. The master in the parable thought he should have put the one talent in the bank. Today that may not be a safe place. In 1987, 184 banks in the U.S.A. failed. One Texas bank had to get an emergency loan of $1 billion to prevent closing its doors.
6. "Faithful." (vv. 21, 23) The parable emphasizes faithfulness. The two servants who doubled their money were commended for being faithful servants because they were faithful with a little. Since we are stewards and trustees of God's gift Paul says; "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2) We may not be successful but we will be commended and rewarded for being faithful in the use of God's gifts.
7. "Wicked." (v. 26) The one-talent man was condemned as a wicked and lazy servant. Why was he labeled "wicked"? Did he not return the $1000? He did not steal or waste it. The owner got back all he gave. He was rightly called "wicked" because of his sin of omission. It was not what he did but what he did not do. His wickedness was expressed in his blackening the name of his master ("You are a hard man."), in his burying the money out of fear of his master, and in his stupidity in not putting the money in a bank where it would have produced interest. And what happens to the wicked? "Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness."
Contemplation
Insights
1. Slaves of the Master. We are more than or less than "servants." The Greek word is doulos, "slave." Saint Paul identifies himself as a doulos of Christ. (Romans 1:1) A slave belongs to a master. All a slave has was given to him/her. Therefore, in the parable the slaves are not paid for their work, nor are they allowed to keep at least a portion of the profit earned by wise investment. As a slave of Christ, a Christian acknowledges God as his/her owner, as the giver of all, and the One for whom he works without pay or reward.
2. Purpose of life. As a servant (slave) of Christ, a Christian finds the purpose of life in terms of serving God. He has given us gifts (talents) with which we can serve him. Here is the motive for Christian service: service to God. According to the parable, the reward is an opportunity to render greater service, for the five and two talent men were given more talents. Not to serve as the one-talent man did not means the loss of the talent and judgment.
3. Responsibility. God holds us responsible for the gifts he gave us. Like the master who went on a journey, God turns over his world to us. We are entrusted with his property. He does not tell us what to do with it. He lets us use our initiative and creativity to add to the gift. With that responsibility comes accountability. The master returns and asks, "What have you done with your life?" The use or non-use of the gifts results in rewards or condemnation.
4. No one excluded. Each person is given a talent. Each gets a gift from God. No one is excluded or bereft. Some get more than others according to their ability to use the gifts. In this sense, we are not equal. Some are better equipped than others. This is no advantage to the more blessed, because to whom much is given, much is required. Commendation or condemnation is not based on the number of talents given but on the profitable use of the talents.
5. Test for greatness. The two men in the parable who doubled their money were rewarded with additional talents. God puts us to a test. Before he gives us great responsibility, he tests us with a small job. If we cannot successfully handle the small, we are not qualified to handle the large. If we are faithful in small tasks, we will be given larger ones. God makes us prove ourselves.
6. A one-talent person. It is not so bad to be a one-talent person. He/she has the same standing with God as the five and two talented men. A one-talent person can render as much or greater service than a multi-talented person. Often the privileged person neglects to develop and use the five talents. On the other hand, a one-talent person can work hard with the one talent and keep plugging away. In the end, it is the tortoise and the hare in the race of life. As the parable shows, the tragedy is when a one-talent person despises the talent and does not use it.
7. God expects a return. The parable teaches us that God gives us gifts with the expectation that not only will the gift be returned but added to it. God expects some good from us as Paul expected from Philemon. The gifts are not to be hoarded or hidden. They are not for a museum, nor for a bank safe deposit box. God calls for a return in service.
8. Adventure. The parable suggests that life should be an adventure. God gives us one or more gifts and then lets us go on our own to do what we please with the gifts. It means taking a risk. The one-talent man refused to take a risk and therefore in fear of losing the money he hid it in the ground. It is a risk of investment. Is it a sound investment? Will it pay off? It is a terrible risk because it may mean life or death, heaven or hell, commendation or eviction. We launch out unto the deep in unknown and dangerous waters. This makes life exciting and adventurous.
Homily Hints
1. What Service Will Get You. (25:21, 23) If one fully uses God-given talents in service, what does one get for it? In the parable the servants get no salary, no economic advantage, no slice of the profit. It all goes to the master. The slaves stand empty-handed materially. God's rewards are different -
A. Commendation - vv. 21, 23.
B. Greater opportunity for service - vv. 21, 23.
C. Participation in the joy of God - vv. 21, 23.
2. Playing It Safe. (25:14-30) The one-talent man was playing it safe. To be sure he did not lose the money for his master, he buried it for safe keeping. He represents the ultra-conservative, fundamentalist followers of Christ. They have only a rear view mirror of life. "It has never been done this way before." We stand pat on the status quo. We are against any change, any new venture. In his day Jesus had some of these: Pharisees. Can we be too conservative?
A. Be careful - we have only one talent.
B. Be afraid of God's justice and our failure.
C. Be certain - hide, hoard, lock it up.
3. When Life Is Exciting. (25:14-30) God has given us life and gifts for life. He puts us on our own to make the most of life. This calls for adventure, taking a risk because danger and defeat are real possibilities. As adventure, life can be exciting.
A. The risk: danger, adventure - v. 14.
B. The challenge: make the most of life - vv. 20, 22.
C. The reward: "Do it again!" - vv. 21, 23.
4. You Are a Talented Person. (25:14-30) Some people claim they have no talents and thus excuse themselves from service opportunities or to explain their failure. Here are the facts about talents:
A. Everyone has a talent - v. 15.
B. Talents are given according to ability - v. 15.
C. You are accountable for your talents - v. 19.
D. You may be rewarded - vv. 21, 23.
5. Go for It! (25:14-30) According to the parable of the talents, we are to make the fullest use of our talents. What God has given, he wants doubled. He gives us talents and says, "Go for it!" Pull up your stakes. Forget the past. Put your face in the wind and make something out of your life. Life is not to be kept, preserved, conserved, but used, invested, and spent in service.
A. Not quantity of life but quality.
B. Not extension of life but intention.
C. Not preservation but investment of life.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. Do you see yourself in this parable? The story gives us a picture of three men: a top-talented, a medium-talented, and a one-talent person. In which category do you find yourself? Do you see yourself as a faithful worker using to the full the gifts God gave you? Could you be a one-talent person either hiding the talent or developing the talent to produce a return for God? Do you see yourself commanded by God or condemned? If you can see yourself in the parable, it will have a message for you. Likewise, a preacher will see his people taking the part of the three servants and he finds a message for them in the parable.
2. A point of contact between the parable and the people is in the subject of accountability. Many claim, "My life is my own. I am accountable to no one but myself." If one is not accountable to God for what one does with one's life and talents, then life has no meaning or purpose. Yet, each person instinctively feels he/she needs to give a report of "what I have done with my life." Behind the idea of accountability lies the belief that God is, that God has given us life and our abilities, that God owns us, and that we are reportable to him.
3. In every congregation there is the problem of the one-talent person. This one feels bereft of any natural ability, called talent. This may cause a look of self-esteem. Or, it may be used to avoid the acceptance of responsibility of rendering service. The excuse often is, "I can't do that." On the other hand, the disclaimer of having even one talent may be used to excuse a person for failure. The preaching of this parable should bring comfort and inspiration to one-talent people no one is without a talent, we are accepted and honored not on the basis of the number of talents received but on performance of the talent. A one-talent person can render as much or more service to God because he/she will try harder and work longer because each knows he/she has only one talent. In the parable one of three was given one talent. Could this mean that one-third of our congregations consist of one-talent people?
Points to Ponder
1. With each parable we ask, Where is the Gospel in this parable? As called to preach the Gospel, we need to find it. The parable may give us some difficulty in finding it. On the surface the parable seems to say: God has given you talents. Put them to good use. Make a profit from them for God. Then you will be complimented, go up a higher rung of responsibility, and enter heaven to share the joy of the Lord. Is this works righteousness? Is it necessary to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior to enter into the joy of the Lord?
Behind the parable we can see the Gospel. Because of the atoning death of Christ, we are bought as God's possession. He has in his grace bestowed gifts. Voluntarily we are his slaves. In gratitude for what he has given and done for us, we gladly serve him through and by our talents. We want no pay nor reward, for service is its own reward.
2. A point to ponder is the time when our accountability to God comes. The parable suggests that when the owner returns, he asks his servants to report. This indicates that we give an account when Jesus returns at the end of time. However, other Scriptures tell us that at death Christians go to heaven to be with Jesus. They are judged here and now. Paul writes that the saints are with Jesus now in heaven and will come with him for the judgment. In the light of this, when do Christians give an account of their stewardship? When Christ returns, do only the Christians then living on earth give an account? Or, does it mean that at the Parousia only non-Christians must give an account of their lives? These are questions to ponder before the work of sermon preparation begins.
Illustrative Materials
1. The Source of Talents. Fritz Kreisler, famous violinist: "I was born with music in my system. I knew musical scores instinctively before I knew the alphabet. It was a gift of Providence."
A week after her fifteenth birthday, Midori played Mendelssohn's "Concerto in E Minor" with orchestra in a large concert hall. When she finished, the audience broke into a thundering ovation. "That is genius," said an astounded woman in the audience. "No," her companion corrected, "That is a gift straight from God."
2. Use It or Lose It. Because the one-talent man in the parable did not use his talent, he lost it. In his book, The Kingdom Within, John Sanford tells of spending his boyhood summers in an old New Hampshire farmhouse that had been in the family since revolutionary days. The family got their water from a well which had the best cold water. It never ran dry, not even in the driest, hottest weather. A few years ago the house was modernized and water came from town. The well was abandoned. But one day he longed for some cold water from the old well. He took off the cover but found it was dry. Since the well had never before gone dry, he made some research to learn the cause. He found that wells of that type were fed by hundreds of tiny rivulets which seep a constant supply of water. As water is drawn, more water moves along the rivulets and keeps the channels open for the water. But when water is not taken, the rivulets close up. And the well went dry because it was not used.
3. Life as an Opportunity. One of the rewards the faithful servants in the parable received was an opportunity to render greater service. In 1987 Pilot Dick Rutan and a companion completed a trip of 25,012 miles in a plane that encircled the earth without stopping for refueling. When he emerged from the cockpit of his "Voyager," he said, "Life is an opportunity. Its only limited by what you can dream about."
4. Talent Put to Work. A Christian uses his/her talent in work for God. Mrs. Billy Graham has this motto over her kitchen sink: "Divine Service Conducted Here Three Times Daily."
5. The Glory of One Talent. Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers in golf history. Before he became famous, he was playing a game in Atlanta. On his walk he found a discarded putter. He decided to use it. With it he won a tournament. Until his retirement, he used the old, worn-out putter in every tournament.
There is a legend about a battle centuries ago. A soldier looked at his sword and then at the bejeweled sword of his prince. Disgusted with it, he cast his own sword away and it stuck in the ground. In the battle the prince broke his sword and longed for another to lead the fight. By chance he saw a sword stuck in the earth, went to it, and took it to lead the battle to victory. A one-talent person can disparage his/her one talent but it could make the difference between defeat and victory.
6. Life Investment. The parable teaches that life is not to be hidden but invested. But invested in what? To what should a life be given? Ernest Hemingway tells a story about an old man and the sea. The old man goes fishing and catches the biggest fish ever. All day long he struggles to bring it in. By the end of the day he gets the fish and lashes it to the side of his boat because it is too big to be put in the boat. With the big fish tied to the side, he heads home. Sharks come and take bites out of the fish so that by the time he reaches his dock, there is nothing left but a skeleton. It is a story about life. You can put your all into it on something that does not last and you end up with a skeleton.
In considering today's Parable of the Talents, it may be well for us to adore and pray before the statue of "Our Lady of Risk." The parable calls for taking a risk with our lives. The main character of the parable is the one-talent man who is afraid to take the risk of investing the gift of $1000, one talent. Instead, he digs a hole in the ground and buries the money for safe keeping until the master returns. But, he is condemned for not taking the risk as the other servants did.
The point is that life consists of risks. If we are going to succeed or make progress, we must take a risk of possible defeat and death. Take a boat into the ocean and face the risk of a storm. Invest in the stock market and risk a market collapse. Take a risk of becoming a parent and face the risk of a rebellious child. Drive your car on a freeway and you risk an accident involving your death. In Clear-water, Florida there is a bumper sticker that pleads, "Pray for me. I drive on Highway 19." Prepare this sermon and you risk a dud!
Context
Context of the Scriptural Setting
Matthew 24:45-51. In the paragraph immediately preceding Matthew 25, the subject of faithfulness is discussed. Jesus asks, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant...?" The identity of the wise servant is given in the following parable of the wise and foolish girls. Who is faithful is answered in the next parable of the talents. Faithful servants are those who get returns on their gifts. To both the five-talent and the two-talent men the returned master says, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful ..."
Matthew 25. The parable of the talents (vv. 14-30) is the second of the three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. This parable, also, is related to the Parousia. According to the Good News Bible, both parables of the virgins and talents are introduced with the same phrase, "At that time." Verse 13 says we are to watch, for we do not know neither the day nor the hour. "For" (verse 14) refers to the fact that we do not know the time of the Parousia. The parables then are to be understood in the light of the Second Coming:
Parable of the Wise and Foolish - Preparation for the Parousia.
Parable of the Talents - Accountibility at the Parousia.
Luke 19:11-27. (The Parable of the Pounds) Scholars hold that the parable of the virgins and the parable of the pounds are two versions of the same parable. Both parables deal with the themes of faithfulness and accountability, but there are differences in the details:
1. Matthew's parable is related to the Parousia, but Luke has Jesus about to enter Jerusalem for the last week. Jesus tells the parable of the pounds to counteract the opinion that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately.
2. In Matthew the master going on a journey was just a "man," but Luke says the master was a "nobleman."
3. Matthew has the master giving money to three servants, but Luke has ten. Each of the ten gets ten pounds. In Matthew one gets five, another three, and another one talent.
4. Matthew does not say where the master was going or for what purpose. In Luke's account, the nobleman goes presumably to Rome to get an imperial appointmant as a governor. A group of fifty Jews goes to the emperor to speak against the appointment. However, they fail and when the nobleman returns, he exterminates those who opposed him.
5. The servant with one talent hides it in the ground. The man with one pound wrapped his in a napkin.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18) Zephaniah, a prophet during the reign of King Josiah in the 7th century, has bad news for Judah: the day of the Lord is coming, a day of wrath, ruin, distress, and devastation. The lection harmonizes with the parable of the talents which is related to the Parousia, the day of Christ's return.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) Today's lection completes the series of five selections from 1 Thessalonians. In keeping with the other two Lessons, Lesson 2 deals with the day of the Lord, the Parousia. Christ will come when least expected. But Christians, who are of the Light, need not fear, for they are not destined for wrath but for salvation.
Gospel (The Parable of the Talents) Before going on a journey, a man turns over his property to his servants. Each of three gets an amount according to his ability. He leaves without ordering them to invest the money and make a profit. Perhaps this is implied when he entrusted his property to them. Two of the men doubled the money by the time the master returned. Now the spotlight is turned on the one man with one talent. Because he hid the talent in the ground, he had only the money given him. For this he was condemned and his talent was given to the man with five talents.
Psalm. (Psalm 76) The Lord, terrible in his wrath, is to be feared.
Prayer of the Day. We pray that, by keeping in mind the end of all things and the day of judgment, we may live holy lives here and with Christ forever in the world to come.
Hymn of the Day. "Forth In Thy Name, O Lord, I Go" This Charles Wesley hymn is a prayer to know Christ in daily labor. It is fitting for the parable of the talents - going to work to make the most of what God has given us.
Context of Related Scripture
Matthew 13:44 - A treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 18:23f - A time of reckoning.
Mark 14:3-9 - "She has done what she could."
Luke 5:1-7 - "Launch out into the deep."
Luke 12:41-48 - To whom much is given, much is required.
Luke 13:6-9 - A non-bearing fig tree.
Romans 12:6-8 - A variety of gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Gifts of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:7 - Treasure in earthen vessels.
Content
Content of the Parable
1. Perspective of Jesus. The content of the parable may be seen from Jesus' telling the parable to the people of his day. He is not speaking of his future return but of the problem facing the nation at the time. We see him confronted by his opposition: Pharisees, scribes, and priests. They represent the ultra-conservatives of his day. They are interested only in maintaining the status quo which keeps them in power. They bury the Law under their many rules, regulations, and traditions. They fail to launch into the deep with new ideas and ventures for the Kingdom. He is calling for adventure, risks, and new paths. God has entrusted the religious leaders with the treasure of truth, but they do nothing but hide it in the ground. Through the parable Jesus teaches that this will bring nothing but disaster to the nation.
2. Perspective of the church. Matthew records the parable in the perspective of the needs and situation of the apostolic church. The parable says to the church: "To everyone who has will more be given." (v. 29) The church has been given the precious treasure of the Gospel. The church is the steward, the one entrusted with God's "property." (v. 14) Every person is given a share of that treasure and is responsible for increasing it. The one who does nothing with it will have it taken away from him/her. The church is to extend the Gospel, make good use of it, invest it to produce income in terms of souls saved.
3. Perspective of the Parousia. A third possible perspective is the view of the Parousia. The parable is one of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. The subject of chapters 24 and 25 is the unknown day of Jesus' return. With this in mind, the parable is interpreted allegorically. The master's leaving on a journey is Jesus' ascension to return to his Father. "After a long time" the master returns; this refers to the delay of the Parousia. "Settled accounts" deals with the final judgment. The one-talent man represents the religious leaders who hide the truth in the ground of their laws and traditions. They will experience the same condemnation and exclusion as did the one-talent man.
Precis of the Parable
The Kingdom of God will be like a man who left on a trip. Before leaving, he entrusted his property (money) to his slaves. He gave to each according to his capacity. To one he gave 5000 dollars, another 2000, and to a third 1000. The man with $5000 invested it and doubled the money. The man with $2000 did the same. The man with $1000 buried the money in the ground for safe keeping.
After a long time the master came home and settled accounts with his slaves. When the man with $5000 gave the master $10,000, the master commended the slave, "Good job, you are a good and faithful servant. Because you did well with a small amount, I will give you a larger amount. Come and share my happiness." The man with $2000 handed the master $4000. The master said the same to him as he said to the five-talent man. Then the $1000 man came and said, "Sir, I know you are a tough man; you reap a harvest where you did not even plant. I was afraid of losing your money and so I buried it in the ground. So, here is your $1000." The master rebuked him, "You are a bad and lazy servant. Since you knew I was a demanding man, you should have at least put the money in the bank where it would have earned interest. So, he ordered the other servants to take the $1000 from him and give it to the one with $10,000. He explained, "To everyone who has money more will be given, but to the one who has nothing, the little he has he will lose. As for this useless slave, throw him out into the darkness where he will weep and gnash his teeth."
Thesis:
Be faithful in using and developing God's gifts.
Theme:
Use it or lose it! Key Words in the Parable
1. "Servants." (v. 14) The Greek word for "servant" is doulos meaning a bondservant or slave. In the parable "slave" is the appropriate word. A slave has nothing. If he has anything, it was given to him. A slave takes orders. In the parable the slaves were told to take care of the master's property. As slaves they received no monetary reward or remuneration for the profit made on the investment. The slaves gave back all - both the original gift and the profit.
2. "Talents." (v. 15) Today we think of talents in terms of natural abilities or endowments. In the parable, a talent is a weight of money. The parallel parable calls it a "pound." The weight of the coin determined its value. The Good News Bible translates "talent" as "coin." According to the Revised Standard Version, a talent was worth $1000. Probably for preaching purposes, a talent might be considered a gift of God whether it is material, mental, or psychological. A talent is anything God gives us to use to his glory and our good.
3. "Entrusted." (v. 14) The master entrusted his entire estate to his slaves. It was given to them for only a time until he returned. When he came back, he would ask for an accounting. All that we are and have, have been given to us as a trust. We are not owners but trustees who hold God's property in trust until he returns. We sing this truth: "We give thee but thine own ... A trust, O Lord, from thee." Our lives together with our abilities and possessions belong to God who holds us responsible for making profitable use of them.
4. "Each." (v. 15) "I have no talents" is often heard. According to the parable, this is not true. Every person has at least one talent. Because we think we have no talents, we excuse ourselves from serving. If we acknowledge our one talent, we again excuse ourselves from using it, because we claim one talent is too small and inadequate for service.
5. "Hid." (v. 18) Out of fear of losing the money, the one-talent man dug a hole in the ground and hid the money. In Jesus' day, it was considered the best security against theft. It reminds us of the parable about the treasure found buried in a field. Jesus is against hiding our light under a bushel and hiding our talents in the ground. We are to use and invest it in order to make a profit. The master in the parable thought he should have put the one talent in the bank. Today that may not be a safe place. In 1987, 184 banks in the U.S.A. failed. One Texas bank had to get an emergency loan of $1 billion to prevent closing its doors.
6. "Faithful." (vv. 21, 23) The parable emphasizes faithfulness. The two servants who doubled their money were commended for being faithful servants because they were faithful with a little. Since we are stewards and trustees of God's gift Paul says; "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2) We may not be successful but we will be commended and rewarded for being faithful in the use of God's gifts.
7. "Wicked." (v. 26) The one-talent man was condemned as a wicked and lazy servant. Why was he labeled "wicked"? Did he not return the $1000? He did not steal or waste it. The owner got back all he gave. He was rightly called "wicked" because of his sin of omission. It was not what he did but what he did not do. His wickedness was expressed in his blackening the name of his master ("You are a hard man."), in his burying the money out of fear of his master, and in his stupidity in not putting the money in a bank where it would have produced interest. And what happens to the wicked? "Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness."
Contemplation
Insights
1. Slaves of the Master. We are more than or less than "servants." The Greek word is doulos, "slave." Saint Paul identifies himself as a doulos of Christ. (Romans 1:1) A slave belongs to a master. All a slave has was given to him/her. Therefore, in the parable the slaves are not paid for their work, nor are they allowed to keep at least a portion of the profit earned by wise investment. As a slave of Christ, a Christian acknowledges God as his/her owner, as the giver of all, and the One for whom he works without pay or reward.
2. Purpose of life. As a servant (slave) of Christ, a Christian finds the purpose of life in terms of serving God. He has given us gifts (talents) with which we can serve him. Here is the motive for Christian service: service to God. According to the parable, the reward is an opportunity to render greater service, for the five and two talent men were given more talents. Not to serve as the one-talent man did not means the loss of the talent and judgment.
3. Responsibility. God holds us responsible for the gifts he gave us. Like the master who went on a journey, God turns over his world to us. We are entrusted with his property. He does not tell us what to do with it. He lets us use our initiative and creativity to add to the gift. With that responsibility comes accountability. The master returns and asks, "What have you done with your life?" The use or non-use of the gifts results in rewards or condemnation.
4. No one excluded. Each person is given a talent. Each gets a gift from God. No one is excluded or bereft. Some get more than others according to their ability to use the gifts. In this sense, we are not equal. Some are better equipped than others. This is no advantage to the more blessed, because to whom much is given, much is required. Commendation or condemnation is not based on the number of talents given but on the profitable use of the talents.
5. Test for greatness. The two men in the parable who doubled their money were rewarded with additional talents. God puts us to a test. Before he gives us great responsibility, he tests us with a small job. If we cannot successfully handle the small, we are not qualified to handle the large. If we are faithful in small tasks, we will be given larger ones. God makes us prove ourselves.
6. A one-talent person. It is not so bad to be a one-talent person. He/she has the same standing with God as the five and two talented men. A one-talent person can render as much or greater service than a multi-talented person. Often the privileged person neglects to develop and use the five talents. On the other hand, a one-talent person can work hard with the one talent and keep plugging away. In the end, it is the tortoise and the hare in the race of life. As the parable shows, the tragedy is when a one-talent person despises the talent and does not use it.
7. God expects a return. The parable teaches us that God gives us gifts with the expectation that not only will the gift be returned but added to it. God expects some good from us as Paul expected from Philemon. The gifts are not to be hoarded or hidden. They are not for a museum, nor for a bank safe deposit box. God calls for a return in service.
8. Adventure. The parable suggests that life should be an adventure. God gives us one or more gifts and then lets us go on our own to do what we please with the gifts. It means taking a risk. The one-talent man refused to take a risk and therefore in fear of losing the money he hid it in the ground. It is a risk of investment. Is it a sound investment? Will it pay off? It is a terrible risk because it may mean life or death, heaven or hell, commendation or eviction. We launch out unto the deep in unknown and dangerous waters. This makes life exciting and adventurous.
Homily Hints
1. What Service Will Get You. (25:21, 23) If one fully uses God-given talents in service, what does one get for it? In the parable the servants get no salary, no economic advantage, no slice of the profit. It all goes to the master. The slaves stand empty-handed materially. God's rewards are different -
A. Commendation - vv. 21, 23.
B. Greater opportunity for service - vv. 21, 23.
C. Participation in the joy of God - vv. 21, 23.
2. Playing It Safe. (25:14-30) The one-talent man was playing it safe. To be sure he did not lose the money for his master, he buried it for safe keeping. He represents the ultra-conservative, fundamentalist followers of Christ. They have only a rear view mirror of life. "It has never been done this way before." We stand pat on the status quo. We are against any change, any new venture. In his day Jesus had some of these: Pharisees. Can we be too conservative?
A. Be careful - we have only one talent.
B. Be afraid of God's justice and our failure.
C. Be certain - hide, hoard, lock it up.
3. When Life Is Exciting. (25:14-30) God has given us life and gifts for life. He puts us on our own to make the most of life. This calls for adventure, taking a risk because danger and defeat are real possibilities. As adventure, life can be exciting.
A. The risk: danger, adventure - v. 14.
B. The challenge: make the most of life - vv. 20, 22.
C. The reward: "Do it again!" - vv. 21, 23.
4. You Are a Talented Person. (25:14-30) Some people claim they have no talents and thus excuse themselves from service opportunities or to explain their failure. Here are the facts about talents:
A. Everyone has a talent - v. 15.
B. Talents are given according to ability - v. 15.
C. You are accountable for your talents - v. 19.
D. You may be rewarded - vv. 21, 23.
5. Go for It! (25:14-30) According to the parable of the talents, we are to make the fullest use of our talents. What God has given, he wants doubled. He gives us talents and says, "Go for it!" Pull up your stakes. Forget the past. Put your face in the wind and make something out of your life. Life is not to be kept, preserved, conserved, but used, invested, and spent in service.
A. Not quantity of life but quality.
B. Not extension of life but intention.
C. Not preservation but investment of life.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. Do you see yourself in this parable? The story gives us a picture of three men: a top-talented, a medium-talented, and a one-talent person. In which category do you find yourself? Do you see yourself as a faithful worker using to the full the gifts God gave you? Could you be a one-talent person either hiding the talent or developing the talent to produce a return for God? Do you see yourself commanded by God or condemned? If you can see yourself in the parable, it will have a message for you. Likewise, a preacher will see his people taking the part of the three servants and he finds a message for them in the parable.
2. A point of contact between the parable and the people is in the subject of accountability. Many claim, "My life is my own. I am accountable to no one but myself." If one is not accountable to God for what one does with one's life and talents, then life has no meaning or purpose. Yet, each person instinctively feels he/she needs to give a report of "what I have done with my life." Behind the idea of accountability lies the belief that God is, that God has given us life and our abilities, that God owns us, and that we are reportable to him.
3. In every congregation there is the problem of the one-talent person. This one feels bereft of any natural ability, called talent. This may cause a look of self-esteem. Or, it may be used to avoid the acceptance of responsibility of rendering service. The excuse often is, "I can't do that." On the other hand, the disclaimer of having even one talent may be used to excuse a person for failure. The preaching of this parable should bring comfort and inspiration to one-talent people no one is without a talent, we are accepted and honored not on the basis of the number of talents received but on performance of the talent. A one-talent person can render as much or more service to God because he/she will try harder and work longer because each knows he/she has only one talent. In the parable one of three was given one talent. Could this mean that one-third of our congregations consist of one-talent people?
Points to Ponder
1. With each parable we ask, Where is the Gospel in this parable? As called to preach the Gospel, we need to find it. The parable may give us some difficulty in finding it. On the surface the parable seems to say: God has given you talents. Put them to good use. Make a profit from them for God. Then you will be complimented, go up a higher rung of responsibility, and enter heaven to share the joy of the Lord. Is this works righteousness? Is it necessary to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior to enter into the joy of the Lord?
Behind the parable we can see the Gospel. Because of the atoning death of Christ, we are bought as God's possession. He has in his grace bestowed gifts. Voluntarily we are his slaves. In gratitude for what he has given and done for us, we gladly serve him through and by our talents. We want no pay nor reward, for service is its own reward.
2. A point to ponder is the time when our accountability to God comes. The parable suggests that when the owner returns, he asks his servants to report. This indicates that we give an account when Jesus returns at the end of time. However, other Scriptures tell us that at death Christians go to heaven to be with Jesus. They are judged here and now. Paul writes that the saints are with Jesus now in heaven and will come with him for the judgment. In the light of this, when do Christians give an account of their stewardship? When Christ returns, do only the Christians then living on earth give an account? Or, does it mean that at the Parousia only non-Christians must give an account of their lives? These are questions to ponder before the work of sermon preparation begins.
Illustrative Materials
1. The Source of Talents. Fritz Kreisler, famous violinist: "I was born with music in my system. I knew musical scores instinctively before I knew the alphabet. It was a gift of Providence."
A week after her fifteenth birthday, Midori played Mendelssohn's "Concerto in E Minor" with orchestra in a large concert hall. When she finished, the audience broke into a thundering ovation. "That is genius," said an astounded woman in the audience. "No," her companion corrected, "That is a gift straight from God."
2. Use It or Lose It. Because the one-talent man in the parable did not use his talent, he lost it. In his book, The Kingdom Within, John Sanford tells of spending his boyhood summers in an old New Hampshire farmhouse that had been in the family since revolutionary days. The family got their water from a well which had the best cold water. It never ran dry, not even in the driest, hottest weather. A few years ago the house was modernized and water came from town. The well was abandoned. But one day he longed for some cold water from the old well. He took off the cover but found it was dry. Since the well had never before gone dry, he made some research to learn the cause. He found that wells of that type were fed by hundreds of tiny rivulets which seep a constant supply of water. As water is drawn, more water moves along the rivulets and keeps the channels open for the water. But when water is not taken, the rivulets close up. And the well went dry because it was not used.
3. Life as an Opportunity. One of the rewards the faithful servants in the parable received was an opportunity to render greater service. In 1987 Pilot Dick Rutan and a companion completed a trip of 25,012 miles in a plane that encircled the earth without stopping for refueling. When he emerged from the cockpit of his "Voyager," he said, "Life is an opportunity. Its only limited by what you can dream about."
4. Talent Put to Work. A Christian uses his/her talent in work for God. Mrs. Billy Graham has this motto over her kitchen sink: "Divine Service Conducted Here Three Times Daily."
5. The Glory of One Talent. Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers in golf history. Before he became famous, he was playing a game in Atlanta. On his walk he found a discarded putter. He decided to use it. With it he won a tournament. Until his retirement, he used the old, worn-out putter in every tournament.
There is a legend about a battle centuries ago. A soldier looked at his sword and then at the bejeweled sword of his prince. Disgusted with it, he cast his own sword away and it stuck in the ground. In the battle the prince broke his sword and longed for another to lead the fight. By chance he saw a sword stuck in the earth, went to it, and took it to lead the battle to victory. A one-talent person can disparage his/her one talent but it could make the difference between defeat and victory.
6. Life Investment. The parable teaches that life is not to be hidden but invested. But invested in what? To what should a life be given? Ernest Hemingway tells a story about an old man and the sea. The old man goes fishing and catches the biggest fish ever. All day long he struggles to bring it in. By the end of the day he gets the fish and lashes it to the side of his boat because it is too big to be put in the boat. With the big fish tied to the side, he heads home. Sharks come and take bites out of the fish so that by the time he reaches his dock, there is nothing left but a skeleton. It is a story about life. You can put your all into it on something that does not last and you end up with a skeleton.
